Course Materials
Name
_
Ms. Hensler
Honors English 9
Date: _________________
WRITING A STRONG ESSAY INTRODUCTION
To introduce an essay, the opening paragraph should grab the reader’s interest, give the
reader enough background information to understand the topic, and present a clear thesis.
Hook
***OPTIONAL***
Information
Thesis
This is meant to grab your reader’s interest. It can be a quotation, a
fact, an observation, etc., that connects to the overall topic of the
paper.
The paper then needs to smoothly transition from the hook to the
information.
Introduce the main subject of the essay – in English class, likely a text.
This is the place to TAG the text.
Offer the background your reader needs in order to understand the
subject of your paper. If the subject is a text, use this space to offer a
SHORT (2 – 4 sentence), focused summary of the story.
Offer a clear, arguable thesis.
EXAMPLE
In Todd Strasser’s short story, “On the Bridge,” the main character Seth Dawson becomes a
better person as a result of a short-lived friendship with a delinquent boy named Adam
Lockwood.
We want to keep that thesis, but now offer it as the last sentence of a strong opening
paragraph. For this we use the acronym “HIT.”
“Misfortune shows those who are not really friends” (Aristotle). Countless authors
throughout history have explored the effects of both fortune and misfortune on friendship. In
Todd Strasser’s short story, “On the Bridge,” Strasser examines a friendship between two
teenage boys: Seth Dawson and Adam Lockwood. Adam is the prototypical “bad boy,” and
Seth the classic follower. Initially Seth tries to emulate Adam, but when Adam’s actions place
the boys in danger, Seth is forced to reconsider Adam’s version of friendship. Seth ultimately
agrees with Aristotle in deciding that Adam has shown himself as not truly a friend. Seth learns
from his developed understanding, becoming a better person as a result of his short-lived
friendship with Adam Lockwood.
Hensler 1
Course Materials
Let’s break down this introductory paragraph.
Hook
Information
Thesis
“Misfortune shows those who are not
really friends” (Aristotle). Countless
authors throughout history have
explored the effects of both fortune
and misfortune on friendship.
In Todd Strasser’s short story, “On the
Bridge,” Strasser examines a
friendship between two teenage boys:
Seth Dawson and Adam Lockwood.
Adam is the prototypical “bad boy,”
and Seth the classic follower. Initially
Seth tries to emulate Adam, but when
Adam’s actions place the boys in
danger, Seth is forced to reconsider
Adam’s version of friendship. Seth
ultimately agrees with Aristotle in
deciding that Adam has shown himself
as not truly a friend.
Seth learns from his developed
understanding, becoming a better
person as a result of his short-lived
friendship with Adam Lockwood.
This quotation offers a sentiment
that relates to the overall thesis – it
is about how we learn about how
true our friends are when the going
gets tough.
The sentence that follows the
quotation highlights how the idea
within the quotation relates to the
subject of the essay (the text).
The first mention of the text TAGs
it.
Four sentences give a very general
summary of the entire story. The
summary is focused around the
larger topic of friendship and its
effects. It ties back to the hook in
order to further integrate the
opening quotation and give it
further relevance.
This is close to the original thesis,
but we no longer needed the “TAG”
as it moved.
This introductory paragraph sets the reader up with enough information to move forward in the
essay.
Hensler 2
Course Materials
Strong CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH
End with a “BAM” !
To finish an essay, the conclusion paragraph should restate the paper’s thesis in new
language, analyze the importance and relevance of the paper’s argument, and leave the
reader with a universal statement.
Back to the
thesis
Bring the reader’s attention back to your primary argument: the thesis.
Now, however, the paper has offered many reasons to prove the
thesis, so the restatement can offer more depth – a deeper insight.
Analyze the
importance (to a
theme)
Your paper offers a unique interpretation of an argument; how and
why does your particular argument help the reader to understand one
or more themes of the text?
Make it universal
Your final thought offers the reader a way to thing about the paper’s
argument BEYOND the text. Your paper argued a narrow focus, but
there is always a universal message or idea behind it.
EXAMPLE
Though often in life it is the strong, healthy relationships that most affect people, Seth
Dawson finds a way to turn an unhealthy friendship with Adam Lockwood into a positive
learning experience. As a typical teenager, Seth is easily seduced by peer pressure and the
semblance of “cool” that Adam presents. Strasser does not merely communicate the trite
message to avoid peer pressure or to be “above the influence,” but more accurately conveys
that it is a common teenage experience to fall in with the “wrong crowd.” The true measure of
who a person is comes from what choices s/he makes once s/he recognizes that “wrong
crowd.” Through Seth Dawson, Strasser reminds his readers that when misfortune shows us
our true friends, it is up to us who we become as a result.
This conclusion ties up the entire essay. It revisits the argument, offering an overview and a
deeper insight. The last sentences leave the reader with a connection to the larger world –
something beyond the text for the reader to continue to think about.
Hensler 3
Course Materials
Back to the
thesis
Though often in life the strong, healthy
relationships are the ones that most
affect people, Seth Dawson finds a
way to turn an unhealthy friendship
with Adam Lockwood into a positive
learning experience.
A strong statement or restatement
of the central argument or point of
the paper. This represents what
you conclude ultimately about a
given question based on your
examination of the book.
Analyze the
importance
and
relevance
As a typical teenager, Seth is easily
influenced by peer pressure and the
semblance of “cool” that Adam
presents. Strasser does not merely
communicate the trite message to
avoid peer pressure or to be “above
the influence,” but more accurately
depicts what teenagers experience:
that it is not uncommon to fall in with
the “wrong crowd.” The true measure
of who a person is comes from what
choices s/he makes once s/he
recognizes that “wrong crowd.”
Any writing about literature MUST
include a discussion of at least one
of the themes of the work. If your
argument is important, it will relate
to at least one theme.
Make it
universal
Through Seth Dawson, Strasser
reminds his readers that when
misfortune does show us our true
friends, it is up to us who we become
as a result.
The final sentences of the paper
leave the reader with something to
think about beyond the text itself.
What meaning can be taken away
from the story and applied to the
world? For example, what does
your analysis reveal about the
author’s intention in writing the
work? What does your analysis
reveal about the author’s attitude
toward humanity? Is s/he
sympathetic with humanity?
Critical? Indifferent? Does the
author’s attitude remind you of
another work expressing a similar
attitude, intention, world view, or
human view?
Hensler 4