Do Now: Do Now: Which openingWhich opening would you select would you select for for an essay on the world’s most practical joker: an essay on the world’s most practical joker:

Hugh TroyHugh Troy. . Why?Why?

Nothing seemed unusual. Nothing seemed unusual. In fact, it was a rather In fact, it was a rather common occurrence in common occurrence in New York City. Five New York City. Five men dressed in overalls men dressed in overalls roped off a section of roped off a section of Fifth Avenue, and Fifth Avenue, and began ripping up the began ripping up the pavement. pavement.

Hugh Troy was born in Hugh Troy was born in Ithaca, New York, Ithaca, New York, where his father was a where his father was a professor at Cornell professor at Cornell University. After University. After graduating, Troy graduating, Troy became a successful became a successful illustrator of children’s illustrator of children’s books. books.

The King of Hearts in Alice in The King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland said, “Begin at Wonderland said, “Begin at the the beginningbeginning and you will go on till and you will go on till you come to the end: then stop.” you come to the end: then stop.”

Aim: How do you create a clear Aim: How do you create a clear and compelling and compelling introductionintroduction??

Aim: How do you create a clear and Aim: How do you create a clear and compelling introductioncompelling introduction? ?

1.1. Hooks Hooks reader’s interest reader’s interest 2.2. Introduces your Introduces your context/thesiscontext/thesis3.3. Suggests or reveals the Suggests or reveals the structure structure of of

your composition your composition

Wait until writing has begun to revise Wait until writing has begun to revise the introduction! the introduction!

Aim: How do you create a clear and Aim: How do you create a clear and compelling introductioncompelling introduction??

1.1. Startling statementStartling statement2.2. A vivid exampleA vivid example3.3. A descriptionA description4.4. A Paradoxical statementA Paradoxical statement5.5. A quotation or a bit of dialogueA quotation or a bit of dialogue6.6. A questionA question7.7. An analogyAn analogy8.8. An anecdoteAn anecdote

How do you create a clear and How do you create a clear and compelling compelling introductionintroduction??

• It is possible to stop drug addiction in the It is possible to stop drug addiction in the U.S. in a short period of time. U.S. in a short period of time.

1.1. Startling statementStartling statement

• Erma Bombeck once said, “Never go to a Erma Bombeck once said, “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” doctor whose office plants have died.”

5. Quotation/Humor5. Quotation/Humor

• Is it true that if we change any part of the Is it true that if we change any part of the world we risk unduly damaging life in other world we risk unduly damaging life in other parts of it?parts of it?

6. Question 6. Question

How do you create a clear and How do you create a clear and compelling compelling introductionintroduction??

Nothing seemed Nothing seemed unusual. In fact, it unusual. In fact, it was a rather was a rather common occurrence common occurrence in New York City. in New York City. Five men dressed in Five men dressed in overalls roped off a overalls roped off a section of Fifth section of Fifth Avenue, and began Avenue, and began ripping up the ripping up the pavement. pavement.

1.1. Startling statementStartling statement2.2. A vivid exampleA vivid example3.3. A descriptionA description4.4. A Paradoxical A Paradoxical

statementstatement5.5. A quotation or a bit of A quotation or a bit of

dialoguedialogue6.6. A questionA question7.7. An analogyAn analogy8.8. An anecdoteAn anecdote

How do you How do you NOTNOT create a clear and create a clear and compelling introduction?compelling introduction?

• ApologyApology– I am a high school student and do not

consider myself an expert on computers, but I think many companies make false claims about how easy it is to use a computer.

• ComplaintComplaint– I’d rather write about a topic of my own I’d rather write about a topic of my own

choice that the one that is assigned, but choice that the one that is assigned, but here goes. here goes.

How do you NOT create a clear and compelling introduction?

• Webster’s DictionaryWebster’s Dictionary–Webster’s Dictionary defines the verb to Webster’s Dictionary defines the verb to

snore as follows…snore as follows…• PlatitudePlatitude– America is the land of opportunity and no America is the land of opportunity and no

one knows it better than Madonna.one knows it better than Madonna.• Reference to Title Reference to Title – As you can see from my title, this essay is As you can see from my title, this essay is

about…about…

Aim: How do you create a clear and Aim: How do you create a clear and compelling introductioncompelling introduction??

1.1. Startling statementStartling statement2.2. A vivid exampleA vivid example3.3. A descriptionA description4.4. A Paradoxical A Paradoxical

statementstatement5.5. A quotation or a bit of A quotation or a bit of

dialoguedialogue6.6. A questionA question7.7. An analogyAn analogy8.8. An anecdoteAn anecdote

• ““This is a story of This is a story of prejudice and prejudice and stupidity. My own.stupidity. My own. “ “

• How does this hook How does this hook affect how you read affect how you read the restthe rest of the essay? of the essay? Did they Did they catch your catch your attention?attention? Why or why Why or why not? not?

Aim: How do you create a clear and Aim: How do you create a clear and compelling introductioncompelling introduction? ?

• Choose one of the eight hooks for opening an essay. Working with your partner, compose an alternative hook for this essay.

• “It’s been said you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way.”