The Introductory Paragraphfor the Research Paper

Mrs. SforziniEnglish

Its Purpose

The objective of the introductory paragraph is to inform the reader of the paper’s purpose. The reader should be able to answer the following question:

“The writer wrote this paper to show or prove ….”Examples: • The writer wrote this paper to show ways in which celebrities can be

positive role models. • The writer wrote this paper to prove that violent videogames will

make their players more violent.

The Basics

• The formula for the introductory paragraph or IP:

A hook + background information + thesis statement

*It should be shorter than the standard eight-sentence body paragraph.

*It should NOT contain lengthy quotations

Hooking Your Reader

• The most important component of the IP is the hook.

• The hook is the statement(s) that entice your reader to read your paper

I want to read this paper! It sounds

cool!

A Hook to Fit Every Fish• Quotation: “Elbert Hubbard once said, ‘Truth is stronger than fiction.’”

• Definition: Use sparingly because too many amateur writers use this method. Use if you will discuss an unusual or unfamiliar topic.

• Question: Ask a question in the introduction...and answer it in the body, like a rhetorical question. However, be weary – only extremely advanced writers can truly pull this off in the IP.

• Statistics: Make sure they're actual statistics and not something you made up on the way to the library. “In 2008, American Pediatric Association found that 62% of American children are obese.”

• Comparison: Take something the reader is unfamiliar with and relate it to something they are familiar with, like poison and greenhouse gases.

• Shocker: Everybody likes surprises. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to shock people. “Cigarettes are the number one cause of lighter sales in Canada.”

• Anecdote: A short humorous story relevant to the topic eases the reader into the material. “Last November, I was walking home from school when I tripped on a slippery wrapper from an old Twinkie. Even though I caught my balance before I fell, my bag hit me in the face. Everyone laughed…”

• Expert opinion: An expert gives you instant credibility with the reader. Make sure the expert is an actual expert and not your Uncle Fred from Topeka. “According to Dr. Tammy Tam, 30 minutes of a violent video game increases aggressive behavior by 10% in males ages 12-19.”

• Summary: Begin with a brief story that will pique the reader’s interest.

Dissection of an IPIt was Summer 2008 and I was en route to Newport Beach. It was

my day off from work and I was determined to spend it relaxing with an interesting book, the grainy feel of sand between my toes, and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Excited, I pulled into the Chevron station. My joyful smile soon turned to a frown because the unleaded price was $4.25 per gallon. With only $10 dollars in my checking account, I could not afford to spend my day relaxing in Newport Beach. Unfortunately, the recent gas crisis greatly affected many Americans in that many were unable to purchase gas to travel to and from work. Experts project the prices to increase in the next three years if America does not create and implement alternative fuels use. America must make the development of alternative fuels a priority because it will ultimately be more cost-effective than oil and will greatly benefit the environment.

Hook: Summary

Background Information – Bridge Thesis Statement

It’s Time to Go Fishing – Bait Some Hooks!

For the following Thesis Statements, create two hooks from the list.

*School Uniforms are necessary because they eliminate school cliques based on clothing brands and discourage gang-related fighting.

*Students should be able to listen to their iPods in class because music promotes productivity and encourages positive behavior.