English 10 Honors--The Components of a Well-Written Introduction

Hook: A sentence or series of sentences at the beginning of an introduction that "hook" or draw the reader in to the writing piece.  Basically, a hook is an intriguing start that makes the reader want to keep reading.  Below is a list of methods for hooking readers that you might want to consider:

• Dialogue
• Anecdote/Scenario
• Philosophical Musing
• Humorous Musing
• Startling Statement
• Stark Contrast
• Analogy
• Quote from Literature
• Quote from Another Source
• Rhetorical Question

Bridge: A sentence or sentences that are used to "bridge" the gap or transition between a writer's hook and thesis statement.  When a bridge is missing in an introduction, the reader thinks: How did you get from there to here so quickly?!

Thesis Statement: 

• A sentence or sentences clearly stating the multi-faceted focus/point/purpose of an entire essay
• Usually states some sort of claim
• Provides the reader with a "roadmap" of what the remainder of the essay will address including the subtopics of each of the forthcoming body paragraphs
• The subtopics previewed in the thesis statement are often called "focus words."
• The focus words in a thesis statement should be in the same order as the body paragraphs themselves.
• Relates clearly to the purpose-driven topic sentence(s) of each of the essay's body paragraphs
• If a writer crafts his or her body paragraphs first, he or she can build out from his or her topic sentences in order to write a thesis statement.
• Typically located at the end of an introduction