RULES for Introductions

8/4/2019 RULES for Introductions

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/rules-for-introductions 1/3

I. INTRODUCTIONS

A. Introductions or thesis statements are the most important part of your essays. They

function as maps to your trip, recipes to your cakes, menues for the meal you are ordering. Theyinstruct the reader what you are going to do. Just so, they provide a guide to you for what you

want your essay to accomplish.

B. STRUCTURE Three parts, seven sentences

1. Part one sets the scene; it provides the background, with the what, the where,

the when, and the like of the material that forms the basis of your argument. (Note this could bemore or less the same regardless of the question you choose). 2-3 sentences.

2. Part 2. Narrows down to the specific problem/question. 1-2 sentences.

3. Part 3. Offers a (three part) solution to the problem/question. 1 sentence.

C. Example #1

1. The hypothetical question one: “Discuss Agamemnon’s role in

The Iliad”2. Hypothetical answer

(Homer composed The Iliad around 750 BC. This epic

poem chronicles one period in the mythic war between the

Greeks and Trojans.) (The poet filled the story with many

heroes on both the Trojan and Greek sides. Of these warrior-

heroes, Agamemnon, the leader of Achaians, stands out.)

(Three elements distinguish him: His two virtues - his power or

authority and his skill as a fighter - but also a liability, hismistaken judgment.)

D. Example #2

1. Hypothetical question two: “Discuss the characterization

of Socrates in Aristophanes’ play, The Clouds.”

2. Hypothetical Answer (Ancient Greek comedy found its foremost exemplar

in Athenian poet Aristophanes. He wrote in the last part of the

fifth century and the beginning of the 4th.) (He made a

speciality of mocking the leading figures in Athenian politics



and military. He also lampooned a wide variety of other public

figures in Athens. His play, The Clouds, burlesqued philosophy

and the leader of these new thinkers, Socrates.) (His

characterization of this founder of philosophy has threedominant features. He depicted Socrates as venal, irreligious,

and airheaded.)

II. PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

Introductions set up the structure of your whole essay. The

two-, three-, or four-part THESIS ELEMENTS at the end of theintroduction constitute the structure of the successive

paragraphs. The TOPIC SENTENCE of each of these

paragraphs must repeat or echo the critical element. What

follows the TOPIC SENTENCE is facts/proofs/evidence that

supports the TS.

Thus, the example of Hypothetical Question 1 has three

elements, 1) his power, 2) his fighting skill, and 3) his error- prone judgments. With this argument your topic sentences for

the subsequent paragraphs might run as follows:

Paragraph 1/Section 1: Topic sentence 1:

The Iliad opens with a demonstration of Agamemnon‘s

kingly power, and the characteristic runs through the entire

poem. [WHAT FOLLOWS HERE/NOW WOULD BE

EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT OF THIS VERY POWER OR

AUTHORITY]

Paragraph 2/ Section 2: Topic sentence two.

Agamemon’s authority rests at least in part on his power

and courage as a warrior. [HERE AGAIN, YOU SHOULD



NOW HAVE FACTS FROM THE TEXT OF AG’S

POWER/SKILL AS A FIGHTER.]

Paragraph 3/ Section 3: Topic sentence three.Finally, for all his power and courage, Agamemnon often

makes wrong decisions and exercises poor judgment. [SAME

FACTS THAT PROVE OR SUPPORT THE MISTAKES

THAT AG MAKES.

RULES for Introductions

Documents

Transcript of RULES for Introductions