Introductions

Sources Used:
1. Hacker, Diana, and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s Reference. Boston: Bedford/
St. Martin’s; 7th edition, 2010.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT WHS). “Resources for Writers: In-
troduction Strategies.”
http://writing.mit.edu/wcc/resources/writers/introduction.
3. Sommers, Nancy. “Expository Writing.” Lecture, Harvard University, 2008.
4. The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). “Introductions.”
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/2/58/.
 What is an Introduction?
– Descriptive
• It is the first paragraph or section in an academic essay.

– Normative
• It should set the context for the paper.
• It should contain the thesis statement.
• It “could” have information about the supporting points and structure of the es-
say.

– Functional
• It should spark the reader’s interest.
• It should let the reader know the main topic to be discussed and (possibly) the
basic structure of the essay.
 Sample Introductions

• Read the sample introductions.

• Identify the thesis statement in each introduction.

• What do you notice about them?

- How are they similar?

- How are they different?

 ② Some people say that personal freedoms and civil liberties are more impor-
tant than raising the GDP and per-capita income of the populace to a developing
country. However, economic development and growth should be the highest
priority of any government of a developing country for three reasons. First, it is
the food, clothing and shelter that sustain human beings. Second, economic de-
① The year 1950 witnessed the outbreak of Korean War. Many industrial
facilities and public institutions collapsed and were destroyed during the velopment would play an important role in national stabilization in a developing
Korean War. The number of educational facilities and main buildings which country. Finally, the civil power of liberty also can be increased by expanding the
were broken down was over 22,437. Over 5,236 sites of Buddhist temples and
per-capita income of the citizens. It goes without saying that freedoms should
churches were attacked and over 50 large cities were demolished during that
period (KIMTAE, 2005). The physical damage of the war was serious. To not be sacrificed for any reasons. However, economic development could solve
recover the Korean economy, most Koreans focused on economic the problems of sacrificing personal freedoms and liberties. Therefore, develop-
development and growth. The government led a five-year plan for economic ing countries should seek economic growth rather than the civil rights that are
development. This resulted in many advantages for our living and raised the
construed as freedom.
standard of living.
While more developed, a serious problem can arise. Personal freedoms
and civil liberties can be ignored in the climate which is absorbed in economic
③ Most countries want to develop their economy and have desire to live without
development and growth. In these days, this phenomenon stands out, any trouble originating from poverty and famine. Then, should economic
especially in developing countries. Most people and governments are now development and growth be the highest priority of any government of a developing
starting to recognize that this is an issue. Personal freedoms and civil liberties
country?  The answer is a resounding no, as this focus has several serious side
should be the highest priority of any government of a developing country.
Economic development should be achieved for civil liberties. In other words, effects like the phenomena of rich-get-richer and poor-get-poorer, alienation of the
development should not support just our economic growth but also promote weak, environmental pollution, and oppression of liberal activities. In other words,
the ideal of civil liberties and personal freedoms. It should not infringe on
personal freedoms and civil liberties are the most important factors to make the
human rights. This paper will closely examine why civil liberties are more
important than economic development and make recommendations for how economy truly healthy and should be the top priority in developing countries.
this can be achieved. Personal freedoms consist of both economic freedoms and political freedoms that
can bring up more valuable things in developing countries. Education and politics
might be considered as important as personal freedoms to motivate the economy,
but these things can come after civil liberties and personal freedoms. Thus,
personal freedoms and civil liberties are as important as raising the GDP and per-
capita income of the populace, and they must be promoted for citizens in a
developing country. 
 Basic Introduction Structure
• Opener (Opening): Hook
– Introduces the topic
– Sparks the reader’s interest

• Bridge sentences: connecting sentences

– Verbal and logical linkage
– Background information

• Main Ideas
– Thesis statement and preview of argument

• It’s best to start with the main idea, then try a few openers and create the linkages.
 Example
Opener • The year 1950 witnessed the outbreak of Korean War. Many industrial
facilities and public institutions collapsed and were destroyed during the
Korean War. The number of educational facilities and main buildings which
were broken down was over 22,437. Over 5,236 sites of Buddhist temples
and churches were attacked and over 50 large cities were demolished during
that period (KIMTAE, 2005). The physical damage of the war was serious. To
recover the Korean economy, most Koreans focused on economic
development and growth. The government led a five-year plan for economic
development. This resulted in many advantages for our living and raised the
standard of living.

Bridge sentences • While more developed, a serious problem can arise. Personal freedoms
and civil liberties can be ignored in the climate which is absorbed in
economic development and growth. In these days, this phenomenon stands
out, especially in developing countries. Most people and governments are
now starting to recognize that this is an issue.

