STEP 1
Your opening statement will introduce the title of the book (capitalize or underline), the author and express a summary of the purpose of the novel, which relates to your expressed thesis.
Example: To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, tells the story of a young girl growing up in a struggling southern community where adults are often misguided and the adults model unflattering images of life. The protagonist, Scout Finch, maintains her sense of innocence while the events that impact her family and neighbors spiral down a troubling path.
STEP 2
Now you will provide an example that unites your summary and your expressed thesis. This example is monumental in showing the reader the logic and validity of your thesis. Your critical reader hungers for evidence, thus you are best served when you can provide a passage from the story that best expresses your opening summary. Remember that your summary is the first expressed opinion in your essay and you effectively establish credibility when you support that opinion with evidence.
Example: During one pivotal development in the story Scout unknowingly assists her father in turning back an angry mob of drunkard men who are determined to commit an unspeakable crime. “Entailments are bad,” I was advising him when I slowly awoke to the fact that I was addressing the entire aggregation. The men were all looking at me, some had their mouths half-open.” (114)
STEP 3
The next development in your introduction unites the example which supports your opening summary with the observed opinion in your thesis. Scout’s naive conversation with Mr. Cunningham shows how an action viewed through a child’s perspective can leave a monstrous scar on a youthful spirit.
STEP 4
The final development of your introduction is to express your thesis statement. Even though Maycomb is stained by racist activity Scout’s spirit triumphs over repeated incidences of hypocrisy, ignorance, and injustice.
Your final draft should appear in this manner:
Your name
The class
The assignment
The due date
A Lesson of Innocence
To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, tells the story of a young girl growing up
in a struggling southern community where adults are often misguided and the adults model unflattering images of life. The protagonist, Scout Finch, maintains her sense of innocence while the events that impact her family and neighbors spiral down a troubling path. During one pivotal development in the story, Scout unknowingly assists her father in turning back an angry mob of drunkard men who are determined to commit an unspeakable crime. “Entailments are bad,” I was advising him when I slowly awoke to the fact that I was addressing the entire aggregation. The men were all looking at me, some had their mouths half-open. “ (114) Scout’s naive conversation with Mr. Cunningham shows how an action viewed through a child’s perspective can leave a monstrous scar on a youthful spirit. Even though Maycomb is stained by racist activity Scout’s spirit triumphs over repeated incidences of hypocrisy, ignorance, and injustice.
Introduction Review
Opening Sentence: Start your paper with a general statement about your topic that catches the reader’s attention, a relevant quotation, question, anecdote, fascinating fact, definition, analogy, the position opposing one you will take, or a dilemma that needs a solution.
Context: Provide the information the reader will need to understand the topic.
Thesis Statement: State your arguable position on the topic that you will support with evidence in your body paragraphs.