The Introductory The Introductory ParagraphParagraph

Northwestern High SchoolNorthwestern High SchoolEnglish Language Arts 9English Language Arts 9

Mrs. AveryMrs. Avery

The Way an Essay LooksThe Way an Essay Looks

There are five parts to a There are five parts to a standard essay/ECR:standard essay/ECR:

IntroductionIntroductionBody Paragraph 1Body Paragraph 1Body Paragraph 2Body Paragraph 2Body Paragraph 3Body Paragraph 3ConclusionConclusion

The Introductory ParagraphThe Introductory Paragraph

Before you write, ask yourself Before you write, ask yourself these 2 questions…these 2 questions…

What is your stance on the What is your stance on the debatable topic?debatable topic?

Are you for or against?Are you for or against?

Who will read your writing? Who will read your writing? What do you know about your audience? What do you know about your audience?

Geographics, race, culture, beliefs, etc…Geographics, race, culture, beliefs, etc…

The Introductory Paragraph The Introductory Paragraph has 2 main parts…has 2 main parts…

The GrabberThe Grabber The ThesisThe Thesis

But it also has a small part…But it also has a small part…

The filler sentences!The filler sentences!

The Grabber!The Grabber! There are many ways to write a There are many ways to write a

topic sentence, but lettopic sentence, but let’’s focus s focus on three!on three!

Asking a question… and Asking a question… and providing the answer!providing the answer!

Using an anecdote (short Using an anecdote (short story)story)

What is a thesis statement?What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a statement A thesis statement is a statement that tells the main idea of your that tells the main idea of your paper to the readerpaper to the reader

Your thesis tells the reader what Your thesis tells the reader what point you are going to make about point you are going to make about your topic.your topic.

Usually, the thesis statement is Usually, the thesis statement is found at the found at the end of the first end of the first paragraphparagraph in an essay in an essay

Why must thesis statements have Why must thesis statements have 33 points?!points?!

The thesis must have The thesis must have 33 main points because main points because those those 33 points become points become the the 33 body paragraphsbody paragraphs of of your essayyour essay

A good way to write a thesis A good way to write a thesis is…is…

Two parts of a thesis:Two parts of a thesis:1.1. ANSWERANSWER2.2. Thesis PhraseThesis Phrase

Students should not be forced to go Students should not be forced to go to a segregated schoolto a segregated school ….because ….because 1__________, 1__________, 2_________, 2_________, and and 3____________. 3____________.

What are filler sentences?What are filler sentences? Filler sentences are sentences that Filler sentences are sentences that

connect your connect your ““grabbergrabber”” to your to your thesis statement. thesis statement.

Usually, there are 2-3 filler Usually, there are 2-3 filler sentences.sentences.

They move the reader from the They move the reader from the instant instant ““grabbergrabber”” to the main point to the main point in the thesisin the thesis

Why are they important?Why are they important?

Filler sentences are about the topic Filler sentences are about the topic youyou’’re writing aboutre writing about

Restating the question…Restating the question…QuoteQuoteFacts/StatisticsFacts/Statistics

They provide a transition from They provide a transition from the excitement of the grabber to the excitement of the grabber to the seriousness of the thesis the seriousness of the thesis statement.statement.

So an introductory paragraph So an introductory paragraph looks like this:looks like this:

________ Grabber!________ Grabber!

__________ __________ Filler Filler SentencesSentences

_______ Thesis Statement_______ Thesis Statement

The COMPLETE IntroThe COMPLETE Intro GrabberGrabber

Restate the questionRestate the question QuoteQuote FactsFacts

Thesis Thesis

(Answer + three reasons)(Answer + three reasons)

Question:Question: What important What important changes does Northwestern High changes does Northwestern High School need?School need?

Introduction:Introduction: Can you imagine what it Can you imagine what it would be like to walk into school everyday, would be like to walk into school everyday, knowing that your peers are excited about knowing that your peers are excited about learning, and that your school has the proper learning, and that your school has the proper resources to support them? Thatresources to support them? That’’s what could s what could happen if Northwestern made some important happen if Northwestern made some important changeschanges. . Students today need an environment Students today need an environment that supports their needs, and makes them feel that supports their needs, and makes them feel like they are valued members of the student like they are valued members of the student body. To ensure optimal learning, schools should body. To ensure optimal learning, schools should try their best to accommodate the interests of the try their best to accommodate the interests of the students. For many high school students, school students. For many high school students, school is where they spend most of their day, and is where they spend most of their day, and because of that, they want to enjoy the space because of that, they want to enjoy the space they occupy for four years.they occupy for four years. Northwestern High Northwestern High School needs to improve the school atmosphere School needs to improve the school atmosphere in order to create in order to create student morale, shorter class student morale, shorter class periods, and more diverse extracurricular periods, and more diverse extracurricular activitiesactivities..

You try! Find the Grabber, the You try! Find the Grabber, the Filler, and the Thesis Statement!Filler, and the Thesis Statement!

A recent survey reported that employers A recent survey reported that employers consider communication skills more critical consider communication skills more critical to success than technical skills. Employees to success than technical skills. Employees

can learn technical skills on the job and can learn technical skills on the job and practice them every day. But they need to practice them every day. But they need to bring well-developed communication skills bring well-developed communication skills to the job. They need to be able to make to the job. They need to be able to make

themselves understood to colleagues, both themselves understood to colleagues, both in speech and in writing. They need to be in speech and in writing. They need to be

able to work cooperatively as part of a able to work cooperatively as part of a team. Employers canteam. Employers can’’t take time to teach t take time to teach communication skills, but without them an communication skills, but without them an

employee will have a hard time.employee will have a hard time.

Did it look like this?!Did it look like this?!

A recent survey reported that employers A recent survey reported that employers consider communication skills more critical consider communication skills more critical to success than technical skillsto success than technical skills. . Employees Employees

can learn technical skills on the job and can learn technical skills on the job and practice them every day. But they need to practice them every day. But they need to bring well-developed communication skills bring well-developed communication skills to the job. They need to be able to make to the job. They need to be able to make

themselves understood to colleagues, both themselves understood to colleagues, both in speech and in writing. They need to be in speech and in writing. They need to be

able to work cooperatively as part of a able to work cooperatively as part of a team.team. Employers canEmployers can’’t take time to teach t take time to teach communication skills, but without them an communication skills, but without them an

employee will have a hard time. ????employee will have a hard time. ????

Some of the parents at your Some of the parents at your school have started a campaign school have started a campaign to limit the homework that to limit the homework that teachers can assign to students. teachers can assign to students. Teachers at your school have Teachers at your school have argued that the homework is argued that the homework is necessary. Should teachers necessary. Should teachers assign less homework?assign less homework?

Think about it and Write!Think about it and Write! Recently, a group of students from Recently, a group of students from

another high school were caught writing another high school were caught writing a derogatory word on the bathroom a derogatory word on the bathroom stalls. The newspapers have begun stalls. The newspapers have begun writing stories about how this incident is writing stories about how this incident is a rare, heartbreaking occurrence of a rare, heartbreaking occurrence of racism, but that it isnracism, but that it isn’’t a common issue t a common issue and should not be overly exaggerated. and should not be overly exaggerated. However, some of your classmates are However, some of your classmates are having arguments in disagreement of having arguments in disagreement of this opinion. Does racism still exist this opinion. Does racism still exist today?today?