• Personal freedoms and civil liberties should be the highest priority of any
Main ideas government of a developing country. Economic development should be
achieved for civil liberties. In other words, development should not support
just our economic growth but also promote the ideal of civil liberties and
personal freedoms. It should not infringe on human rights. This paper will
closely examine why civil liberties are more important than economic
development and make recommendations for how this can be achieved.
 Useful Phrases for an Introduction
• “Recently,” or “During the last few years,”

• “A review of relevant literature reveals that…”

• “One of the great controversies in this field is…”

• “Based upon analysis of available data, this paper argues that…”

• “This paper examines…”

• “The remainder of this paper is organized as follows…”

 The Main Idea

• Thesis statement

• Structure of essay
- Main supporting points
- Sections of the paper
 Types of Openers =hook
• There are many possible openers.

• 6 common ones are:

– Statement

– Opposing Statement

– Rhetorical Question (opening question)

– Story =drama

– Quotation

– Statistic
 Statement Openers
• Statement openers are when you lead off the introduction
with a version of your thesis statement.

• This is the most straightforward type.

• Statement openers can be either:

– Direct
• Liquor advertisements are designed to appeal to a variety of potential customers.

– Indirect
• Romance, glamour, exotic travel—whatever our secret fantasies, liquor ads skill-
fully combine a subtle promise of their fulfillment with an inviting message about
the advertised products.
 Opposing Statement Openers

• This has some similarities to the “peacemaker” thesis

statement we discussed earlier.

• In an opposing statement opener, you lead off by giving the

opposite side as your thesis statement.
 Opposing Statement Openers

• The opposing statement has a few possible leads, but

almost always has the same following transition:

– Many people believe that all ‘organic’ foods are healthy. However…

– Critics of the US stimulus plan have noted that the high amount of money
borrowed from foreign governments is dangerous for national security. In
particular, they note the risk posed by a sudden sell-off of borrowed debt.
However…
 Rhetorical Question Openers
• What is a rhetorical question?
– A question to which no answer is expected (or required).

• Rhetorical questions are used to:

– Engage the reader in thinking about the topic
– Make your writing more interesting and creative
– Create a lead-in to your thesis statement

• Forms of Rhetorical Questions

- Directed at the reader
- Philosophical statement
- Focused on a specific problem
 Rhetorical Question Openers

• Directed at the reader

– Have you ever wondered how to construct a thesis?

• Philosophical statement
– What is the meaning of happiness?

• Focused on a specific problem

– The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has a lengthy history. Can it ever be solved?
 Story Openers

• Story openers lead the reader into the thesis statement

by making the topic seem “real” to them.

• The biggest mistake that people make with story openers

is making them too long.

• The story should be, at the very most, 1/3 of your intro-
duction.
 Types of Story Openers
• Individual Historical (true story)
– In 2003, Iftehab Iman was working in the Ministry of Education in Iraq. Shortly
thereafter, bombs began to fall, and her country was thrown into chaos. Iman
found increased freedom in the ability to participate politically, but she also
feared greatly for her family’s security(BBC, 2003).

• Broad Historical (true story)

– Beginning with the invasion in 2003, a multinational coalition of forces, mainly
American and British, occupied Iraq. The invasion has had wide-reaching
consequences: increased civil violence, establishment of a parliamentary
democracy, official recognition and widespread political participation of Iraq's
Kurdish minority and Arab majority, significant economic growth, destruction
of existing infrastructure, and use of the country's huge reserves of oil(BBC,
2003).
 Quotation Openers

• A well-known, pithy quotation can make a good lead to your

academic essay.

• It is important that you pick something that fulfils the follow-

ing categories:

– Has a direct or indirect linkage to your topic

– Is well known (or by a well-known person)

– Has a clear and easily decipherable meaning

 Quotation Openers

• Alternatively, an aphorism could be used, in which case no

citation is needed

– A man once said, “God helps those who help themselves.”

– According to a famous maxim, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
 Statistic Openers
• Choosing a relevant and interesting statistic related to your
topic can provide an excellent way to introduce your paper.

• Make sure you provide a citation to increase the credibility

of your work.

– Korea ranks first out of 150 countries in the percentage of the populations
achieving tertiary education(WDI, 2009).

– Global surface temperature has increased 0.74 °C between the start and the
end of the 20th century(ICCC, 2009).
 Bridge Sentences=Connecting sentences

• It is crucial to show the links between the

opener and the thesis statement.

• Bridge sentences depend a lot on the opener

that you have chosen and your particular main
ideas.

• If you can’t easily make the linkage, then you

need to choose a different opener.
 Bridge Sentences
• Statement
– This presents the main idea, so no bridge is needed.

• Opposing statement
– This is the opposite of the main idea, so the connection should be fairly automatic.

• Rhetorical question
– The answer to the question should lead to the main ideas.

• Story
– Use the moral of the story to move into the main ideas.

