Drafting an Intro

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Elements of Writing

• Drafting an Intro

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Introduction

• Your introduction is a bridge or an opening that
  allows the reader to see what the paper will be
  about
• It is an important roadmap for the rest of the
  paper
• The introduction is what makes readers want to
  read your paper
• Remember, your thesis statement will be the LAST
  SENTENCE of this paragraph.

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Strategies for Writing an Effective Introduction

• Start by thinking the prompt you want to explain
• Remember, you are not going to start talking
  about the novel in your first sentence, instead
  you will start with an attention-getter/hook that
  generally relates to your main topic (thesis
  statement)
• The attention grabber/hook is the first sentence
  of your introduction

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Introduction Attention Grabber/Hook

• Types of attention grabbers/hooks
• A fact or statistic that relates to your thesis
• A quotation
• An anecdote (short story) that relates to your
  topic
• A thought-provoking question (no you and always
  answer questions)
• A dictionary definition that connects to your
  thesis
• Remember, you cant use 1st person (I, me, we,
  etc..) or 2nd person (you, your, yours)
• Also avoid stating, In this paper I will
  discussthis is unnecessary (and you are not to
  use I anyway!)

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Connecting the hook to the thesis

• The next information in your introduction should
  connect the hook to your thesis.
• Give comments and background information on the
  topic in order to connect it to your thesis.
• This is where you will introduce the author and
  the title of the novel
• You can also choose to provide brief statements
  connecting to your 3 points that will b further
  developed in your paper

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Example Introduction

• Essay Prompt How does Melinda discover her
  voice?
• Hook
• Maya Angelou, celebrated poet and civil rights
  activist once said, Words mean more than what is
  set down on paper. It takes the human voice to
  infuse them with more meaning.
• ---Attention Grabbing DeviceDirect Quote

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Introduction--Background

• Ones voice is extremely important to the self.
  It is important to be able to take a stand and
  freely express ones point of view. All people
  should have the right to voice their feelings and
  opinions. In Laurie Halse Andersons novel Speak,
  Melinda Sordino has lost her ability to use her
  voice and speak up due to a traumatic event. The
  novel takes the reader on a journey through
  Melindas life as she struggles to find her
  voice.
• Author and novel title mention in intro

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Thesis

• Through finding solace in an abandoned closet ,
  being in Mr. Freemans class, and defeating Andy,
  Melinda finally found a way to be heard.
• This statement is the last sentence of the
  introduction and the primary focus of the paper.
• The main point is in red
• The three points (three body paragraphs) are
  underlined

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Now, put it all together

• Maya Angelou, celebrated poet and civil rights
  activist once said, Words mean more than what is
  set down on paper. It takes the human voice to
  infuse them with more meaning. Ones voice is
  extremely important to the self. It is important
  to be able to take a stand and freely express
  ones point of view. All people should have the
  right to voice their feelings and opinions. In
  Laurie Halse Andersons novel Speak, Melinda
  Sordino has lost her ability to use her voice and
  speak up due to a traumatic event. The novel
  takes the reader on a journey through Melindas
  life as she struggles to find her voice. Through
  finding solace in an abandoned closet , being in
  Mr. Freemans class, and defeating Andy, Melinda
  finally found a way to be heard.

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Sample Intro

• Hook
• Are all students so alike that there should only
  be a one size fits all format of education? No,
  each child is an individual with intellectual
  strengths and weaknesses that differ from any
  other person.
• Attention grabber is a thought provoking question
  with a response

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Background info leading to thesis or Main Point

• As for development and growth, every student
  needs his/her own educational plan that might
  place him/her in self-contained, remedial, or
  even advanced classroom settings. Providing the
  same curriculum, expectations, and standards
  demands in one educational setting or classroom
  is not only hindering the students success in
  education, but it is also labeling every
  student as cognitively identical instead of
  encouraging academic individuality.

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Providing a definition for Background Info

• Differentiation is a teaching technique that is
  used to cultivate the educational demands of each
  student in order to tailor to his/her own
  academic strong points and limitations.
• This definition precedes or comes right before
  thesis because the main point is about
  differentiation, which must be defined in
  introduction so that the reader is fully informed
  of upcoming explanation.

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Thesis Statement

• In todays society where a students learning
  abilities are so different from one persons to
  the next, a differentiated curriculum is
  necessary in order to individualize each
  students learning process, modify the material
  to meet all students needs, and to ensure
  academic success for every learner.
• Main argument is in green
• 3 reasons/points are underlined

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Put It All Together

• Are all students so alike that there should only
  be a one size fits all format of education? No,
  each child is an individual with intellectual
  strengths and weaknesses that differ from any
  other person. As for development and growth,
  every student needs his/her own educational plan
  that might place him/her in self-contained,
  remedial, or even advanced classroom settings.
  Providing the same curriculum, expectations, and
  standards demands in one educational setting
  or classroom is not only hindering the students
  success in education, but it is also labeling
  every student as cognitively identical instead of
  encouraging academic individuality.
  Differentiation is a teaching technique that is
  used to cultivate the educational demands of each
  student in order to tailor to his/her own
  academic strong points and

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Intro Continued

• Limitations. In todays society where a students
  learning abilities are so different from one
  persons to the next, a differentiated curriculum
  is necessary in order to individualize each
  students learning process, modify the material
  to meet all students needs, and to ensure
  academic success for every learner

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Your Turn

• You will now be given a graphic organizer.
• For HW tonight, draft a hook, thesis, and your 3
  topic sentences which should include your 3
  reasons.
• Start looking for 3 quotes, one per body
  paragraph that ties to your supporting reason to
  explain, develop, and/or prove your thesis.
• You will finish the quotes, citations, and
  transitions on Wednesday in class or for
  homework.