Objective: I will ​analyze​ the ​structure​ of an introduction to a compare contrast ​essay ​in order to

compose ​my own introduction.

A common ​complaint​ among many people in the United States is that healthy foods are

not delicious foods. While most people enjoy consuming chocolate, they​ do not enjoy the

negative consequences​ of eating too many Oreos, such as weight gain and cavities. Similarly,

very few will argue that liver and onions is not ​nutritious​, but some would say that liver is ​not the

most appetizing ​meal choice. As a result, people often feel torn between ​what their body needs

and ​what their taste buds crave. ​Two popular food items known for ​satisfying these taste buds

are ​peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ​.​ While both ​peanut butter and jelly sandwiches​ and Cup

Noodles are very popular meal choices​ among the United States population, ​peanut butter and

jelly sandwiches are a healthier meal than Cup Noodles overall. (THESIS)

Directions - Part I - Taking apart an introductory paragraph.

STEP #1

Open a GoogleDoc.

Document Title: ​Herbie Student: Writing an introduction: 5 paragraph essay/SLE 6

Subject: ​ELA Language

Title: ​Writing an Introduction/SLE 6

Type the Objective exactly as I have above and paraphrase the underlined words.
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STEP #2 (3 minutes)

Look at the introduction for the Cup Noodles/Peanut Butter essay and answer these questions:

1. Describe what the writer is trying to do in the first sentence.

STEP #3 (3 minutes)

Tell how sentence #1 is connected to sentence #2. Point out any ideas that are identical or

related.

STEP #4 (3 minutes)

Tell how sentence #2 is connected to sentence #3. Point out any ideas that are identical or

related.

STEP #5 (3 minutes)

Tell how sentence #3 is connected to sentence #4. Point out any ideas that are identical or

related.

STEP #6 (3 minutes)

Tell how sentence #4 is connected to sentence #5. Point out any ideas that are identical or

related.

STEP #7 (3 minutes)
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Tell how sentence #5 is related to the THESIS, or the summary of the three main arguments

(“the three M’s) for your essay. Point out any ideas that are identical or related.

Directions Part II - Composing your introduction. This will EVENTUALLY go on the document

where you put your THESIS and BODY paragraphs. Type this paragraph before your first body

paragraph, You only need to type the THESIS once.

STEP #1 - Look at your THESIS statement. Think of any type or CATEGORIES of information

related to your THESIS.

In the Peanut Butter and Cup Noodles Example, CATEGORIES might be MEALS, POPULAR

FOODS, NUTRITION, JUNK FOODS, or NUTRITION

STEP #2 - Writing the HOOK. Take that category and do ONE of the following:

● Give some sort of interesting​ FACT​ or something you have observed in your own life

related to your category. In the sample above, I mentioned that people COMPLAIN that

healthy foods are not nutritious, something I have noticed by observing other people (and

listening to students!!).

● Make up some sort of ​QUESTION​ related to that category that you ask or POSE to the

person reading your essay. A possible example for the Cup Noodles Essay might be: ​Do

you often find yourself complaining that healthy food never tastes good?
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● Give some sort of ​STATISTIC​, a piece of information with a number. For example”

According to a recent poll by www.snackfoods.com, 80 percent of Americans think

Healthy foods are not delicious.

● Tell an ​INTERESTING STORY​ related to your ​THESIS​ in two or three sentences. For

example:

​A few weeks ago my family was eating at Aunt Betty’s house. As we sat down to dinner,

she let us know with a beaming smile on her face that she had made broccoli and

rutabaga casserole. As she eagerly told us the nutritional benefits of her dish, I was

silently thinking that I wish we were at the McDonald’s down the street.

You have just composed a ​HOOK​. Just like a ​HOOK​ can be used to grab things, this

sentence will ​GRAB​ your reader’s attention.

STEP #3 - Adding related ideas to your hook to DEVELOP or EXPLAIN your HOOK.

Look at how I connected my HOOK to my THESIS by connecting ideas.

THE MAP:

COMPLAINT ​→ ​DO NOT ENJOY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES​ →

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NOT THE MOST APPETIZING​/​NUTRITIOUS ​→ ​WHAT THEIR BODY NEEDS​/​WHAT

THEIR TASTE BUDS CRAVE​ → ​SATISFYING THEIR TASTE BUDS​/​PEANUT BUTTER

AND JELLY SANDWICHES​→ ​PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES

Now you can do your own MAP

Type your ​HOOK​ here.​ ___________________________________________________

For #s 1-4, type some RELATED ideas that connect your hook to your THESIS. See my MAP

above.

1. __________________

2. __________________

3. __________________

4. __________________

Type your ​THESIS ​HERE. ​_________________________________________________

STEP #4 - Writing the paragraph

● Retype your hook.

● Write FOUR complete sentences, one for EACH of your connecting ideas. (#s 1, 2, 3,

and 4 above)

● Retype your thesis to complete your paragraph

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STEP #5

● Check to make sure ALL of your sentences are COMPLETE sentences. (SUBJECT and

VERB). If you are in doubt, ask me.

STEP #6

Share with me: preyburnrhetor@gmail.com

Grading:

To get FULL CREDIT, You must have:

● STEP #s 1 - 7 above for Part I

● Your hook

● Your MAP with the related ideas

● Your introductory paragraph (retyped Hook, your four

sentences with connected ideas, and your retyped thesis.)