The Components of a Well-Written Introduction (English 10 Honors)
- 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:
- Anecdote/Scenario
- Philosophical Musing
- Humorous Musing
- Startling Statement
- 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