• Quotation
– Explain the quotation, and then make a relation to your main ideas.

• Statistic
– Explain how the statistic demonstrates the main ideas.
• Opener • Greenland needs to embrace the tourism industry.
– Statement

• Bridge Sentences • Indeed,

– “Statement” itself is the
main idea, so not much
bridge is needed.

• Greenland is ready for a shift to a tourist-based econ-

omy, and the tourism industry should focus its efforts
• Main Ideas on promoting “warm-weather” activities. The chang-
ing climate has caused a longer summer and more
park areas, and tourism is a growing part of the over-
all economy. All of which provides a rare opportunity
for the country to prosper.
• Opener • Many countries are debating what to do in regards to
global warming. For some nations, actively cutting
– Opposing Statement
carbon emissions is crucial. For others, developing
green industries are a priority.

• Bridge Sentences • However,

– This is the opposite of the
main idea, so the con-
nection should be fairly
automatic.

• Greenland is ready for a shift to a tourist-based econ-

omy, and the tourism industry should focus its efforts
• Main Ideas on promoting “warm-weather” activities. The chang-
ing climate has caused a longer summer and more
park areas, and tourism is a growing part of the over-
all economy. All of which provides a rare opportunity
for the country to prosper.
• Opener • Global warming and climate change, unfortunately,
are a fact of life. While the focus of media reports has
– Rhetorical Question
justifiably been on the negative sides of climate
change, could there be any silver linings?

• Bridge Sentences • For those countries which have been restricted in

growth due to their harsh environment, climate
– The answer to the ques-
change could have potential for positive actions. In
tion should lead to the
particular,
main ideas.

• Greenland is ready for a shift to a tourist-based econ-

• Main Ideas omy, and the tourism industry should focus its efforts
on promoting “warm-weather” activities. The chang-
ing climate has caused a longer summer and more
park areas, and tourism is a growing part of the over-
all economy. All of which provides a rare opportunity
for the country to prosper.
• Opener • Lars Odom is a Greenlandic fisherman. He grew up
working eighty hour weeks hauling nets, battling
– Story
storms, and seeing the schools of fish gradually be-
come depleted. In the last five years, however, Lars
has shifted the focus of his business from commercial
fishing, and instead has been taking foreign visitors on
tours of the Greenland coast.

• Bridge Sentences • Lars’ story provides a sterling example of innovation in

times of distress, and the type of entrepreneurship
– Use the message of the
necessary to adapt to changing environmental cir-
story to move into the
cumstances. Likewise,
main ideas.

• Greenland is ready for a shift to a tourist-based econ-

omy, and the tourism industry should focus its efforts
• Main Ideas on promoting “warm-weather” activities. The chang-
ing climate has caused a longer summer and more
park areas, and tourism is a growing part of the over-
all economy. All of which provides a rare opportunity
for the country to prosper.
 • Charles Darwin said that “It is not the strongest of the
• Opener species that survives, nor the most intelligent that
– Quotation survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to
change.”

• This means that the evolution and success of any

• Bridge Sentences species is due to its ability to adapt to the changes in
– Explain the quotation, the environment around it. Darwin’s remarks become
and then make a relation particularly relevant when considering the issue of
to your main ideas. climate change for a cold-weather country such as
Greenland. That is,

• Main Ideas • Greenland is ready for a shift to a tourist-based econ-

omy, and the tourism industry should focus its efforts
on promoting “warm-weather” activities. The chang-
ing climate has caused a longer summer and more
park areas, and tourism is a growing part of the over-
all economy. All of which provides a rare opportunity
for the country to prosper.
• Opener • Global surface temperature has increased 0.74 °C be-
tween the start and the end of the 20th century
– Statistic
(ICCC, 2009).

• These rising temperatures have been a cause of con-

• Bridge Sentences cern for the world as a whole, and for Greenlanders in
– Explain how the statistic particular. However, there is evidence for an opportu-
demonstrates and relates nity for Greenland stemming from the upcoming en-
to the main ideas. vironmental changes.

• Greenland is ready for a shift to a tourist-based econ-

• Main Ideas
omy, and the tourism industry should focus its efforts
on promoting “warm-weather” activities. The chang-
ing climate has caused a longer summer and more
park areas, and tourism is a growing part of the over-
all economy. All of which provides a rare opportunity
for the country to prosper.
 Try it out!
• Write two different openers and bridge sentences, using any of the
following thesis statements.

– The South Korean government needs to devote more money to defending the country from
North Korea.

– Students should choose their own college majors and careers.

– Parents should choose college majors and careers for their children.

– Personal happiness and fulfillment are the most important criteria for choosing a job.

– Money and stability are the most important criteria for choosing a job.
 Take a look…

• Exchange papers with a colleague.

• Exchange warm and cool feedbacks.

• Give reasons and suggestions!