Q Introduction Recipe: Intro Non-Options: Begin with a question. This is overused and I know you can already do it. You need to grow your writing skills. Start with a lot of generalities about people or life today. Academic essays are built on specific information and data not overgeneralizations. Define a word or simple term. This is not needed at this advanced level of writing. Intro Options: Begin with a quotation or surprising relevant fact Use a quotation from an academic text that you have read for this class or that you found in your research. Don’t search the Internet for famous quotes. Begin by talking about the opposite opinion to your opinion Example: If you believe that the Internet posed a problem for Miller, then you start with something about how great the internet is. Begin with a very short personal experience or story that has meaning to your essay. Begin with some background information. This can often be a summary of the main text(s) you are using in your essay. Be careful not to unnecessarily define terms or make overgeneralizations such as “everyone thinks that.” State a misconception and correct it. Start with a familiar experience that the reader is likely to have had or a shared cultural reference. Intro Recipe: Hook Intro of and 1-2 sentence summary of Miller’s Know My Name. Transition to thesis (if needed) Thesis sentence Thesis Reminder: The thesis statement should always be the last sentence of your introduction. In some ENGL classes, your instructor will let you be creative and you could put your thesis anywhere, but for most classes it is most helpful to the professor and your classmates if you put the thesis statement at the end of your introduction as this is where they expect to see it.