This document provides guidance on writing introductions and thesis statements for essays. It discusses including a "hook" to grab the reader's attention in the introduction. It also explains that the introduction should provide brief background on the topic and end with the thesis statement. The document defines a thesis statement as a proposition that takes a position and can be debated. It distinguishes topics from thesis statements, stating that a thesis takes a specific position on the topic. The document also discusses organizing paragraphs with transitions and provides examples of different types of transitions.

1. C O M P O S I T I O N C L A S S
Writing the Introduction
(MLA)

2. Introduction
 A. Grabs the reader's attention. It should have a
"hook": a fairly brief, thought-provoking
sentence (assertion, question, quotation, humor) to
catch and focus your reader's interest.
 B. Gives brief background on your topic
 C. Begins or ends with the thesis statement (SEE:
“Writing the Thesis Statement”)
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

3. Hooks
 For example:
1. “Shakespeare never grows old. Why is that?” (NL)
2. “Where were you when America lost her soul?” (NL)
3. “Old books are more fun than a barrel full of monkeys.” (NL)
4. “Never let schooling interfere with your education” (M. Twain)
5. “Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire” (W. B. Yeats)
6. ”The man that hath no music in himself… is fit for treasons”
(Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice)
7. “War is horrible, but slavery is worse” (W. Churchill).
8. “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for
something,
sometime in your life” (W. Churchill)
9. “There are no boring subjects, only disinterested minds” (GK)
10. “Don’t let worry kill you—let the Church help!”
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

4. Thesis Statement
 A thesis statement is a proposition to be defended
or proved. It is an assertion about what the author
thinks to be true or false. It is the writer's judgment
about something (a topic) that could be debated. It
requires the writer to "take sides" on an issue, and to
support that position. Unless the thesis is supported by
reasons, it is just an expression of one's opinion.
 Do not use first person pronouns ("I" or "my"). Use the
third person ("it is;" "there is," “there are,” etc.) for a
stronger, more confident and objective approach.
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

5. Difference between "topic" and "thesis"
A topic is anything you can think or write about,
a subject for study or discussion.
 topics (general subjects)
 thesis statement is based upon the topic (specific
assertions)
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

6. TOPIC # 1: Study of Shakespeare
a. Shakespeare expresses timeless truths which are
the foundation of democracy and absolutely essential
for a good education
b. Shakespeare is biased and should not be
considered any more important than any other kind of
literature.
c. Shakespeare is so antiquated that he isn't worth
any further study or attention.
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

7. TOPIC # 2: Global Warming
a. Global warming is a natural and recurring
phenomenon which humans cannot significantly
influence or change.
b. Global warming is an unprecedented event which
is caused by humans, and which requires a human
solution.
c. Global warming is part of a new pagan religion
which worships the ‘mother earth.’
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

8. TOPIC # 3: Home schooling
a. Home schooling is a legitimate and effective way
of preparing students for responsible citizenship and
productive careers.
b. Home schooling is an unconstitutional attempt to
avoid state-sponsored education.
c. Home schooling is part of a conspiracy by ring-
wing fundamentalists to overthrow the American
government.
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

9. Relationship between a topic and a thesis:
 The topic gives you the subject you are going to write
about.
 Your thesis will state where you stand (your own
judgment, opinion, conclusion) about that
particular subject.
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

10. Here's how to write your thesis statement
 Use the topic as your subject. Finish the sentence by
stating your view or assertions about that topic. Your
thesis may be expressed in more than one sentence. It
informs the reader of your position on an issue, and
alerts them of what to expect in your essay.
 Your thesis should express your conclusion, judgment or
interpretation as simply and clearly as possible. In the
remaining paragraphs of your essay you will attempt to
support that thesis with specific, relevant and sufficient
evidence. That evidence may include summaries,
paraphrases, and quotations from the text under
consideration.
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

11. ORGANIZING YOUR TRANSITIONS
A. Arrange paragraphs so that the content of one leads
logically to the next. The transition may highlight a
relationship that already exists by summarizing the
previous paragraph and suggesting something of the
content of the next paragraph.
B. A transition between paragraphs can be a word or two
("thus, however, for example, similarly"), a phrase (“as the
reader may have noticed”), or a sentence (“Obviously, there
is something wrong”).
C. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at
the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places.
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

12. TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF TRANSITIONS
A. Similarity: "also, in the same way, just as ... so too, likewise, similarly"
B. Exception/Contrast: "but, however, in spite of, on the one hand ... on the other
hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary,
still, yet"
C. Sequence/Order: "first, second, third, ... next, then, finally"
D. Time: "after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately,
later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then"
E. Example: "for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate"
F. Emphasis: "even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly"
G. Place/Position: "above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby,
there"
H. Cause and Effect: "accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus"
I. Additional Support or Evidence: "additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides,
equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then"
J. Conclusion/Summary: "finally, in a word, in brief, in conclusion, in the end, in
the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, in
summary"
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

13. HOW TO GET STARTED
A. Identify your topic (usually provided by your tutor
or the test).
B. Write your opinion (conclusion, judgment) about
the topic. This will become your thesis statement.
You will use it in your introductory paragraph.
C. Write three or four reasons why you hold that
position. You will use these in your middle paragraphs.
D. Look for transitional words and phrases to
introduce and connect the middle paragraphs.
See “Types and examples of transitions.”
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/Five%20Paragraph%20Essay%20Format.htm

14. Analyzing Introduction Examples

15. http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/pdf/hacker-orlov-
mla.pdf

16. Where is the thesis statement here?
 Each year, thousands of people throughout the United
States choose to spend their vacations camping in the
great outdoors. Depending on an individual's sense of
adventure, there are various types of camping to choose
from, including log cabin camping, recreational vehicle
camping, and tent camping. Of these, tent camping
involves "roughing it" the most, and with proper
planning the experience can be gratifying. Even with the
best planning, however, tent camping can be an
extremely frustrating experience due to uncontrolled
factors such as bad weather, wildlife encounters, and
equipment failures.
http://www.sandhills.edu/academic-departments/english/essaybasics/5_paragraph_essay.html

17.  Each year, thousands of people throughout the United
States choose to spend their vacations camping in the
great outdoors. Depending on an individual's sense of
adventure, there are various types of camping to choose
from, including log cabin camping, recreational vehicle
camping, and tent camping. Of these, tent camping
involves "roughing it" the most, and with proper
planning the experience can be gratifying. Even with
the best planning, however, tent camping can be
an extremely frustrating experience due to
uncontrolled factors such as bad weather,
wildlife encounters, and equipment failures.

18. Find the thesis statement?
 As more and more students go online and spend
more time on the Internet (Pastore, 2001), web site
navigation has become more important in helping
students find information for their studies. This
paper details navigational design techniques that
help web site designers make their navigation more
user-friendly, especially for educational users, such
as university students and researchers.
http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eap/2001/egacademicessay.ht
m

19. Find the thesis statement
A major change that has occurred in the Western family is an
increased incidence in divorce. Whereas in the past, divorce was a
relatively rare occurrence, in recent times it has become quite
commonplace. This change is borne out clearly in census figures. For
example thirty years ago in Australia, only one marriage in ten ended
in divorce; nowadays the figure is more than one in three (Australian
Bureau of Statistics, 1996: p.45). A consequence of this change has
been a substantial increase in the number of single parent families and
the attendant problems that this brings (Kilmartin, 1997).
An important issue for sociologists, and indeed for all of society, is
why these changes in marital patterns have occurred. In this essay I
will seek to critically examine a number of sociological explanations
for the 'divorce phenomenon' and also consider the social policy
implications that each explanation carries with it. It will be argued
that the best explanations are to be found within a broad socio-
economic framework.
http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/general/essay/analysing-citations/2.xml

20. Find the thesis statement
Assignment essays are developed from set questions
that give students a period of time to research a topic
and produce their answer with references to their
sources of information. While there are some
disadvantages with using assignment essays as an
assessment tool, there are sound educational purposes
underpinning this practice. This essay examines the
reasons why assignment essays are beneficial for
student learning and considers some of the problems
with this method of assessment.

21. http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-lars-mla.pdf

22.  Your Introduction should be able to:
A. Grab the reader's attention. It should have a "hook": a fairly
brief, thought-provoking sentence (assertion, question, quotation,
humor) to catch and focus your reader's interest.
B. Give brief background on your topic
C. Begin or end with the thesis statement (SEE: “Writing the
Thesis Statement”)