Is it possible to have two introductory paragraphs

Sometimes it is surprising because of who said it. Sometimes it is surprising because it includes profanity. Professional writers have honed this technique to a fine edge. It is not used as much as the first two patterns, but it is used. Dropping the name of a famous person at the beginning of a paper usually gets the reader's attention. It may be something that person said or something he or she did that can be presented as an interest grabber.

You may just mention the famous person's name to get the reader's interest. The famous person may be dead or alive. The famous person may be a good person like the Pope, or he or she may be a bad person like John Wilkes Booth.

Of course, bringing up this person's name must be relevant to the topic. Even though the statement or action may not be readily relevant, a clever writer can convince the reader that it is relevant. In this pattern, the writer simply states straight out what the topic of his paper is going to be about. It is the technique that most student writers use with only modest success most of the time, but good professional writers use it too.

These patterns can give a "lift" to your writing. Practice them. Try using two or three different patterns for your introductory paragraph and see which introductory paragraph is best; it's often a delicate matter of tone and of knowing who your audience is.

Do not forget, though, that your introductory paragraph should also include a thesis statement to let your reader know what your topic is and what you are going to say about that topic. Things NOT to do in an introductory paragraph: Apologize. Never suggest that you don't know what you're talking about or that you're not enough of an expert in this matter that your opinion would matter.

Your reader will quickly turn to something else. Avoid phrases like the following: In my [humble] opinion. Note that you often will have to specify vague terms that you used earlier. This version will be enough to launch the paper until you are ready to revise.

Let's use Tocqueville's model:. It might be hard to appreciate Renaissance formalwear, but everyone can understand the white dress worn by Katherine on her wedding day. When Petruchio matches her beautiful dress with black leather instead of a tuxedo, he draws the surprise of everyone. Petruchio uses this attention to show everyone that he is controlling the fate of Katherine.

Not only that, he shows everyone that enjoyment of the wedding depends on him. In fact the biker garb of Petruchio does more than strike fear into the wedding party; his upending of formalwear, of weddings, of the solemnity of a religious service, challenges us to acknowledge the fragility of our most carefully scripted experiences. Some instructors expect you not to say anything new in your conclusion.

They just want you to restate your main points. If you opt to do so, keep in mind that you should use different language than you used in your introduction and your body paragraphs. Explains the significance of the argument. For example, your argument might be significant to studies of a certain time period. Alternately, it might be significant to a certain geographical region. Alternately still, it might influence how your readers think about the future.

Handout by Dr. Liliana Naydan. Do not reproduce without permission. Sweetland Center for Writing. Within the thesis statement or in the next sentence you must say something about why you are making that argument. Also, be bold and direct about your thesis. OWN it. In addition to the WHAT question what will you argue?

How will you make your argument?