Introduction

1. Introduction Hook Background/connections Thesis statement

2. The Basics • It is NOT a perfect paragraph. • It has a specific order of information. • Lets the reader know the main idea and focus of your essay. • It has three clear sections.

3. INTRODUCTION • HOOK • Background/Connection • THESIS Statement • Three parts… that’s it!

4. The Hook • Should grab the reader’s attention. • Should NOT be a question! • Gives some insight into the topic. • Two options for a hook for an essay: • Descriptive Anecdote • Quotation

5. ‘Anecdote’ • A descriptive story • Uses sensory details • Smells like • Feels like • Sounds like • Looks like • Tastes like • A similar situation to what the essay topic/prompt offers

6. Sample prompt #1 No one can argue that America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity, including today’s youth. However, experts disagree on its causes. Compose an essay which answers the following question: Would banning junk food on campus make kids more healthy?

7. Descriptive Hook #1 Munch munch, swallow. The sound made as that honey bun slides down a teens throat, equally distributing calories that will one day transform hips into love handles and that booty into a badonk. It’s true. It starts out with one bite and turns into an everyday life of super-sized Big Macs and midnight munchies, and this all started at school. The junk food provided has transformed another teen into a statistic; thus joining the ranks of the 1/3 of American children and teens that are obese in this nation.

8. Descriptive Hook #2 A wrapper from a Ding Dong floats to the ground while crumbs from potato chips that refuse to enter the teen’s mouth silently fall to the table. The smack-smack smacking of a of another teen eating cupcake pollutes the room. All around is the noise of crinkled plastic bags and the chugging of soda. It is lunch time at high school.

9. Sample Prompt #2 For decades, authors have written about time travel. It seems everyone has thought of the topic. If you were able to travel back in time with one modern invention, which would it be and why?

10. Anecdote Hook #1 The dark smoky sky replaces the once blue horizon. The sound of staggering footsteps echoes in the barren wasteland. A gasp for air is followed by a faint thump; it is official, the human race is extinct.

11. Anecdote Hook #2 Listen. Hear the soothing melody that swiftly moves through the air, enveloping the room. Wait. Feel the passion enrapture with each press of the ivory keys, telling stories through notes and giving goose bumps from the intensity of emotion. Although the harpsichord was a popular and beautiful instrument during the late 1700’s, it could never emanate the emotion in which the musician intended.

12. Using a Quote • Make sure to include quotation marks • Always include the author, use anonymous if you cannot remember or –A wise person once said…. • Do NOT quote plop • You must explain the meaning of the quote. • Give some connection between the quote and the focus of the essay.

13. Hook #1 junk food prompt A wise man once said “A fat stomach never breeds fine thoughts.” his words couldn’t be more true. How can a young person make wise decisions when their mind is clouded by sugar? This is the connection between the quote and the topic of the essay.

14. Hook #2 junk food prompt “A fat stomach sticks out too far. It prevents you from looking down and seeing what is going on around you.” Norman Reilly Raine’s words mean that a person can lose sight of what is important, or what he or she should be doing if they are overwhelmed by their weight. Obesity is an epidemic with our young Americans today. Explains the quote and connects it to the topic.

15. Quote Hook tech prompt “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke said these words and they are so true. Imagine the great magical good one could do by going back in time with medicine to cure the plague? People from 2oo years ago would call a TV or a plane “sorcery”. Explains the connection between the quote and the essay subject.

16. Quote Hook #2 tech prompt The famous thinker and philosopher Plato said “Necessity... the mother of invention.” Most inventions over time have come from place of need - the need to cure illness, the need to make work easier, and the need to make it safer. Makes the connection to the topic of the essay.

17. Background/connections • The second part of an introduction connects the hook with the focus of your essay. • It gives some back ground information about the subject/topic. • Pay attention to the information given to you in your prompt… you might be able to use it.

18. Sample prompt = Junk Food No one can argue that America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity, including today’s youth. However, experts disagree on its causes. Compose an essay which answers the following question: Would banning junk food on campus make kids more healthy?

