Transcript of Research Paper Introduction. Writing the Introduction Every essay has three parts: a beginning, a...
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- Research Paper Introduction
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- Writing the Introduction Every essay has three parts: a
beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning is also called the
introduction. The introduction has two main purposes: 1. It must
grab the readers attention. You need to draw your reader in and
make him/her want to read more. 2. It must present the papers main
idea, or thesis statement. This prepares the reader for the
direction the essay is going to take.
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- Three Parts to the Introduction The introduction usually has
three parts: 1. The grabber (hook or lead) that consists of a few
sentences that pull the reader into the essay. This is what grabs
the readers attention. 2. The informational sentences that connect
the grabber to the thesis statement. These sentences may define key
points, supply necessary background information, or both. 3. The
thesis statement is a single sentence that states the main idea of
the essay. ** Your introduction will be one paragraph in
length.
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- The Grabber The grabber sentences hook your readers. The
purpose is to grab the attention of your readers and make sure they
want to keep reading. The hook refers to the opening sentences of
your introduction. A good hook grabs your readers and reels them
right in to your thesis.
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- THE INFORMATIONAL SENTENCE The informational sentences act like
a bridge to make a smooth connection between the grabber and the
thesis statement. You don't always need to include a transitional
sentence, but you should always evaluate your introduction to see
if one is necessary.
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- THE THESIS STATEMENT The thesis statement is often the last
sentence in the introduction. It clearly states the main idea of
the essay, expresses your opinion or point of view towards the
topic, and indicates the structure of the essay. Your essay will
revolve around your thesis statement.
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- The Grabber This is your hook! This is where you must capture
the attention of your readers and make them want to read on! There
are many ways to capture the attention of your readers in the
introduction. Here are some examples: Anecdote:Anecdote: a brief
incident that relates to the theme of the essay Startling fact or
opinion: Startling fact or opinion: a piece of information that
will get your reader's attention Rhetorical question:Rhetorical
question: a meaningful question that does not demand an answer, or
one that gets the reader thinking about your topic.
Quotation:Quotation: someone else's words that relate to the topic
Description:Description: a brief description of a scene, person, or
object that appeals to the reader's senses
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- Anecdote Anecdote:Anecdote: A brief incident that relates to
the theme of the essay. One of the best techniques for generating
audience interest in your topic is to begin your essay with an
anecdote. An anecdote is a brief account of an amusing or
attention-getting incident. Since most people enjoy a good story,
an anecdote is often a good way to begin your essay. But make sure
that the anecdote is short and to the point and relates to the main
idea of your essay. In the following example, notice how an
anecdote has been used to create an interesting, lively
introduction. When Jonathan Swift described Gullivers trip in the
land of Lilliput in Gullivers Travels, Swift depicted scientists
who had one eye turned inward and the other aimed at the
stars.
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- Introduction using an Anecdote as a hook When Jonathan Swift
described Gullivers trip in the land of Lilliput in Gullivers
Travels, Swift depicted scientists who had one eye turned inward
and the other aimed at the stars. In the case of two high school
science teachers I had at this school, life imitates Swifts art.
The school district should require all teachers, especially those
in science, to have an interest in students as well as expertise
and curiosity. Grabber (hook) Transitional sentence Thesis
statement
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- Startling Fact or Opinion Startling fact or opinion: A piece of
information that will get your reader's attention. Sometimes a
statistic or fact will add emphasis or interest to your essay, and
help you to assert a strong voice. A surprising or unusual fact
makes your readers curious. They can't wait to read on. When using
this technique, it is sometimes a good idea to include the source
of your information. Startling fact or opinion: In the following
examples notice how a surprising fact has been used to grab the
reader's interest. Television is so popular that over 128 million
sets are now being used in 98 percent of American households.
According to the Nielsen Company, which takes television surveys,
each week the small screen holds the attention of children under
five for an average of 23.5 hours and adults for an average of 44
hours. Indeed, the typical viewer spends more time in front of the
television set than he or she spends on any other activity except
sleep.
