The document provides guidance on writing effective introductions to essays. It recommends including a hook to engage the reader, presenting a clear thesis statement to establish the main idea, and providing any details needed to identify the topic and scope of the essay while maintaining a consistent tone and style.
4. TITLE: NOT A THESIS THESIS STATEMENT
Home and Schools Parents ought to participate more
in the education of their children.
James Cagney: Hollywood Great James Cagney was one of the
greatest actors ever to appear in
movies.
Inflation and Old Age Continuing inflation makes it
almost impossible to plan
intelligently for one's retirement.
A Shattering Experience My first visit to the zoo was a
shattering experience.
The Fad of Divorce Too many people get divorced for
trivial reasons.
5. ANNOUNCEMENT: NOT A THESIS THESIS STATEMENT
My subject is the incompetence of Professor X is an incompetent teacher.
Professor X.
I want to share some thoughts with you Our space program is a waste of
about our space program. money.
The many unforeseen problems I I encountered many unforeseen
encountered when I went camping problems when I went camping.
are the topic of this theme.
This paper will attempt to tell you The Grand Canyon was even more
something about the emotions I felt on magnificent that I had imagined.
viewing the Grand Canyon.
The thesis of this paper is the difficulty Solving our environmental problems is
of solving our environmental problems. more difficult than many
environmentalists believe.
6. •Restricted
POOR BETTER
The world is in a terrible mess. Trade barriers contribute to
international tensions.
People are too selfish. Human selfishness is seen at its
worst during rush hour.
The American steel industry has The worst problem of the
problems. American steel industry is lack of
funds to renovate outdated plants
and equipment.
Crime must be stopped. Our courts should hand out
tougher sentences.
7. • unified.
POOR BETTER
Detective stories are not a high form of Detective stories appeal to the basic
literature, but people have always been human desire for thrills.
fascinated by them, and many fine
writers have experimented with them.
The new health program is excellent, but The new health program should be run
it has several drawbacks, and it should only on experimental basis for two or
be run only on experimental basis for three years. OR
two or three years. Despite its general excellence, the new
health program should be run only on
an experimental basis for two or three
years.
The Columbus Cavaliers have trouble at The Columbus Cavaliers should be able
the defensive end and linebacker to make the play-offs. OR
positions, and front- office tensions don't Even granting a few troubles, the
help, but the team should be able to Columbus Cavaliers should be able to
make the play-offs. make the play- offs.
8. •specific.
POOR BETTER
The World Trade Center is The World Trade Center is a
impressive. monument to human folly.
Hemingway's war stories are very Hemingway's war stories helped
good. create a new prose style.
Drug addiction is a big problem. Drug addiction has caused a
dramatic increase in crimes of
violence.
Our vacation was a tremendous Our vacation enabled us to learn
experience. the true meaning of sharing.
My parents are wonderful people. Everything my parents do is based
on their loving concern for the
welfare of the family.
9. The Introduction
This part of your essay is the first presentation of your ideas. There are a
number of elements you want to include in your introduction to encourage
the reader to continue reading. First of all, you'll need a "hook" to open
your essay. This hook should entice the reader by hinting at the essay's
theme in a way that makes the reader want to read more. The hook can
be funny, witty, or a simple hypothesis. Whatever style you choose, be sure
it coincides with the overall theme of your essay.
Here are some other things you want to accomplish in your introduction:
•Beyond the hook, you will want a successful thesis statement that you
work into your introduction to establish your main idea which will run
throughout the essay.
•You want to use focused writing with a consistent tone and diction
throughout the essay.
•You want to use any details that will help the reader identify the topic and
the scope of the essay.
