Introductory Paragraph Strategies

1. Introductory Paragraph Strategies This is by no means a complete list of strategies, just a few recommendations. All thesis statements are underlined.

2. Broad statement narrowing to a limited subject : Born in the Salinas Valley in 1902, John Steinbeck felt a strong kinship to this region that profoundly inspired his writing. As a young man during the Great Depression, he saw firsthand the heavy burden of migrant workers as they struggled to earn a meager living under poor working conditions. These men led lonely and monotonous lives as they constantly moved from one job to the next, devoid of hope or any lasting human connection. In his novella Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck illustrates this experience through the struggles of Lennie and George, two men who hold on to their dreams like a beacon of hope in a desperate attempt to rise above their dejection.

3. Brief anecdote or background information: At a local high school recently, psychology students were given a hint of what it is like to be a parent of a newborn. Each “parent” had to carry a raw egg around at all times to symbolize the responsibilities of parenthood. The egg could not be left alone; it limited the “parents’” activities, and it placed a full-time emotional burden on “Mom” and “Dad.” This class exercise illustrates a common problem facing the majority of new mothers and fathers. Most people receive little preparation for the job of being a parent.

4. Dramatic fact or statistic (more often useful for research papers): In a poll conducted by columnist Ann Landers, seventy percent of the respondents stated that, if they could live their lives over, they would choose not to have children. This startling statistic makes one wonder what kind of experience these people thought parenthood would be. Though parents want their children to share their values, follow their paths, and succeed where they failed, most parents also have unrealistic expectations for their children.