Determine ahead of time which work well for you, especially if you are going into a timed writing situation. Making the effort to think through what you want to say, and finding the best way to say it, will sig¬nificantly improve your essay. | ----------------------------------- INTRODUCTIONS --------------------------------------- Interesting Background Information Tell your reader something unusual about your subject. Here s a revision of the Frankenstein introduction using this strategy Incredibly Frankenstein one of the most important novels in Western literature was written by a teenager. When it was published in 1818 Mary Shelley was only 19 years old. Despite her youth Shelley s story raises a question that is more important today that ever What is the creator s relationship to his or her creation A New Twist on a Familiar Phrase Reword or rework an old standard to create a fresh hook. To eat or not to eat That is the question millions of Americans struggle with every day as they fight the battle of the bulge. But it seems to be a losing battle. Despite the millions spent on diet pills and diet plans Americans today are heavier than ever. There are many reasons for this nationwide weight gain but experts agree that the main cause is lack of exercise. And one of the reasons we don t get enough exercise is because we spend too much time in front of the TV. Notice that this introduction is actually two paragraphs. In some essays the introduction runs three or even four paragraphs. The key is to have an introduction that is in proportion with the rest of the essay. If your essay is two pages long one paragraph is probably sufficient for the introduction. If it goes longer the body of your essay where you develop your main points and support them with evidence and examples will lack the room it needs to completely state your case. But if your essay is ten or twelve pages long it may take a couple of paragraphs to properly introduce your topic and thesis. You might have a more detailed anecdote for example or spend two or three paragraphs describing a scenario that sets up your thesis. Practice 2 Write a two-paragraph introduction for one of the essay examples provided in the first half of this book. .
