The Introduction Paragraph

1. The Introduction Paragraph Stephen Ward Urbana High School English Department

2. The introduction paragraph in an essay of literary analysis functions as follows: • It focuses the reader’s attention on the topic and arouses curiosity for the reader about what you, as the writer, have to say. • It specifies your subject and implies your attitude and tone. • It provides background necessary to understand the thesis statement. • It is concise and sincere. • It comes to a point with the thesis statement.

3. Structure of the Introduction Paragraph: • Step 1      “The First Impression” – Attention Getter. • You only get one chance to make a first impression.  You want to draw the reader in and make him want to read the paper.  THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE THESIS – BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE THESIS – THE READER WON’T MAKE A CONNECTION        The First Impression should draw the reader in • Make sure your HOOK is relevant to your topic – for example – if you are writing about the importance of minor character in TKAM, you may not want to start out with a hook focusing on courage or empathy

4. Strategies for an Intro paragraph • TRY BEGINNING YOUR INTRO WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING HOOKS: • Here are a few examples: • Use a vivid or powerful quotation that has relevance to your topic. • Create an analogy for your subject. • Offer an interesting fact or statistic. • State an opinion related to your thesis. • Provide historical background relevant to your topic. • Include a brief anecdote relevant to your topic • Provide a vivid stark contrast to your opinion • Brief narrative a reader can relate to in order to understand your position • Ask the reader a rhetorical question that leads into your answer

5. What to Avoid When Composing Hooks or Opening Statements: • Cliché statements: “Webster’s dictionary defines friendship as …” • First person point of view: “In this essay I will show…” • Vague or abstract language • Broad generalizations: “Symbolism is a powerful tool used in literature…” • Any attempt at humor, cleverness, or sarcasm • Leading right into your thesis or text background

6. Structure for an Intro Paragraph • Step 2 The Set Up – The Background InformationThe intro/attention getter should flow into the background information part of the topic and/or text.  In this section, provide the name of the author and the title of the work in which you will be analyzing.  Summarize the novel in 2-3 sentences – but do not give away any evidence.  Elaborate on any background knowledge that may be helpful for the reader to understand and follow your paper. Your background should also be relevant to your topic.

7. Structure of an Intro Paragraph • Part 3: Your thesis statement • The thesis statement is the announcement of your analytical argument that you intend to make and prove in the duration of your paper. It is a road map for the paper—it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. • *Successful thesis statements provoke thought and should read beautifully. • *Your thesis statement should include two parts: WHAT and WHY. • *WHAT: What claim are you making about the text? • *WHY: Why should we care? Why is your claim important? Your thesis should answer the “so what?” question

8. Consider the following checklist when composing an introduction paragraph: □ The hook/opening sentence engages the reader’s curiosity while remaining academic and sophisticated. □ The introduction avoids 1st person point of view, slang, and poor diction. □ Specific terms or language are defined. □ Necessary background information is provided. □ The paragraph transitions clearly and logically from the hook to the thesis statement.

9. □ Avoid vague and abstract language and slang. □ The thesis statement appears at the end of the introduction. □ The introduction should be clear, logical, and reasonable. □ Avoid attempts to be clever, funny, or sarcastic. □ Use present tense verbs consistently.

10. □ A typical intro paragraph should be about a half page (double spaced – typed) – and certainly no more than a page. Lengthy introductions tend to ramble and can distract from the topic and lose focus. Your intro paragraph should NEVER be longer than any of your body baragraphs

11. This is the hook of an intro paragraph • Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.  Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too.  Sherlock and Watson. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.  • Based on this information, can you predict what the overall paper’s focus might be?

12. Sample Intro 1 • Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.  Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too.  Sherlock and Watson. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.  What do these figures have in common?  They are famous best friends in Modern Literature.  Thus begs the question: what does it take to be a “best friend?”  Loyalty? Honesty? Companionship?  If thus is the case, then one would have to examine the so-called “meaningful Relationship” between George Milton and Lennie Small in John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men. Two Migrant Workers in California, during the 1930’s, Lennie, strong and dumb, and George, weak but smart, only have each other.  They rely on each other to get through the Great Depression laden era. They are each other’s only means of survival. Yet, they do not classify as best friends.  They would be better off without each other. George Milton does not display the characteristics of a true friend: he is verbally abusive, uses Lennie as a scapegoat, and is responsible for Lennie’s overall downfall. • *What background information did I provide that is necessary to understand topic? • What is the paper’s overall focus? • What is the purpose of the hook of my intro paragraph? • Based upon this thesis, how will the body paragraph’s be structured?

13. Sample 2: A woman’s role in marriage is a controversial subject that has puzzled and fascinated people as long as the institution of marriage has been in existence. Because women have traditionally held a subservient and passive role in marriage in contrast to their male counterparts, it is of great interest to reflect on world civilizations and cultures of the past in order to observe how contemporary societal expectations of a wife have evolved over time. One powerful way of glimpsing into past societies’ views on wifehood is by carefully examining classical world literature. The Ramayana of Valmiki and The Tale of Genji, examples of classical Indian and Japanese literature and culture, reflect their cultures’ values regarding a woman’s role as a wife.

14. Sample 3: The persona in Ana Castillo’s short story “Subtitles” narrates, “i have lived my life in a foreign film.” The idea that she is “typecast” into roles within her life reflects the dominant society’s tendency to categorize her as foreign. This categorization naturally leads to the translation, and therefore transformation, of her character into Anglo-American society. This unique narrative explored the theme and character of the contemporary Chicana. Castillo’s “Subtitles” explores the problematic and contradictory nature of the Chicana identity in dominant Anglo-American society through the literary conventions of metaphor, point of view, figurative language, and symbolism.

15. Sample 4: Human memory is one of the greatest mysteries known to man. Some scientists claim that the human brain’s capacity to store and remember information in infinite. Despite modern technology and advances in brain research, our gift of memory is still one that baffles scientists, physicians, and psychiatrists alike. The mystery of memory intrigues writers, as well. In her award-winning novel Beloved, Toni Morrison explores the intensity of memory in the story of an antebellum family haunted by the past. The controlling theme of memory develops meaning throughout the novel as a narrative technique that weaves insight and emotion into the characters, plot, and symbols.

16. Sample TKAM Intro • As a child grows and matures, so does their idea of courage. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird shows this maturation of courage through the protagonist, Scout. The novel is set in 1930s south; the town can be compared to most towns of the time where rumors spread and everyone knows everyone else’s stories. This town gossip leads to Scout’s early idea of courage. Scout’s perspective of courage grows from seeing Jem perform a courageous act of touching the Radley house, to seeing Atticus take up arms and shoot a dog, to realizing that true courage exists within oneself.