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Writing Introductions

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 2 months ago

 Writing an Introduction

Attention Getters

        When writing, how do you begin? Do you jump right into your writing, or do you spend time to attract your audiences’ attention? Attracting your audience is one of the best things to do. You do this by beginning your writing with an attention getter.

       There are several types of attention getters. The first type is to open your writing with a question (Like how I started this paragraph). This causes your readers to think, and while wanting to know the answer to the question they keep reading. Telling an appropriate anecdote is another introduction that you may use. An anecdote is a story which draws the reader in your writing because the reader is left wondering about what happened or why the writer was telling me this story. If you begin by creating a vivid image, audiences begin to picture what your writing is actually about. To bring in your reader you may also begin by either giving a definition of a common word used in your paper, or you may even state a startling idea that readers may not know that surprises them. Both tactics are very effective. Starting with a quote can also be used in the introduction. The quote can be either pulled from a piece of reading, spoken by someone you know, someone famous, or even something said by you. The last possible attention getter is to begin with an analogy. An analogy is when you compare two things. Attention getters are a great idea to use because they make your writing so much stronger. Attention getters are just one simple thing that can be done to develop your writing.

 

 

Examples:

 

Thesis and Transition Statements by Asiann`e

 

 

       Thesis statements are extremely important statements that show the direction in which you are trying to get your paper, essay, or report to go. It tells what the paper is about, what you believe and intend to prove. In basic writing the thesis statement should be at the begining of the paragraph but for more advanced writing it can be placed anywhere in the first paragraph and it usually follows the "attention getter", which serves to set the context for the thesis.

 

       The thesis statement should be straight forward and to the point. You should not "beat around the bush" woth the statement because it is there to prove that you know exactly what you are talking about. It is to be specific, focused, and clear. You should avoid indistinct language [ Which makes you seem unsure "it seems" or "it might"], and most importantly avoid using the first person ["In my opinion", nobody cares if it's your opinion, prove the point!]

 

       A good thesis statement makes the difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts.

 

Transition statements are there to move your point from one paragraph to another without going off topic or confusing the reader. Sometimes when moving from one paragraph to another you might wirte something that could go along with what you are trying to porve but it might not follow what you are writing about. There for, the first sentence in the next pragraph should correspond completely with the last sentence in the previous paragraph. This should be the basis for what you are trying to get actoss in that particular paragraph.

 

            Ex. ....which follows along with why you should never drink and drive... - [ end of first paragraph]

 

            Drinking and driving has proven to be a major fatality in........  -[ begining of first paragraph]

 

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