Download Essay Introduction Lesson

INTRODUCTION TIME!!!!
Get ready to partayyyyy
LEARNING TARGET
• I can introduce a thesis and organize
the reasons and evidence clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1.a
RULES FOR INTRODUCTIONS
• It must capture the readers' attention.
• It must clearly introduce the topic.
ATTENTION GETTERS
• Quotation
• Metaphor/Simile
• Definition
• Shocker
• Question
• Summary
• Problem
• Anecdote
• Statistics
• Expert opinion
• Comparison
• Fact
INTRODUCTION STRUCTURE
Attention Getter
Bridge
Thesis
EXAMPLES
• Starting with a fact:
For centuries, Athens has been a port city that has harbored many ships
from around the Mediterranean region, allowing it to become a center for
foreign trade. As ideas moved around the region, Athens became a center for
ideas. Many of the ideas of the time were recorded on walls, scrolls, and
tablets. In fact, Athens’ geography significantly influenced the history and
innovations of Ancient Greece.
• Starting with a quote:
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” Although this
was written by Napoleon Bonaparte many years after the Battle of Salamis, it
rings true as the mighty Persian navy was drawn into a narrow channel and
then obliterated by a small Athenian fleet. This is just one of the many ways
geography significantly affected the politics and culture of ancient Greece.
MORE EXAMPLES
• Starting with a question:
Why didn’t ancient Greeks eat tomatoes, potatoes, oranges, and lemons?
Because these fruits and vegetables were unknown at that time. In fact,
today’s Mediterranean diet is quite different than ancient times. The cuisine
of the time included olives, and figs, along with cheese and meat from goats
and sheep. This is largely due to the fact that geography significantly
affected the economy and the culture of ancient Greece.
• Starting with a statistic:
The Athenian army was outnumbered 4 to 1 at the Battle of Marathon but
they launched a surprise offensive which appeared suicidal. But by day's
end, 6400 Persian bodies lay dead on the field while only 192 Athenians had
been killed. The surviving Persians fled to sea and headed to Athens where
they hoped to attack the city before the Greek army could get there. This is
just one example of how geography significantly affected the politics and the
culture of ancient Greece.
MORE EXAMPLES
• Starting with a shocker:
The Athenian runner, Pheidippides, ran 140 miles from the city of Marathon
to Sparta to get help and then ran another 140 miles back to Marathon with
no help for the Athenians. When the Athenians won the battle at Marathon,
Pheidippides ran back to Athens with the good new and died. This is just one
example of how geography significantly affected the politics and the culture
of ancient Greece.
• Start with a problem:
The cuisine of ancient Greeks was rather limited to olives, figs, along with
cheese and meat from goats and sheep. It wasn’t differentiated and it was
quite restricted. It wasn’t until trade opened up at Athens that new foods and
supplies came into the Greek culture. This is largely due to the fact that
geography significantly affected the economy and the culture of ancient
Greece.