19. Background for junk food prompt • America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity, including today’s youth. However, experts disagree on its causes.

20. Add the hook to the background A wise man once said “A fat stomach never breeds fine thoughts.” his words couldn’t be more true. How can a young person make wise decisions when their mind is clouded by sugar? America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity, including today’s youth. However, experts disagree on its causes.

21. “A fat stomach sticks out too far. It prevents you from looking down and seeing what is going on around you.” Norman Reilly Raine’s words mean that a person can lose sight of what is important, or what he or she should be doing if they are overwhelmed by their weight. No one can argue that America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity; it is an epidemic with our young Americans today. However, experts disagree on its causes.

22. Munch munch, swallow. The sound made as that honey bun slides down a teens throat, equally distributing calories that will one day transform hips into love handles and that booty into a badonk. It’s true. It starts out with one bite and turns into an everyday life of super-sized Big Macs and midnight munchies, and this all started at school. The junk food provided has transformed another teen into a statistic; thus joining the ranks of the 1/3 of American children and teens that are obese in this nation. No one can argue that America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity; it is an epidemic with our young Americans today. However, experts disagree on its causes.

23. A wrapper from a Ding Dong floats to the ground while crumbs from potato chips that refuse to enter the teen’s mouth silently fall to the table. The smack-smack smacking of a of another teen eating cupcake pollutes the room. All around is the noise of crinkled plastic bags and the chugging of soda. It is lunch time at high school. No one can argue that America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity; it is an epidemic with our young Americans today. However, experts disagree on its causes.

24. Invention/ Back in time Prompt The dark smoky sky replaces the once blue horizon. The sound of staggering footsteps echoes in the barren wasteland. A gasp for air is followed by a faint thump; it is official, the human race is extinct. Without the cure for the plague this could have happened. For decades, authors have written about time travel. It seems everyone has thought of the topic.

25. Invention/ Back in time Prompt Listen. Hear the soothing melody that swiftly moves through the air, enveloping the room. Wait. Feel the passion enrapture with each press of the ivory keys, telling stories through notes and giving goose bumps from the intensity of emotion. Although the harpsichord was a popular and beautiful instrument during the late 1700’s, it could never emanate the emotion in which the musician intended. For decades, authors have written about time travel. It seems everyone has thought of the topic.

26. THESIS Statements • This gives the reader the focus of the entire essay… the main idea. • One sentence – it may be compound • Thesis = subject + opinion

27. example • Subject = banning junk food on campus • Opinion = it will not keep kids healthy • THESIS= Banning junk food on campus will not keep kids healthy.

28. A wrapper from a Ding Dong floats to the ground while crumbs from potato chips that refuse to enter the teen’s mouth silently fall to the table. The smack-smack smacking of a of another teen eating cupcake pollutes the room. All around is the noise of crinkled plastic bags and the chugging of soda. It is lunch time at high school. No one can argue that America has seen a huge increase in the rate of obesity; it is an epidemic with our young Americans today. However, experts disagree on its causes. Banning junk food on campus will not keep kids healthy.

29. Example #2 • Subject = invention I would bring in a time machine • Opinion = penicillin to cure infections • THESIS= If I had the opportunity to travel back in time, I would bring penicillin to cure illness.

30. The dark smoky sky replaces the once blue horizon. The sound of staggering footsteps echoes in the barren wasteland. A gasp for air is followed by a faint thump; it is official, the human race is extinct. Without the cure for the plague this could have happened. For decades, authors have written about time travel. It seems everyone has thought of the topic. If I had the opportunity to travel back in time, I would bring penicillin to cure illness.

31. Listen. Hear the soothing melody that swiftly moves through the air, enveloping the room. Wait. Feel the passion enrapture with each press of the ivory keys, telling stories through notes and giving goose bumps from the intensity of emotion. Although the harpsichord was a popular and beautiful instrument during the late 1700’s, it could never emanate the emotion in which the musician intended. For decades, authors have written about time travel. It seems everyone has thought of the topic. If I cold travel back in time,I would bring a piano.