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- Introduction using a Startling Fact or Opinion as a hook
Television is so popular that over 128 million sets are now being
used in 98 percent of American households. According to the Nielsen
Company, which takes television surveys, each week the small screen
holds the attention of children under five for an average of 23.5
hours and adults for an average of 44 hours. Indeed, the typical
viewer spends more time in front of the television set than he or
she spends on any other activity except sleep. However, far from
being the idiot box that it is often called, television offers
viewers many benefits. Television can be educational, as well as
entertaining. Grabber (hook) Transitional sentence Thesis
statement
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- Rhetorical Question Rhetorical question: A meaningful question
that does not demand an answer, or one that gets the reader
thinking about your topic. Using a rhetorical question as a grabber
is a thought-provoking way to start an essay. If it's a strong
question, one without an obvious answer, you will get your readers
hooked, as they ponder the answer. Sometimes it's effective to
answer the question right away as you lead into the thesis
statement. Rhetorical question: Look at how this question-type
opener gets the audience thinking. What do smoke signals, wax
tablets, and the telegraph all have in common? They were all tools
used for communication. Some of these tools were more sophisticated
than others, but all of them served the same purpose. They allowed
people to communicate with each other.
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- Introduction using a Rhetorical Question as a hook What do
smoke signals, wax tablets, and the telegraph all have in common?
They were all tools used for communication. Some of these tools
were more sophisticated than others, but all of them served the
same purpose. They allowed people to communicate with each other.
Maybe in a few thousand years, our way of communicating will become
obsolete. However, theres no denying the importance of the cell
phone, the computer, and the postal service in our society today.
Grabber (hook) Transitional sentence Thesis statement
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- Quotation Quotation: Someone else's words that relate to the
topic. Beginning your essay with a quotation that is relevant to
your topic is another way to start an introduction. This method can
often stimulate the audience's interest through humor or other
devices, while also suggesting that you have thought about--and
researched--your topic. Use quotations whose length and complexity
are appropriate to the length and complexity of your essay. Avoid
opening with a quotation from a dictionary or a cliche. Quotation:
In the following example, notice how a quotation gives interest and
anticipation to the hook. Never do yourself what you can afford to
pay someone else to do.
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- Introduction using a Quotation as a hook Never do yourself what
you can afford to pay someone else to do. This is a motto my
brother lives by. If everyone lived by this motto, there would be
lots of jobs available for the people who would gladly accept the
tasks and the money! Grabber (hook) Transitional sentence Thesis
statement
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- Description Description: A brief description of a scene,
person, or object that appeals to the reader's senses. Depending on
the length of your essay and your topic, you may decide to lead
gradually into your thesis by depicting a scene that will appeal to
your audience's senses and set the mood for you essay. Description:
Notice how this technique brings life to this introduction. For
anyone fortunate enough to have a wood-burning fireplace, sitting
in front of a healthy fire on a frosty winter afternoon provides a
sense of comfort and luxury.
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- Introduction using a Description as a hook For anyone fortunate
enough to have a wood-burning fireplace, sitting in front of a
healthy fire on a frosty winter afternoon provides a sense of
comfort and luxury. Unfortunately, many fireplace owners do not
understand the three essential steps for achieving a successful
fire. Everyone needs to learn the basics of preparing the
fireplace, arranging the materials before igniting, and tending the
fire. Grabber (hook) Transitional sentence Thesis statement
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- Sample Introduction for the topic: A Hero What makes someone a
hero? Is a hero someone who soars across the sky wearing a red
cape? Is a hero someone who successfully attempts feats of
superhuman strength? What requirements must someone meet in order
to be considered a hero? A true hero is simply someone who stands
for what is right, even when this opinion is unpopular, and who is
willing to make sacrifices in order to help others. Jonas, the
protagonist in Lois Lowrys The Giver, believes in the importance of
individuality in a world where nearly everyone else is content with
Sameness, and he risks his own life in order to make life more
fulfilling for the people in his community. For these reasons,
Jonas is an example of a literary hero. Grabber (hook) Thesis
statement Transitional sentence
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- Now its your turn!! Remember that the introductory paragraph is
the reader's first glimpse of you and your topic. You want to make
a good impression! Write a grabber (hook) for your essay. Write
your transitional sentence(s). Add the thesis statement that you've
written.