ENGLISH 10ENGLISH 10Research Research Writing:Writing:

IntroductionsIntroductionsTips to make your writing ROCK!Tips to make your writing ROCK!

INTRODUCTIONSINTRODUCTIONSHow to avoid sounding ignorant:How to avoid sounding ignorant:Don’t say “This essay is about…” or “In Don’t say “This essay is about…” or “In this paper, I am going to discuss…”this paper, I am going to discuss…”Consider carefully before starting with a Consider carefully before starting with a question. Try to keep questions to a question. Try to keep questions to a minimum throughout.minimum throughout.Don’t write “you.” Ever. Not even once. Don’t write “you.” Ever. Not even once. This goes for the rest of the paper, too. This goes for the rest of the paper, too.

INTRODUCTIONSINTRODUCTIONS DoDo have an attention grabbing feature— have an attention grabbing feature—

some type of unique fact or phrase to some type of unique fact or phrase to generate interestgenerate interest

DoDo overview the general topic of the paper overview the general topic of the paper DoDo connect to things the audience may connect to things the audience may

already knowalready know Do Do include a thesis statement—your include a thesis statement—your

inquiry question will serve as your thesis inquiry question will serve as your thesis for this essayfor this essay

That first sentence… some That first sentence… some options:options:

Use a general, well known fact/contrast with new Use a general, well known fact/contrast with new informationinformation

EX: EX: It’s often said that laughter is the best medicine.It’s often said that laughter is the best medicine. While many such proverbs turn out to just be empty While many such proverbs turn out to just be empty words, there are real reasons behind this one. words, there are real reasons behind this one. Introducing humor and play into an individual’s life has Introducing humor and play into an individual’s life has been documented to reduce stress, increase overall life been documented to reduce stress, increase overall life satisfaction, and even help slow the progression of satisfaction, and even help slow the progression of some terminal illnesses. some terminal illnesses. To best serve their patients, To best serve their patients, U.S. hospitals should adopt a more holistic view of U.S. hospitals should adopt a more holistic view of care, that takes the incorporation of laughter-care, that takes the incorporation of laughter-inducing experiences into serious account.inducing experiences into serious account.

Use a strange or interesting fact for the first Use a strange or interesting fact for the first sentence, then follow up with explanationsentence, then follow up with explanation

Many species of octopus are extraordinarily smart—they Many species of octopus are extraordinarily smart—they can communicate with each other through the different can communicate with each other through the different patterns of color and even problem solve with puzzles patterns of color and even problem solve with puzzles given to them by researchers.given to them by researchers. Throughout the marine Throughout the marine environment, all kinds of strange and mysterious environment, all kinds of strange and mysterious creatures guard their secrets, which we are just creatures guard their secrets, which we are just beginning to understand and benefit from. beginning to understand and benefit from. Preserving Preserving the health of our ocean ecosystems is crucial, in the health of our ocean ecosystems is crucial, in order to protect the huge scientific gains to be order to protect the huge scientific gains to be had in studying marine life, including health, had in studying marine life, including health, engineering, and environmental applications.engineering, and environmental applications.

Make a statement about human nature, and Make a statement about human nature, and tie it in with your topictie it in with your topic

EX: EX: It’s a basic human desire to want to know It’s a basic human desire to want to know where we come from. We wonder how the earth where we come from. We wonder how the earth and everything on it came to be. Since the and everything on it came to be. Since the beginning of time, people have wondered—who beginning of time, people have wondered—who are we? Why are we here? are we? Why are we here? These questions left an These questions left an empty hole in people of many ancient cultures—a empty hole in people of many ancient cultures—a hole that was filled, all over the world, with hole that was filled, all over the world, with different creation myths. different creation myths. Even today, creation Even today, creation myths inherent to different cultures continue myths inherent to different cultures continue shaping our ideas of religion, the afterlife, shaping our ideas of religion, the afterlife, and the meaning of life here on Earth.and the meaning of life here on Earth.

The goal of your paper is The goal of your paper is to use your own to use your own

information and ideas information and ideas with support from your with support from your

research sources to research sources to explain and prove that explain and prove that

inquiry question!inquiry question!