Introductory Paragraphs
Well begun...half done.
Hook or Attention Grabber:
This part of the introduction needs to introduce the reader to the topic of your essay. It
also needs to be engaging enough to make the reader (thatʼs me) want to read on. I
have 28 papers to mark. Make me remember your paper! A solid hook can be written
in three to five sentences.
The literature is usually NOT mentioned in the hook. Just warm me up to the idea that
you will be writing about.
Transition:
In this section, you let me know that the topic of your essay is demonstrated in a
particular piece of literature. Tell me the title of the piece and who wrote it.
Blueprint:
This is the place where you show me the three main points you will use in your
argument. Think of it as hinting at what you will eventually prove. Use one sentence
each to foreshadow the points - thatʼs three sentences in total!
Thesis:
This sentence (just one) should function as a summary of what you want to prove. It
needs to be arguable, provable and - hereʼs the big one - worth proving. That means
is answers the “So what?” question.
Introductory Paragraphs
Sample Essay Question:
In Diary of a Young Girl, the reader meets several characters, who become isolated from the rest of the
world. In a formal essay, select three of the characters and argue how their experience of isolation
affects them.
Sample Opening Paragraph:
It is human instinct to want interaction with other people. Humans thrive from contact whether
it is physical or emotional in nature. Babies respond better with love and affection from their mothers.
Being isolated is not normal. Being separated from other people and confined to a single place is
challenging in the best of circumstances. At the worst of times, it can kill the human spirit. In Anne
Frank's Diary of a Young Girl, readers witness what isolation and confinement can do to the eight
inhabitants of the secret annex. For instance, Mr. Dussel responds to the isolation by being very territorial
and wanting to stake out a space that is safe for him. Next, Mrs. Van Daan becomes petty when she is
confronted with long-term separation from the outside world. Finally, Peter Van Daan reacts quite
differently than Mr. Dussel or Mrs. Van Daan. The longer he is in isolation from the rest of the world, the
more confident he becomes. Clearly, in the text, Diary of a Young Girl, Mr. Dussel, Mrs. Van Daan and
Peter Van Daan are each impacted significantly by the isolation and cramped living conditions of the
secret annex.