Do not make the thesis statement too narrow examples of attention grabbers for essays specific. What is an Attention Getter? Statistic hook Numbers and facts provide correct information on your topic, thus hooking the reader to the essay. Grind is the play on words because of course there is grind, but also there's the "rind" of a watermelon. Provide accurate, exciting and reliable figures and facts about the topic.
Top 4 Essay Attention Getters
GAMBITS FOR WRITING. Johnie H. Scott, M. Associate Professor of Pan African Studies. California Examples of attention grabbers for essays UniversityNorthridge. I want to acknowledged a scholarly debt of gratitude to John Langan i. Lunsford and Bill Bridges i, examples of attention grabbers for essays. Boeck and Megan C. Rainey Connections: Writing, Reading and Critical Thinking for their own work in the area of opening and closing essay stratagems. At the same time, credit must also be given to Deanne K. Milan i. Finally, a sincere note of appreciation has to be extended to my colleagues examples of attention grabbers for essays associates in the Writing Program of the Pan African Studies Department at California State University, Northridge from the time this was first written some 15 years ago in Dr.
Rosentene B. Purnell Professor Emeritus and founder of the PAS Writing Program as well as author of Bridges: Ways of Approaching Written DiscourseDr. Tom Spencer-Walters Chairperson of the Department and founding editor of Kapu-Sensand Professors King Edward Carter, Professor and author Herbert A. Simmons i. I thank each for the insights and observations over the years of commitment to developing voices among the students matriculating through the PAS Writing Program. To Simmons and Priestley, in particular, I give a heartfelt thanks for continuing the Watts Writers Workshop tradition of which we were all part of.
Writing has to be worked at — and worked at constantly, every single day. Having said that, my intent is to present another approach to writing. This article is based upon my examples of attention grabbers for essays experiences as a writer and in the classroom — and I do this as someone whose ability and love for writing enabled me to move up out of the Jordan Downs Housing Projects in South central Los Angeles, pass through Harvard, Stanford and Antioch Universities, and settle into a position where I can now share my love for the craft and love of writing itself with others, examples of attention grabbers for essays. For those of you concerned solely with writing better paragraphs and essays, what I have to say should offer some insights on accomplishing that task.
For those of you, examples of attention grabbers for essays, though, who see writing as a means to affect social attitudes and change the way people view issues and one anotherperhaps what I have to say will help jar some now thoughts into existence. I certainly hope so. You take a seat in your living room, perhaps at the breakfast nook in your kitchen where you then pause for a moment or two while hefting the envelope from one hand to the other. Excited now with the adrenalin pumping, you put the number series to the side and read on. That second window of opportunity is true for all audiences. Good writers know that one of the most serious errors that can be made is by opening up right away with the main purpose of the writing — this is an automatic turnoff for the reader!
You have to make the most of that time. Knowing about and being able to make effective use of the various opening strategies can only enhance your skills as a writer. Keep in mind that the thesis provides the main idea for the entire composition. When using this gambit, it is very effective to state these questions as a series of one-liners i, examples of attention grabbers for essays. Just keep in mind at all times that the questions you raise do more than merely set a tone for your paper, those questions sooner or examples of attention grabbers for essays must be answered. The best quotes are those drawn from popular culture, from the social literature the general public i. If you are writing to a politically conservative audience, then you might want to open with a quote from a noted conservative.
If the audience is perceived as a hip, upwardly-mobile group of African-American women, then you might want to open with a statement from someone like Joan Morgan, bell hooks, June Jordan, Sonia Sanchez, examples of attention grabbers for essays, Alice Walker or Sistah Souljah. If, on the other hand, you are directing your message to a teenaged readership based in the urban core, you might want to open with a quote from the socially conscious lyrics by one of the leading rap artists or groups. Who would you use, examples of attention grabbers for essays, for instance, if the paper was centered on the problems caused by gang violence?
Use quotes, in other words, that connect with your audience! All audiences enjoy a story, particularly those with human interest. In this instance, you are putting a face examples of attention grabbers for essays faces to your composition by drawing upon an incident containing a moral center, one that you can then use in leading your audience to the thesis statement. Here again, examples of attention grabbers for essays, the best anecdotes are those coming from popular culture: from stories and events that people are aware of and talking about. You do this by presenting statistical data, facts, figures that underscore the issues about to be discussed. The data must be pertinent, validated and presented examples of attention grabbers for essays an objective manner free of any editorializing — the facts speak for themselves.
This is best examples of attention grabbers for essays by using two of the six gambits. Your more skilled writers frequently make use of this, the seventh and final opening gambit. All of these opening strategies, or essay gambits, have one purpose and that is to focus the audience on your purpose for writing: your thesis statement. This statement is best seen as a single, complete sentence containing the main idea of the entire composition with at least three 3 patterns by which you intend to develop and support that subject.
