Writing an Essay:

1. Writing an Essay: Introductions

2. An Effective Introduction • SHOULD NOT… • word for word restate the prompt. • SHOULD… • lead the reader into the essay and provide a beginning, using an attention getter. • Contain a Thesis Statement

3. What is an Attention Getter? • Description • Anecdote • Fact • Background Information • Quotes

4. What to Avoid? • Questions • Onomatopoeia • Definitions • Statistics

5. DESCRIPTION • The light refracted off the sequins and danced on the wall. I felt like the center of attention and assumed I always would be. My sparkling princess Halloween costume made by my mother was the best gift I have ever been given.

6. ANECDOTE • When I was five, I was running to catch the bus and tripped over my slightly too big new shoes. I fell head first into the corner of my mother’s heavy oak china cabinet. The blood gushed from my head wound, but I didn’t cry. My mother said I was the bravest child she had ever seen. That’s when I knew that my life would be filled with moments that tested my bravery. Bravery is the most important character trait a person can have.

7. FACT • If deforestation continues at its present rate, half of the world’s forests will be gone by the year 2010. Think of how much paper each person wastes in a day. Now, imagine all that paper piled up in one place. The only way to stop this is to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

8. BACKGROUND INFORMATION • When Arthur left for the tournament with his brother Kay and father Ector, he had no idea that he was about to become the most important person in England. After all, he was only a lanky child who was called Wart by his brother on a daily basis. All that was about to change. When Wart pulled the sword from the stone, he was catapulted to stardom, becoming the King Arthur of so much legend and folklore.

9. QUOTES • “Early morning, April 4/ Shot rings out in the Memphis sky/ Free at last, they took your life/ But they could not take your pride.” The lyrics to U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” remind us that even though Martin Luther King, Jr. was taken away from the world, his message still rings out. His assassination was one of modern history’s most tragic hate crimes.

11. Thesis Statement • A single sentence that expresses what your entire essay is about • Doesn’t have to tell all your reasons, but does provide your stance on the subject • Works best when placed at the end of the introduction

12. Expository • Suppose you are a reporter and have been assigned to interview a fascinating person of your choice. • Directions for Writing: Think about a person you would choose to interview. Now write to explain why you would choose to interview this person. Example Thesis… • Conducting an interview with __________ would be the highlight of any reporters career, because ________, _________, and __________.

13. Persuasive • Many students feel that taking physical education in high school is not necessary, while others see great benefit in it. • Directions for Writing: Do you feel that physical education should be a graduation requirement? Now write to convince your legislators to accept your point of view. Example Thesis… • Therefore, physical education __________ be a graduation requirement for all students.

14. Assignment • Choose one of the previous thesis statements (either persuasive or expository) to work with • Complete the introduction paragraph that would contain the provided thesis statement • Make sure to include an ATTENTION GETTER • Description • Anecdote • Fact • Background Information • Quote