Write Your Introduction (The hook and main points)

The introduction is the most important part of your paper/speech because often readers decide whether they will read your paper (or continue to listen) or put it down after reading/ hearing your introduction.  Your introduction must “hook” the audience and then let them know exactly what you are going to discuss.

Use your Organizing your notes sheet to create the introduction.

Your introduction should:

·        Hook the audiences attention

·        Give the audience some background into your topic

·        Develop interest in the topic so people want to read more

·        Guide the reader to your thesis (which identifies the main ideas you will discuss)

Start off with an interesting “Hook”

You might want to begin with any of the following:

·        A “did you know”  (e.g. Did you know that women in medieval times were so worried about fashion that they would wear a device called a corset around their waist that was so tight that if they sneezed they could break a rib?”)

·        A song  (e.g. “Ring around the rosie!  Pocket full of posies.  Ashes. Ashes.  We all fall down!”  This common children’s song actually talks about the effects of the black plague in medieval Europe). 

·        A quote (e.g. “Friends, Romans, Countrymen.  Lend me your ears!”)

·        An “imagine” opening (e.g. Imagine, if you will, that you have just been transported back to the times of the Great Pharaohs of Egypt…”

Use the space below to write your “Hook.”