Titles and IntroductionsTitles and Introductions

Titles and introductions are the Titles and introductions are the FIRST thing the reader sees and so FIRST thing the reader sees and so they are often the they are often the one thingone thing that that

determines whether your determines whether your reader/listener is engaged or not. reader/listener is engaged or not.

They are IMPORTANT. Take the They are IMPORTANT. Take the time to write a good title and time to write a good title and

introduction!introduction!

Importance of a TitleImportance of a Title

The title is the first thing the reader The title is the first thing the reader sees; it determines whether the sees; it determines whether the reader is engaged or bored. reader is engaged or bored.

Get creative and funky with your Get creative and funky with your title; tease the reader!title; tease the reader!

Use the title to hint at what you are Use the title to hint at what you are going to talk about, but leave the going to talk about, but leave the reader guessing.reader guessing.

Examples of good and not-good Examples of good and not-good titles: titles:

Not Good = Descriptive titles, e.g. Not Good = Descriptive titles, e.g. “Journal #3: Response to “Journal #3: Response to Buff Buff EnoughEnough Essay” Essay”

Good = A title that is creative and Good = A title that is creative and leaves the reader wanting more, e.g. leaves the reader wanting more, e.g. “Muscleheads and Roid-Monstors: “Muscleheads and Roid-Monstors: The New Masculinity”   The New Masculinity”   

Do’s and Do’s and Don’tsDon’tsOf IntroductionsOf Introductions

““Do’s” or How to Write An Do’s” or How to Write An Effective IntroductionEffective Introduction

Begin with a QUOTATION, but make sure Begin with a QUOTATION, but make sure you explain the relevance of the quote to you explain the relevance of the quote to your argument (don’t just insert a quote your argument (don’t just insert a quote without talking about it).without talking about it).

Begin with a QUESTION, but make sure Begin with a QUESTION, but make sure you answer that question!you answer that question!

OPPOSITE OPINION: Create a counter-OPPOSITE OPINION: Create a counter-argument in your first paragraph that you argument in your first paragraph that you will then use to disprove in the rest of your will then use to disprove in the rest of your essay.essay.

SHORT NARRATIVE or ANECDOTE: These SHORT NARRATIVE or ANECDOTE: These are short stories, creative writing, that are short stories, creative writing, that creates a scene or a moment that you will creates a scene or a moment that you will use to exemplify your argument. use to exemplify your argument.

INTERESTING FACT: Get some logos in that INTERESTING FACT: Get some logos in that first paragraph! Is there a shocking first paragraph! Is there a shocking statistic or fact you can use to draw your statistic or fact you can use to draw your reader in?reader in?

EXPLANATION OF TERM: Use your EXPLANATION OF TERM: Use your introduction to explain or define (DON’T introduction to explain or define (DON’T use a dictionary definition, though!) a key use a dictionary definition, though!) a key term or concept in your essay.term or concept in your essay.

Begin with a PARADOX or IRONY. For Begin with a PARADOX or IRONY. For example, if you are writing about females and example, if you are writing about females and body image issues, you can create an intro body image issues, you can create an intro where a man is concerned that is butt is too where a man is concerned that is butt is too big or that he looks “fat” in a pair of jeans.big or that he looks “fat” in a pair of jeans.

Use an ANALOGY. An analogy is comparing Use an ANALOGY. An analogy is comparing two concepts that are unrelated but can be two concepts that are unrelated but can be seen as similar. For example, if you are seen as similar. For example, if you are writing about the death penalty, you can writing about the death penalty, you can compare the government killing people as compare the government killing people as punishment to the Roman blood sport where punishment to the Roman blood sport where stadiums of people came to watch criminals stadiums of people came to watch criminals being eaten by lions.being eaten by lions.

Introduction “Don’ts”Introduction “Don’ts” Don’t include a dictionary definition. If you want Don’t include a dictionary definition. If you want

to include a definition, say what the word means to include a definition, say what the word means in your own language. in your own language.

Don’t summarize what your argument is.Don’t summarize what your argument is. Don’t list out all your support points in your Don’t list out all your support points in your

thesis.thesis. Don’t get so creative that you have an Don’t get so creative that you have an

introduction that seems totally unrelated to your introduction that seems totally unrelated to your topic.topic.

Don’t forget your AUDIENCE. What will entice Don’t forget your AUDIENCE. What will entice your audience to read further? What will catch your audience to read further? What will catch their attention?their attention?

Ending Your ArgumentEnding Your Argument

Conclusions- where you bring your ideas Conclusions- where you bring your ideas together and draw out the implications together and draw out the implications

of your point or make connections.of your point or make connections.

Importance of a ConclusionImportance of a Conclusion

Stresses the importance of your Stresses the importance of your thesis statement. thesis statement.

Gives the essay a sense of Gives the essay a sense of completeness.completeness.

Leaves a final impression on the Leaves a final impression on the reader. reader.

Do’s and Do’s and Don’tsDon’tsOf ConclusionsOf Conclusions

Do’sDo’s

COMPARE: Make a useful comparison COMPARE: Make a useful comparison of your topic and another issue. of your topic and another issue. Analogy conclusion.Analogy conclusion.

CALL TO ACTION: Suggest an action CALL TO ACTION: Suggest an action the reader should take in response the reader should take in response your argument.your argument.

SO WHAT? WHO CARES?: Tell your SO WHAT? WHO CARES?: Tell your reader what your thesis statement reader what your thesis statement means for the future. means for the future.

GET PERSONAL: Let them know why GET PERSONAL: Let them know why your argument is important and your argument is important and meaningful to them as a reader meaningful to them as a reader and/or you as a writer.and/or you as a writer.

CALL BACK TO YOUR INTRO: You can CALL BACK TO YOUR INTRO: You can always link the last paragraph to the always link the last paragraph to the first, if you used a certain phrase, first, if you used a certain phrase, word, or a creative setting to open.word, or a creative setting to open.

Don’tsDon’ts YOUR READER ISN’T AN IDIOT: Don’t YOUR READER ISN’T AN IDIOT: Don’t

summarize what you already told them summarize what you already told them about. about.

- Only summarize briefly (one to two - Only summarize briefly (one to two sentences) if your writing was longer than sentences) if your writing was longer than 10 pages. 10 pages.

WE CAN SEE THIS IS THE END: Don’t start a WE CAN SEE THIS IS THE END: Don’t start a conclusion with “ And in conclusion…”conclusion with “ And in conclusion…”

NO LAST MINUTE CRAMMING: Don’t try NO LAST MINUTE CRAMMING: Don’t try putting everything you couldn’t say in your putting everything you couldn’t say in your paper into your conclusion.paper into your conclusion.

KEEP THE FOCUS: Don’t focus on a minor KEEP THE FOCUS: Don’t focus on a minor point in the paper.point in the paper.