2. Introduction Introduce the subject and come to the point Body The real power of your writing Support your thesis Examples Detailed Information Conclusion Begin by restating your thesis Not word for word! Gradually become more broad and general Basic Structure
3. The American buggy race is a thing of the past, but its spirit is not. It lives on today at a thousand dragstrips, where teenage boys now race their hotrods just as their grandfathers once raced their horse-drawn rigs. The boy behind the wheel of that roaring modern vehicle, however, has a great deal more than his grandfather’s daring spirit. He has a machine built mainly with his own hands and a head full of technical knowledge that grandpa never even dreamed about. Every race he drives is not only a contest but a test – a test of his knowledge as well as his skill as a driver. Like his grandfather, he will race every challenger, but today’s drag-racing teenager is primarily an automotive engineer, as eager to test his theories as to win races. Sample Introduction
4. Open with a broad, general statement related to the thesis. Gradually narrow to a point (thesis) by becoming more specific and adding more detail. Remember the Psychology of Argument! Tip: Make an observation about the topic. Introduction Notes
5. Remember – the demand is upon you is for clarity, logic, and reasonableness! Do not attempt to use “clever” openings, or “Gag-lines” Your job is to convince the reader of the logic of your thesis, and therefore your wisdom and reasonableness as a human being. No Bombs, Please!
6. Drag racing! How parents hate it! How kids love it! Zoom! Powie! We’re Off! Whee! Just listen to that roar! The draggers are really hot tonight! Take four wheels, a little metal and glass and some gasoline. Mix well and add one teenager. What have you got? A drag racer! Example “bombshell” openings
7. Writing as painfully bas as this is born of a perfectly sound impulse- a desire to be interesting. The effect or result is the exact opposite! Readers can see right through these bombs and tell that the writer the absence of real thought or imagination. No Bombs, Please!
8. You WILL discover that it is usually necessary to rewrite your introduction after you have completed the body. New ideas found in research Change of opinion Most writers find that they cannot get into the meat of their writing until they have established some sort of introduction – even if they have to change it later! Further Notes
9. If you feel that the structure or pattern for writing an introduction limits your creativity, remember that this is the source of its strength. It provides you with a framework that builds confidence in beginning writers. Too Rigid?
