Attention-Getters

1. Attention-Getters Getting Off to a Good Start

2. Great essays are interesting and fun to read. A well written attention-getter can help change a good essay into a great one. • What is an attention-getter? An attention-getter is an interesting quote, fact, question or anecdote. • Where do you put an attention-getter? An attention-getter goes at the start of your essay in Paragraph 1. It is the first couple sentences of the essay. Why do you want to use an attention-getter? A good attention-getter captures your readers interest and makes them want to continue reading your essay.

3. Compare these two openings: Which opening is more exciting and makes you want to read more? Example A Example B • In his speech at the March on Washington, Rev. Martin Luther King declared, “I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.” King would die fighting for his great dream for racial justice in the USA. • Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929.

4. There are 4 basic types of attention-getters. Quote Fact Question From 1957 until his death in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. traveled more than 6 million miles, gave over 2500 speeches, wrote 5 books, and published countless numbers of articles in newspapers and magazines. “I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.” What would you be willing to endure for your freedom? Growing up in a multicultural area, I had never really experienced racism and I had been encouraged to be accepting of other people. It was while traveling in Asia that I had my first bitter taste of racism when a man told me to leave his store because he didn’t want to serve foreigners. I was angry, embarrassed and hurt. I was a stranger in a strange country, but I was traveling on and would find more welcoming people in the next town. What do you do, however, when you are not a stranger, and it is your own country and your own countrymen who are treating you with such reproach? This was the situation for black Americans in the 1950’s. Traveling on was not an option for them, this was their America too, and the people needed to fight to change it. Anecdote

5. How to use a quote: A quote can be about your famous person or something your famous person said. You should tell who the quote is from and connect it to the rest of the introduction. • In his speech at the March on Washington, Rev. Martin Luther King declared, “I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.” King would die fighting for his great dream for racial justice in the USA. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929. ..

6. How to use a fact: A fact should surprise the reader or make them want to know more about your topic. While you are researching, pay attention to anything that surprises you. It may be a good interesting fact. • From 1957 until his death in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. traveled more than 6 million miles, gave over 2500 speeches, wrote 5 books, and published countless numbers of articles in newspapers and magazines. With each step taken and every word spoken, Rev. King helped lead America forward in the pursuit of racial justice for all people regardless of color. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929….

7. How to use a question: A question should make the reader wonder about something related to your famous person. Do NOT just ask “Do you know…?” “Have you heard of …?” What would you be willing to endure for your freedom? Martin Luther King was willing to march while police attacked him, willing to go to jail when he had committed no crime and willing to give his life to achieve equality though hatred tried to silence him. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929….

8. How to use an anecdote: An anecdote is a personal story that makes the reader interested in reading because they will feel closer to you, the writer, and want to know more about your opinion on the issue. A personal story must relate well to the topic you're discussing. For the biographical essay it might not be the best choice. • Growing up in a multicultural area, I had never really experienced racism and I had been encouraged to be accepting of other people. It was while traveling in Asia that I had my first bitter taste of racism when a man told me to leave his store because he didn’t want to serve foreigners. I was angry, embarrassed and hurt. I was a stranger in a strange country, but I was traveling on and would find more welcoming people in the next town. What do you do, however, when you are not a stranger, and it is your own country and your own countrymen who are treating you with such reproach? This was the situation for black Americans in the 1950’s. Traveling on was not an option for them, this was their America too, and the people needed to fight to change it. Martin Luther King helped lead the fight for racial justice in the USA. He was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1929….

9. Let’s try it for our own essays: Use your Smartphone to find information about your famous person. Find 2 good quotes. Find 2 special facts. Make 2 thought-provoking questions. Can you think of an anecdote? Write it. Try out each attention-getter with your essay before choosing the best.

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