The introduction
It is time to put your information together and hook your reader! First, make sure you remember what the prompt is for this paper: Based on your research, identify and analyze a human rights issue in your novel and show how it relates to real-life issues and affects people within the United States and one other country.
When you write your introductory paragraph it will have three parts.
1. A hook - a stop-in-your-tracks sentence or two that catches the reader's attention and makes them want to read more.
2. A connector - this is the hardest part, but you need to connect your hook to your thesis.
3. A thesis - the thesis will serve as the map for your paper and it will tell the reader where you are going to take them throughout the essay.
The next two videos are of Mrs. Schwade and I talking about the thesis and the introduction. You will hear us referencing other videos, you can find those under English Resources - How to Write a Paper.
When you write your introductory paragraph it will have three parts.
1. A hook - a stop-in-your-tracks sentence or two that catches the reader's attention and makes them want to read more.
2. A connector - this is the hardest part, but you need to connect your hook to your thesis.
3. A thesis - the thesis will serve as the map for your paper and it will tell the reader where you are going to take them throughout the essay.
The next two videos are of Mrs. Schwade and I talking about the thesis and the introduction. You will hear us referencing other videos, you can find those under English Resources - How to Write a Paper.
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Lure time: Examples of effective hooks
https://blogs.montclair.edu/cwe/files/2014/03/boromir-opening-sentence-essay.jpeg
The hook is just an attempt to catch your reader and lure them in to reading more. There are five main types of hooks that we will discuss for this lesson.
1. Question
2. Quote
3. SHORT (and I mean short) story
4. Interesting phrase
5. Thought provoking statistic
Not every hook is a correct fit for each paper. Think about fishing tackle; I wouldn't use a dull colored lure to catch a salmon. However, I will go over each type of hook above and provide an example of each so you will have a full tackle box of essay hooks.
1. Question - this is your go to hook. It will work in most situations although it can seem too simple in certain circumstances. If you were writing an essay arguing that the driving age should be changed to 18, you could start with a question that relates to the topic like: Does it seem like a good idea for high school aged students to be on the road?
The question remains in third person, makes your reader ask and answer the question of themselves, and it relates to the topic.
2. Quote - you can also start off your essay with an inspirational quote that relates to your topic and is by a reasonably recognizable author. For example, if I was writing a paper about everyone having the right to a productive life like in a human rights essay, I could start the paper with: Jimmy Carter said, "Everyone has a right to peaceful coexistence, the basic personal freedoms, the alleviation of suffering, and the opportunity to lead a productive life" (Daily Celebrations, p. 1).
3. SHORT story - this does need to be a very short story that may be in first person. For example, if I was writing a paper about why study abroad trips are wonderful educational opportunities for college students I could start with: Studying abroad in the Netherlands was and experience worth three semesters in America. I gained a more rounded knowledge of my field accompanied with skills to carry out any endeavor.
4. Interesting phrase - this one does not fit with most cases. However, you can start an essay out with an interesting phrase as long as it relates to the topic and makes sense there. Examples of interesting phrases:
Look out! Obesity is on the rise in America.
Kaboom! The boom was dropped in...
Stop! Child labor must be addressed immediately.
5. Thought provoking statistic - this is just what it says it is. You can start a paper with a statistic that makes your reader think and relates to your topic. If I was writing an essay about child labor, I could write: Although child labor has decreased, less than a year ago UNICEF reported that 15% of children worldwide were engaged in child labor (UNICEF, p. 1)
1. Question
2. Quote
3. SHORT (and I mean short) story
4. Interesting phrase
5. Thought provoking statistic
Not every hook is a correct fit for each paper. Think about fishing tackle; I wouldn't use a dull colored lure to catch a salmon. However, I will go over each type of hook above and provide an example of each so you will have a full tackle box of essay hooks.
1. Question - this is your go to hook. It will work in most situations although it can seem too simple in certain circumstances. If you were writing an essay arguing that the driving age should be changed to 18, you could start with a question that relates to the topic like: Does it seem like a good idea for high school aged students to be on the road?
The question remains in third person, makes your reader ask and answer the question of themselves, and it relates to the topic.
2. Quote - you can also start off your essay with an inspirational quote that relates to your topic and is by a reasonably recognizable author. For example, if I was writing a paper about everyone having the right to a productive life like in a human rights essay, I could start the paper with: Jimmy Carter said, "Everyone has a right to peaceful coexistence, the basic personal freedoms, the alleviation of suffering, and the opportunity to lead a productive life" (Daily Celebrations, p. 1).
3. SHORT story - this does need to be a very short story that may be in first person. For example, if I was writing a paper about why study abroad trips are wonderful educational opportunities for college students I could start with: Studying abroad in the Netherlands was and experience worth three semesters in America. I gained a more rounded knowledge of my field accompanied with skills to carry out any endeavor.
4. Interesting phrase - this one does not fit with most cases. However, you can start an essay out with an interesting phrase as long as it relates to the topic and makes sense there. Examples of interesting phrases:
Look out! Obesity is on the rise in America.
Kaboom! The boom was dropped in...
Stop! Child labor must be addressed immediately.
5. Thought provoking statistic - this is just what it says it is. You can start a paper with a statistic that makes your reader think and relates to your topic. If I was writing an essay about child labor, I could write: Although child labor has decreased, less than a year ago UNICEF reported that 15% of children worldwide were engaged in child labor (UNICEF, p. 1)
Thesis and connector
Please review the next two videos and then follow the template for the thesis of your paper. You do not HAVE to follow this format, but it is there if you would like. Then, connect your hook and your thesis together.
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Here is a template for your thesis:
ž____(human rights issue)______ has affected people for years (or give specific time or place) and is also prominent in __(book title)__ by __(author name)__. __(human rights issue)____ can be seen in __1__, __2__, and __3___.
Portfolio assignment: What do you turn in?
For your portfolio, all you need to turn in is your completed introductory paragraph.