Writing Introductions

Writing Introductions Clear, concise, engaging Source:Washington OSPI 2006 The Writing Studio, Bate 2005

Why are introductions important? • First impressions are lasting impressions! • If your introduction is poor, your readers may stop there, or continue on with the wrong assumptions about your essay. • If it’s good, even captivating, your readers will continue enthusiastically.

What should an introduction do? • 4 main things: • Get your readers’ attention and interest • Identify the specific topic of the report • Conceptualize your argument or discussion • Explain how your paper is organized

1) Get your readers’ interest • Write about a topic that interests you • Consider why you chose to write about your topic or the specific aspect of your topic • “SO WHAT?”

2) Identify the specific topic • Use specific terms • Purpose • Specific point-of-view • Avoid saying “my paper is about…”

Thesis statement • A concise sentence or two that states what the essay is about • gives direction to the essay • conventionally placed at the end of the introductory paragraph

3) Conceptualize your argument • Add the definitions or background necessary for your readers to approach the first paragraph but… • Don’t give it all away now!

4) Explain how your paper is organized • Tell the reader how you are going to talk about your topic • Indicate the sections of your essay and something about the order in which they will be discussed

Ineffective Introductions • I hope you enjoy… • Hi, my name is… • You are going to learn about… • This essay/letter is about… • I am going to tell you about… • There are three reasons… • Webster’s Dictionary defines…

What are some effective ways to introduce a piece of writing?

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • an anecdote or scenario “In 1901, Pablo Picasso's closest friend, Carlos Casagemas, committed suicide, an event which shocked the young artist and drove him into a deep, guilt-laden depression. Indeed, in the aftermath of this tragedy, Picasso became superstitious in his fear of anything associated with death, an obsession which was reflected not just in his subsequent "blue period" paintings, but throughout his life. The painting Picasso executed in response to Casagemas' death, paradoxically titled La Vie [Life] (1903), develops several of the distinctive motives that would become important to his later paintings, including his ambivalent view of women, a close connection between sex and death, and an intensely subjective viewpoint.” http://www2.hmc.edu/~alves/intros.html

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • a quotation or dialogue – the exact words of a person or character relevant to the idea/argument Hillary Rodham Clinton once said that “There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard.” In 2006, when Nancy Pelosi became the nation’s first female Speaker of the House, one woman’s voice rang out clear. With this development, democracy grew to its truest level ever in terms of women’s equality. The historical event also paved the way for Senator Clinton as she warmed her own vocal chords in preparation for a presidential race.

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • a brief history or overview – background information needed to understand a situation Sit down with an anthropologist to talk about the nature of humans, and you are likely to hear this chestnut: “Well, you have to remember that 99 percent of human history was spent on the open savanna in small hunter-gatherer bands.” It's a classic cliché of science, and it's true. Indeed, those millions of ancestral years produced many of our hallmark traits—upright walking and big brains, for instance. Of course, those wildly useful evolutionary innovations came at a price: achy backs from our bipedal stance; existential despair from our large, self-contemplative cerebral cortex. As is so often the case with evolution, there is no free lunch. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=aspiration-makes-us-human

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • 5 W’s of situation or issue – the who, what, where, when, and why of a situation or issue Jeanette Walls, the 52-year-old journalist-turned-novelist, grew up in a dysfunctional family that travelled from California to New York in search of happiness and, relatedly, wealth. While her parents spurned conventional parenting in favor of a more “hands-off” approach, it is difficult to say whether or not Jeanette and her siblings were neglected. Certainly, being forced to forage for their own food and be responsible for their own education draws a clear line in the sand. But readers must then ask themselves – were there real benefits to this type of childhood? Does the artwork win out over the burn marks?

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • an interesting fact – a piece of information that stimulates reader interest Have a minute? Good. Because that may be all it takes to save the life of a child—your child. Accidents kill nearly 8000 children under age 15 each year. And for every fatality, 42 more children are admitted to hospitals for treatment. Yet such deaths and injuries can be avoided through these easy steps parents can take right now. You don't have a minute to lose. -from "60 Seconds That Could Save Your Child" by Cathy Perlmutter with Maureen Sangiorgio in Prevention, September, 1993.

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • a question – asking the reader a question to stimulate thinking and involve them in an idea/argument “How many more fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters must bury loved ones killed by drunk drivers?”

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • taking a stand – revealing the writer’s point of view or position “It is imperative that the citizens of the United States stand up to their elected officials and demand more transparency in their government.”

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • a contrasting situation – presenting opposing sides or opinions of a situation “There are many benefits that come from living in the city. One is exposed to people of all different ages, races, and backgrounds; museums, art galleries, and libraries abound with information; and on weekends, there are always festivals to attend, concerts to jam out to, and plays in the park to attend. However, the benefits of city-living are outshined by those of growing up in the country. Diving deeper into what it means to be a “city guy or gal,” one begins to see that there are negatives to city-living that one does not encounter when living away from urban centers, surrounded by nature and empathetic neighbors.”

Introduction Strategies A writer may begin with • A COMBINATION OF ANY OF THE ABOVE!

Writing Introductions