Introductions

​Week 8

ENGL 079​

​Week 8 Agenda

• Tonight, we will:

  • Learn about introductions

  • Go over next step in Final Essay assignment

  • Take or retake grammar quiz

• For homework, you should:

  • Complete the Week 8 Classroom Activity by noon tomorrow

  • Complete the Final Essay Outline by ne​xt week

Multiple Choice

Why do essays need an introduction? What is the purpose?

• To annoy students

• To get reader's attention and introduce topic

• To give details about each subtopic

• To make more work for teachers

Multiple Choice

Which is the better "hook"?

• Merriam-Webster's defines a beach as "a shore of a body of water covered by sand, gravel, or larger rock fragments."

• Have you ever fallen asleep with a cold drink in your hand while being lulled to sleep by the sound of ocean waves crashing, the smell of sweet salt water, and the feel of the warm afternoon sun covering you by a blanket?

Multiple Choice

Which is the better "hook"?

• As a kid, I used to stand in front of the television with a hairbrush as a microphone and pretend I was announcing the baseball games. It has always been my dream to be a sports announcer.

• When you gave us this assignment to talk about how college will change my life, my first thought was to write about my dream job.

Multiple Choice

Which is the better "hook"?

• Have you ever thought about the beach as a popular vacation spot? If you have, over 75% of Americans would agree with you!

• In this essay, after giving the subject a lot of thought, I am going to write about vacations at the beach.

• Answers the question: "Why should my reader care?"

• Helps narrow the topic of the paper​

• Give background information on topic.​

​Context

​

​Hook + Context

Have you ever thought about the beach as a popular vacation spot? If you have, over 75% of Americans would agree with you! It’s no wonder that going to the beach is such a popular vacation spot.  With the calm of sunrise and sunset, the warmth and fresh air, not to mention many fun activities like boogie boarding, sand castle building, and swimming, the beach brings fun for everyone.

​Thesis Statement

• Topic + three details or reasons

• Summarize what your essay is about

• Give reader guidance about where you are going​

• For example:

  My favorite vacation spot is Virginia Beach because I can relax, spend time with family, and engage in fun activities.

Introduction =

​Hook + Context + Thesis

Have you ever thought about the beach as a popular vacation spot? If you have, over 75% of Americans would agree with you! It’s no wonder that going to the beach is such a popular vacation spot.  With the calm of sunrise and sunset, the warmth and fresh air, not to mention many fun activities like boogie boarding, sand castle building, and swimming, the beach brings fun for everyone. My favorite vacation spot is Virginia Beach because I can relax, spend time with family, and engage in fun activities.