Advanced Introduction Strategies Simple Hooks A simple

Advanced Introduction Strategies

Simple Hooks A simple hook uses the information in the prompt. In the following examples, notice how the hook comes first, followed by the transition and the opinion. Combined, they form the general introduction of your essay, G. introduction (G) = hook + transition + opinion

Simple Hooks a. Or Question Hook For this hook, start with an or question. Next, write a transition, then answer the question. The answer is your opinion, for example: G Do we need zoos or not? From my point of view, I believe that we need zoos. b. Restate-the-Prompt Hook For this hook, first restate (paraphrase) the prompt. Next, write a transition, then state your opinion, for example: G The question is whether we need zoos or not. As far as I am concerned, I assert that we need zoos.

Simple Hooks c. Pro-Con Hook For this hook, state the pro (positive) side and the con (negative) side of the topic. Next, write a transition, then state your opinion, for example: G Some people think that we don’t need zoos while others think that we do. Personally speaking, I posit that we need zoos. d. General Fact + Or Question Hook For this hook, start with a general fact. Next, ask an or question about that fact including both the pro and the con sides of the argument. Next, write a transition, then answer the question. The answer is your opinion, for example: G Zoos are popular all over the world. Yet do we need them or not? In my estimation, I believe that we need zoos.

Complex Hooks A complex hook uses information from researched sources or your background knowledge. a. Statistic Hook A statistic hook uses numbers (data) to capture reader attention, for example: According to Educational Testing Services, for the year ending 2008, the average worldwide TOEFL i. BT score was 79/120. b. Definition Hook A definition begins an essay by giving a dictionary-like definition, for example: Telecommuting, or e-commuting, is a work arrangement in which an employee works at home and is connected to his or her office by means of a telecommunications link.

Complex Hooks c. Shocking-Statistic Hook A shocking-statistic hook is often stated as a question, for example: Did you know that next year, six million people will die from smoking cigarettes? That’s equal to forty-seven 747 s crashing every day for a year. d. Famous-Quote Hook When using a famous-quote hook, make sure you state the quote exactly (verbatim) using the correct punctuation and quotation marks, for example: Thomas Edison once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninetynine percent perspiration. ” e. Idiom Hook When using an idiom hook, make sure you state the idiom verbatim, for example: Correct: My mother always said, “The early bird catches the worm. ” Incorrect: My mother always said, “The morning bird catches the worm. ”

Complex Hooks f. Anecdote Hook An anecdote is a very short story used to introduce the main topic of your essay. An anecdote can be either humorous or serious, for example: I have been speaking English for twenty years, but I still have a hard time pronouncing some words. Take yesterday for example. I asked a waitress for a “bowel. ” She looked at me like I was crazy until my American friend said “bowl. ” Last year, my friend Hiroshi took an online MBA course. It cost a lot of money, but he enrolled anyway because he could finish in six months. The day after he started studying, the school suddenly closed and Hiroshi lost all his money. g. Provocative Hook When using a provocative hook, make sure you can support what you are claiming. Did you know that a gun is the best form of personal protection?

Complex Hooks • The first part of this introduction is a complex hook, specifically a statistic. hook A report in Pediatrics states that by age sixteenagers who watch TV shows with a high degree of sexual content are twice as likely to have babies out of wedlock than those teens who watch TV with a low degree of sexual content. Next comes the transition This evidence proves that television is indeed having a negative influence on the youth of America. The transition is followed by the test-taker’s opinion It also supports my belief that parents are failing to monitor their children’s viewing habits.

Inverted Pyramid Introduction

Advanced Thesis Strategies Predictor Thesis Read the following theses. Thesis #1 Personally, I think that we need zoos. Thesis #2 Personally, I think that we need zoos because they are educational, they are fun for families, and they look after endangered animals.

Synonyms

Synonyms • 1. In my opinion, I claim that there advantages to working from home, such as privacy, cost and seeing my children more. 2. As far as I’m concerned, I assert that there advantages to working from home, for example privacy, cost and seeing my children more. 3. In my experience, I feel that there advantages to working from home, including privacy, convenience and less stress. 4. In my view, I posit that there advantages to working from home, namely privacy, cost and spending more time with my children. 5. From my perspective, I contend that there advantages to working from home, specifically privacy, cost and seeing my children more. 6. Personally speaking, I believe that there advantages to working from home, including privacy, cost and seeing my children more. 7. In my estimation, I conclude that there advantages to working from home, such as privacy, cost and seeing my children more. 8. In my opinion, I postulate that there advantages to working from home, including privacy, convenience and seeing my children more. 9. Personally speaking, I reason that there advantages to working from home, specifically privacy, cost and less stress. 10. From my perspective, I think that there advantages to working from home, for example privacy, cost and spending more time with my children.

Advanced Conclusion Strategies a. Suggestion For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a suggestion. C In sum, I assert that television is a bad influence on our children. Instead of watching so much television, parents should make their kids read a book, or make them go outside and play. C As I have illustrated, I believe that we need zoos. If you want to have fun and learn something new, you should go to a zoo. b. Suggestion + Prediction For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a suggestion and a prediction. Notice how the prediction contains the auxiliary verb “will” to describe a future action. C In the final analysis, I contend that television is bad influence on our children. They should spend at least one hour a day playing outside. It will make them happier and healthier C In the end, I posit that it is better to save the money that you make. The best thing you can do is put your money in the bank. In a few years, that money will help you buy a new car or help you go to university.

Advanced Conclusion Strategies • c. Warning + Prediction For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a warning that contains a prediction of future of events. C It goes without saying that television is a bad influence on our children. It is creating a lot of fat and lazy kids who will develop serious health problems when they are adults. C As far as I’m concerned, I believe that a new factory in my home town is not a good idea. It will create a lot of pollution and destroy our beautiful neighborhoods with more traffic. d. Rhetorical Question For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question will make your reader think about your argument after your essay has ended. C Suffice it to say, I think that a new factory in my home town is not a good idea. How would you like a big smelly factory in your backyard? C In my estimation, I believe that telecommuting has many advantages. Don’t you wish you could just fall out of bed and go to work in your pajamas?

Advanced Conclusion Strategies e. Call-To-Action For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a call-toaction. Call-to-action means to tell people to do something (take action) with an emphatic (strong) voice. C In sum, I conclude that television is a bad influence on our children. Parents, turn off the TV now! C Finally, I assert that a new airport will be good for our town. Support the new airport! Invest in our future! f. Call-To-Action + Rhetorical Question For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, give a call-to-action, then end with a rhetorical question. C In closing, I believe that television is a bad influence on our children. Parents, turn off the TV now! Do you really want unhealthy kids who are violent too? C When all is said and done, I contend that a new airport will be good for our town. Support the new airport! Don’t you want to create jobs? You can also state the rhetorical question first, then end with a call-to-action. C In closing, I conclude that television is a bad influence on our children. Do you really want unhealthy kids who are violent too? Parents, turn off the TV now! C When all is said and done, I contend that a new airport will be good for our town. Don’t you want to create jobs? Support the new airport!

Synonyms

Pyramid Conclusion