Introductions

Introductions come in three pieces:

1. Common Ground

Common Ground is the portion of your introduction that establishes an area of common knowledge between you and your readers. First and foremost, it establishes what you are going to talk about - usually including the specific exhibit(s) being discussed (title, author, artist, historical figure, etc.). Then it might briefly give any necessary historical context (like a time period, date, or event) in a few sentences.

2. Problem/Question

Every paper is dealing with a problem or question - even if it doesn't seem like it at first. This is easier to think about in scientific terms; all science experiments begin with a problem or question (such as, "Why does the water in jug A boil faster than the water in jug B?"), to which the scientist responds with a hypothesis ("There is an additional chemical in water A that makes it boil faster."), an experiement which produces data (testing the water), and results (the chemical in water A). Any paper has a problem/question that the paper's argument/thesis is trying to answer.

One possible problem might be "Why is Hamlet unable to kill Claudius?" Another might be "Is Macbeth actually in control of his life?" You don't have to put your problem in the form of a question (and most of the time, people don't), but it might help to think about it that way.

3. Response

This is the final portion of your introduction where you state, clearly and specifically, what you prove in your paper and how. The response contains your stated argument/thesis, but also usually includes a little bit of methodology; your response might include a list of characters you intend to examine or an argument or theory source you will use to discuss your exhibit. It will also contain (usually at the very end of your introduction) your specific argument/thesis statement.

THESIS/ARGUMENT

The argument/thesis statement itself should be able to stand on its own and make sense without the rest of the introduction. The introduction should clarify and expand upon the argument/thesis, but a reader should be able to read your thesis and know WHAT you're arguing and WHY (sometimes your thesis will also contain a HOW).

Sample Introductions (From a WR class)

Common Ground

Problem/Question

Response

Argument/Thesis

Paper One

            The Elizabethan Era, 1558-1603, was the peak of the English Renaissance. Apart from the “rebirth” of art and culture, the English also embraced ancient Greek and Roman beliefs and practices. Included among these was the medical belief that the body was composed of four humors or fluids: yellow bile, or choleric, black bile, or melancholic, blood, or sanguine, and phlegm, or phlegmatic. These humors were also commonly expressed as the four elements: fire, earth, wind, and water. If a person possessed balanced levels of the humors, they were considered to be healthy. However, an overabundance or imbalance of the elements was believed to not only affect an individual’s health, but also their personality and appearance. William Shakespeare frequently created characters for his plays whose elements were largely imbalanced. Shakespeare’s female characters most frequently possess more masculine personalities. This most obviously seen in the characters of Tamora in Titus Andronicus and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, as both transgress the traditional behavioral standards for women. Their masculine lust for power, and revenge in the case of Tamora, drive these women to act impulsively and violently, behaviors traditionally associated with normal male behavior. Shakespeare did not, however, overlook the subtle feminine quirks of his male characters. Male characters with female traits were not meant to ridicule men; rather, they reflect negatively upon the female sex. Malvolio, a male servant in Twelfth Night, is a fundamentally female character. Although he is technically male and plays a strikingly different and more comedic role than Tamora or Lady Macbeth, he too desires to transgress his social position, which reflects negatively upon his character. In this way, Shakespeare is commenting on the misogynistic plight faced by women as determined by the four humors and the social disapproval of women who attempt to break the mold.

Paper Two

            Scientists have long struggled to solve one of man’s greatest mysteries: what exactly makes the mind tick. Science explains that components of the nervous system, including structures such as neurons, neurotransmitters, and neuroglia, function in harmony to develop what is commonly known as “thinking.” Recently, however, neurologists have gone a step further to isolate regions of the brain that are responsible for certain types of thought. Using computerized models, neurologists have been able to combine small types of “thinking fragments” to form “thinking sentences,” or in essence simple complete thoughts. Without much more time in the laboratory, scientists will be able to create an automated system that can literally read all the complex thoughts of any individual. The ethics of developing the ability to read minds are heavily debated, for the prospect of developing the technology to pry into what was once considered the one true realm of privacy is rather daunting. However, to ultimately determine whether or not this impending scientific breakthrough should come into full fruition, the pros and cons need to be critically and fairly evaluated, taking into consideration the precedents set by other heavily debated issues such as stem cell research, present issues such as what the direct consequences of this technology may be, and potential issues such as the implications seemingly radical technologies may have on the future. Nevertheless, it is imperative that this technology is taken advantage of and is brought into existence, for the profound potential to help innumerable people far outweighs the possible detriments.

Introduction Checklist

Do I:

_____ State my argument/thesis clearly at the end of my intro?

_____ Make sure I don’t open with a statement that has little or nothing to do with my topic?

_____ Have enough Common Ground so that my reader knows what I am talking about without retelling history?

_____ Outline the basic ideas of my paper and how I plan to talk about them (Response)?

_____ Define any ideas that aren’t immediately clear?

_____ Make the Problem/Question of my paper clear?