It has no focus and fails to give the audience anything in terms of where the composition is going. From this thesis statement, we know that you are going to write about 1 the great gas mileage a Hyundai gets in comparison to other cars, 2 the low maintenance and monies saved in repairs with the Hyundai in contrast to other vehicles, and 3 the responsive way the Hyundai handles on the road in relationship to other cars on the highways and city streets. Those three patterns of development all contribute to and support the main idea, which is that the Hyundai is a great car.
They do so in a logical, orderly fashion which is what your readership expects in a well-organized composition. By the same token, you need to now about the four 4 most common errors made when fashioning thesis statements:. Synergy — Bringing Everything Together:. When structuring paragraphs, essays and other compositions that work for the reader — and keep in mind that when writing for the public, that audience always comes first! You accomplish this by using the opening gambits or strategies that I have identified here, each of which leads the reader to what hopefully will be a well-formulated, clearly-articulated thesis statement i.
Your reader s should be able to follow that thesis in a logical and orderly fashion to the conclusion, examples of attention grabbers for essays. You want to writer something that leaves an impression in the mind of your audience, a belief that they have been given something of considerable worth. This is best achieved by using any one of the following six 6 closing gambits Again, there are actually eight but students who follow-through with me into Freshman Composition will pickup the remaining two at that level :. What you are doing here is to repeat for your readers those patterns of development first articulated in the thesis statement; in effect, you are now tying the package together.
This can be a very effective means for closing out an essay. It adds style and grace to the writing. The best quotes, again, come out of popular culture or wisdom, examples of attention grabbers for essays. The quote s should be directly related to the subject matter. Using quotes definitely gives your audience the impression that you are in control of the material. Once more, we are dealing with readability. Audiences love good stories, those that have a core, a sensibility. The writer who can close a composition with a brief story is certainly going to leave a memorable impression on the readers. Anytime you can focus the audience on the main point of your writing, then leave them with something to mull over once they have finished the reading, then you have succeeded.
Remember that the prediction reflects what might or will take place if the assertion in your thesis is not followed through or acted upon. This engages the audience into actions which is always a positive effect. In the same vein, examples of attention grabbers for essays, giving the audience a recommendation or series of recommendations is effective in that you are providing them with a list of actions they can take. This moves the audience from passive readers to active doers. This is proactive, engaging writing that makes your audience aware that what they have read is not merely brain candy, but a serious call by the writer for them to act upon what has been put on the table. This conclusion keeps your readership stimulated.
Good writing calls for practice and commitment. One of the keys to being an effective writer is remembering your audience, keeping them in mind, understanding that the best audience is one that takes an active rather than passive role in reading what it is that you are trying to get across. The opening and closing strategies that have been discussed here are proven means for accomplishing examples of attention grabbers for essays exact purpose. To become really adept at writing, though, you have to read: widely and broadly. Reading will give you access not only to new information but, even more, will expose you to different writing styles and ways of expression that can only enhance and improve your own.
Discussion Questions:. What are those seven and provide your own original example s in explaining each one. The author lists the four most common errors in the construction of thesis statements. What are those errors and which one s give you the greatest difficulty? Identify each of examples of attention grabbers for essays eight techniques and briefly give your own, original examples and illustrations in explaining each one. In what way s has it expanded on your previous knowledge and awareness of ways in which to open and close your writing. ATTENTION GRABBERS: OPENING AND CLOSING GAMBITS FOR WRITING By Johnie H. Keep in mind that the thesis provides the main idea for the entire composition; 2 Use a question or series of thought-provoking questions.
Just keep in mind at all times that the questions you raise do more than merely set a tone for your paper, those questions sooner or later must be answered; 3 Use quotations. The data must be pertinent, validated and presented in an objective manner free of any editorializing — the facts speak for themselves; 6 Use the opposite of what you plan to write about. The Thesis Statement All of these opening strategies, or essay gambits, have one purpose and that is to focus the audience on your purpose for writing: your thesis statement. By the same token, you need to now about the four 4 most common errors made when fashioning thesis statements: Do not make announcement.
or tell the reader what you plan to write about — allow the writing to communicate the story! Do not make the thesis too broad. This happens when the writer has failed to carefully think out or plan what the actual subject is going to be. This is not the sort of thesis statement you would put forth for a research paper or essay topic due the following week. It is entirely too broad and general. Do not make the thesis statement too narrow or specific. Again, this is a result of failing to fully think through what one is going to write about.
my first experience essay
Therefore, you are to make your introduction stand out and work for you. So what attention grabbers work best in essay writing , and how to make sure that the first sentence of the introductory paragraph makes your readers curious? You can use a variety of attention grabbers for your piece; however, some hooks work better for particular assignments. Alternatively, you can always order professional assistance in case you doubt your writing talent. One of the most effective ways to start a paper is to pose a question to the reader. However, in order to formulate the question in the right way, you need to know your audience well. Otherwise, you risk failing to hit the target. At the same time, you are to ensure that the introductory question directs the reader to continue the thought or to find the answer within your paper.
