Create your Introduction

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Last Updated: 02-Aug-23
Price: $120

Create your Introduction

Following the guidelines create an introduction to your textual report that (1) shows the importance of the issue and (2) shows the point of your report.

Use at least one source to accomplish at least one of the following attention grabbers:

Quote – A meaningful, inspiring, or thought-provoking quote about the issue can often set the right tone.

Anecdote – Depending on the genre, you might choose a personal anecdote or one that appears in your research. In either case, this can provide depth to the problem and make it more personal to your reader.

Alarming Statistic – Numbers can often convey more significance than can words. A good statistic can suggest the size or scope of the problem.

Take care to cite your source with an appropriate in-text citation

If you choose to accomplish #2 in some way other than a thesis statement, include a thesis statement separately so that I can see that you have it.

Post your introduction here.

Guidelines for Creating Effective Introductions
While introductions will vary greatly according to one’s rhetorical situation (genre, purpose, and audience) the general goals are largely universal and would be effective for both your textual report and for your verbal/visual report

First, you want your audience to want to read/watch/listen to your text

Do “grab” their attention immediately
Do Not start your text with boring platitudes (i.e. “these days…) or boring background information.
Most writing is driven by a central problem or puzzle. One should focus the FIRST SENTENCES of one’s introduction on making one’s audience care (or reminding them that they care) about this issue.

Effective Attention Grabbers – the best introductions start with one or several of the following strategies

Title – It is often effective to highlight the issue as part of the title; also an interesting, catchy, playful title can sometimes pique your audience’s interest.
Quote – A meaningful, inspiring, or thought-provoking quote about the issue can often set the right tone.
Anecdote – Depending on the genre, you might choose a personal anecdote or one that appears in your research. In either case, this can provide depth to the problem and make it more personal to your reader.
Alarming Statistic – Numbers can often convey more significance than can words. A good statistic can suggest the size or scope of the problem.
Second, you want to help your audience understand the point of your text

Depending on the genre, this is typically the second objective and is typically accomplished in the second half of your introduction.

Novice writers often make the mistake of providing detailed background information and/or too many details about their points. These details are necessary but can be fairly boring. Do not bring them out until your reader is already invested.

To help your reader understand the point of your text, without causing them to lose interest, try the following strategies:

End your introduction with:

A thesis statement
Your main claim/point
A question
Provide only enough background information for them to understand the statement/question – note that more background details are often included in the second paragraph or elsewhere in the text.

Do not provide details to support the statement/question – Your reader will assume that you will provide your explanations and reasoning in the body of your text.