Hook

Bridge
Summary

Thesis

Introductory
Paragraph
Format
1 sentence Hook
Attention-grabber options:
• An analogy or metaphor
• Famous quote Bridge
• Turn a cliché on its head
• A shocking statement Summary

Thesis

Introductory
Paragraph
Format
1 sentence Hook
Attention-grabber options:
• An analogy or metaphor
• Famous quote Bridge
• Turn a cliché on its head
• A shocking statement Summary
1 sentence or just part of a
sentence that leads into the summary
• Lit. analysis: Identify author/name of work
• Argument/Research: Identify the issue/topic
• Use to smoothly connect hook to summary

Thesis

Introductory
Paragraph
Format
1 sentence Hook
Attention-grabber options:
• An analogy or metaphor
• Famous quote Bridge
• Turn a cliché on its head
• A shocking statement Summary
1 sentence or just part of a
sentence that leads into the summary
• Lit. analysis: Identify author/name of work
• Argument/Research: Identify the issue/topic
• Use to smoothly connect hook to summary

2-3 sentences (no more than 3 sentences)

Give necessary background info. that someone who
hasn’t read the story or doesn’t know much about
the issue/topic you’re going to discuss would need to
know in order for your paper to make sense. Thesis
Keep it brief.

Introductory
Paragraph
Format
1 sentence Hook
Attention-grabber options:
• An analogy or metaphor
• Famous quote Bridge
• Turn a cliché on its head
• A shocking statement Summary
1 sentence or just part of a
sentence that leads into the summary
• Lit. analysis: Identify author/name of work
• Argument/Research: Identify the issue/topic
• Use to smoothly connect hook to summary

2-3 sentences (no more than 3 sentences)

Give necessary background info. that someone who
hasn’t read the story or doesn’t know much about
the issue/topic you’re going to discuss would need to
know in order for your paper to make sense. Thesis
Keep it brief.

1 sentence (last sentence of intro. paragraph)

A powerful sentence that directly answers the essay
question you were assigned. The thesis should include the
Introductory
subject and your opinion. It needs to be bold and something
two reasonable people could debate.
Paragraph
Format
Hook Love is a toxic medicine, holding the ability to both heal and harm.
Bridge In James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator
known only as Brother discovers this painful truth

Summary
as he fails in his attempt to help his little brother,
Doodle. Since birth, Doodle has been weak and disabled, unable
to perform normal daily functions such as walking, running,
and swimming. Dissatisfied with this situation, his
older brother decides to teach him all of these
physical activities, pushing Doodle further
and further until, one day, he dies as a
result of the physical strain.

Thesis Ultimately, Hurst

uses the complicated rela-
tionship between Doodle
and Brother to show
that love always
contains some
drops of
poison.

Student sample from

“The Scarlet Ibis”
 “The Scarlet Ibis” Introductory Paragraph Example
Hook
Grab your reader’s attention
with an interesting idea.

Love is a toxic medicine, holding the ability to both heal and harm.
Bridge In James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator known
Use a short sentence or even only as Brother discovers this painful truth as he fails in his attempt to Summary
just a quick phrase (as the
writer’s done here) to link help his little brother, Doodle. Since birth, Doodle has been weak and You need to summarize
the hook idea to the specific disabled, unable to perform normal daily functions such as walking, elements of the story
literary work you’ll discuss that will be important for
in the essay. Without this running, and swimming. Dissatisfied with this situation, his older readers to know as they
bridge, your introductory work through your essay.
brother decides to teach him all of these physical activities, pushing Assume your reader does
paragraph will feel choppy.
Doodle further and further until, one day, he dies as a result of the not know the original story
you’re discussing. You need
physical strain. Ultimately, Hurst uses the complicated relationship to fill in the necessary story
between Doodle and Brother to show that love always contains some elements to help your reader
understand the points you
drops of poison. make in your essay. No more
than three sentences here.
Thesis
This single sentence clearly declares the topic of your essay.
In this case, the thesis explains Hurst’s theme. Be sure that the Your Assignment:
thesis is bold, compelling, and offers a position that could
inspire two reasonable people to have an interesting debate. Using the four elements shown here (hook, bridge,
summary, and thesis), write an introductory paragraph
of your own. Choose a different theme from the story
we read and follow the pattern. Don’t worry; you
don’t have to write the entire essay. You just need to
write this one introductory paragraph.