It will hardly engage people in critical thinking. You can also tell a personal story. Readers love stories; well-written stories are always memorable and raise interest in people. The key to a great story hook is making it directly connected to the main theme of the assignment. This approach is best suited for personal narratives or admission essays and will hardly work in more formal types of academic assignments. With such a story hook, you will never distinguish your paper from the crowd. An anecdote hook is appropriate for a narrative or descriptive essay. Even if you do not consider your piece humorous, a funny opening can still work. Amcas basic coursework tutorial The function of an argumentative essay is to show that your assertion opinion, theory, hypothesis about some phenomenon or phenomena is correct or more.
Happen very personal essay examples that i tried to seven-hundred out reason you look for cute ideas topic often that that that someone else sometimes truth. Free poverty papers, essays, and research papers title: length: color poverty in nigeria poverty reduction programme in nigeria poverty in nigeria -a. No one can achieve victory without facing any challenge at any point life is full sometimes i have failed and sometimes i have got success last six months before, some serious injury happened to my team lead and she only takes care of business till date it is a situation which i learnt how to handle the customer.
Wednesday, october 31 frankenstein book ii quiz and journals assignment of essay prompts end of quarter thursday, november 1 no school for. Have you life-long best friends? read our new narrative essay sample about that large assortment of free tips and writing examples on academichelpnet. Is intended to help students develop skills to write good essays at university they encounter obstacles along the way that prevent them from fulfilling their. When structuring paragraphs, essays and other compositions that work for the reader — and keep in mind that when writing for the public, that audience always comes first!
You accomplish this by using the opening gambits or strategies that I have identified here, each of which leads the reader to what hopefully will be a well-formulated, clearly-articulated thesis statement i. Your reader s should be able to follow that thesis in a logical and orderly fashion to the conclusion. You want to writer something that leaves an impression in the mind of your audience, a belief that they have been given something of considerable worth. This is best achieved by using any one of the following six 6 closing gambits Again, there are actually eight but students who follow-through with me into Freshman Composition will pickup the remaining two at that level :. What you are doing here is to repeat for your readers those patterns of development first articulated in the thesis statement; in effect, you are now tying the package together.
This can be a very effective means for closing out an essay. It adds style and grace to the writing. The best quotes, again, come out of popular culture or wisdom. The quote s should be directly related to the subject matter. Using quotes definitely gives your audience the impression that you are in control of the material. Once more, we are dealing with readability. Audiences love good stories, those that have a core, a sensibility. The writer who can close a composition with a brief story is certainly going to leave a memorable impression on the readers. Anytime you can focus the audience on the main point of your writing, then leave them with something to mull over once they have finished the reading, then you have succeeded.
Remember that the prediction reflects what might or will take place if the assertion in your thesis is not followed through or acted upon. This engages the audience into actions which is always a positive effect. In the same vein, giving the audience a recommendation or series of recommendations is effective in that you are providing them with a list of actions they can take. This moves the audience from passive readers to active doers. This is proactive, engaging writing that makes your audience aware that what they have read is not merely brain candy, but a serious call by the writer for them to act upon what has been put on the table. This conclusion keeps your readership stimulated. Good writing calls for practice and commitment. One of the keys to being an effective writer is remembering your audience, keeping them in mind, understanding that the best audience is one that takes an active rather than passive role in reading what it is that you are trying to get across.
The opening and closing strategies that have been discussed here are proven means for accomplishing that exact purpose. To become really adept at writing, though, you have to read: widely and broadly. Reading will give you access not only to new information but, even more, will expose you to different writing styles and ways of expression that can only enhance and improve your own. Discussion Questions:. What are those seven and provide your own original example s in explaining each one. The author lists the four most common errors in the construction of thesis statements.
What are those errors and which one s give you the greatest difficulty? Identify each of the eight techniques and briefly give your own, original examples and illustrations in explaining each one. In what way s has it expanded on your previous knowledge and awareness of ways in which to open and close your writing. ATTENTION GRABBERS: OPENING AND CLOSING GAMBITS FOR WRITING By Johnie H. Keep in mind that the thesis provides the main idea for the entire composition; 2 Use a question or series of thought-provoking questions. Just keep in mind at all times that the questions you raise do more than merely set a tone for your paper, those questions sooner or later must be answered; 3 Use quotations.
No comments:
Post a Comment