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Bad Introductions

The document outlines six types of ineffective introductions to avoid in writing, including placeholder introductions, restated questions, dictionary definitions, overly broad statements, book report formats, and unrelated anecdotes. Each type is explained with examples of weak introductions that fail to engage the reader or effectively introduce the topic. The guidance emphasizes the importance of crafting engaging and relevant introductions that connect to the thesis of the paper.

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26 views2 pages

Bad Introductions

The document outlines six types of ineffective introductions to avoid in writing, including placeholder introductions, restated questions, dictionary definitions, overly broad statements, book report formats, and unrelated anecdotes. Each type is explained with examples of weak introductions that fail to engage the reader or effectively introduce the topic. The guidance emphasizes the importance of crafting engaging and relevant introductions that connect to the thesis of the paper.

Uploaded by

nyembogibea7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Handout: Introductions to Avoid (Adapted from the University of North Carolina Writing

Center)

Six Kinds of Less Effective Introductions

1. The Place Holder Introduction. When you don't have much to say on a given topic, it
is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction
contains several sentences that are vague and don't really say much. They exist just to
take up the "introduction space" in your paper. If you had something more effective to
say, you would probably say it, but in the meantime this paragraph is just a place holder.

Weak Example: Deception is an important theme in Twelfth Night. There are many
different aspects of deceit in the play. Each creates different kinds of problems for the
characters.

2. The Restated Question Introduction. Restating the question can be an effective


strategy, but it can be easy to stop at JUST restating the question instead of offering a
more effective, interesting introduction to your paper. The instructor wrote your topic and
will be reading ten to seventy essays in response to them—he or she does not need to
read a whole paragraph that simply restates the question. Try to do something more
interesting.

Weak Example: By paying close attention to the passage on page 62, one can see the
relations between Shakespeare’s language and important themes in the play. Doing so
shows how complicated and interesting Shakespeare’s language was.

3. The Webster's Dictionary Introduction. This introduction begins by giving the


dictionary definition of one or more of the words in the assigned question. This
introduction strategy is on the right track--if you write one of these, you may be trying to
establish the important terms of the discussion, and this move builds a bridge to the
reader by offering a common, agreed-upon definition for a key idea. You may also be
looking for an authority that will lend credibility to your paper. However, anyone can
look a word up in the dictionary and copy down what Webster says - it may be far more
interesting for you (and your reader) if you develop your own definition of the term in the
specific context of your class and assignment. Also recognize that the dictionary is also
not a particularly authoritative work -- it doesn't take into account the context of your
course and doesn't offer particularly detailed information. If you feel that you must seek
out an authority, try to find one that is very relevant and specific. Perhaps a quotation
from a source reading might prove better? Dictionary introductions are also ineffective
simply because they are so overused. You might find a more creative way to define your
terms, or perhaps you could weave a definition into a more attention-grabbing
introductory paragraph.
4. “Since the Dawn of Time” Introduction. This kind of introduction generally makes
broad sweeping statements about the relevance of this topic since the beginning of time.
It is usually very general (similar to the place holder introduction) and fails to connect to
the thesis. You may write this kind of introduction when you don't have much to say--
which is precisely why it is ineffective.

Weak Example: Since the dawn of man, love has been a topic for artists to write about.

or

Willliam Shakespeare, the greatest poet in the English language, had many insights into
human nature.

5. The Book Report Introduction. This introduction is what you had to do for your
fifth-grade book reports. It gives the name and author of the book you are writing about,
tells what the book is about, and offers other basic facts about the book. You might resort
to this sort of introduction when you are trying to fill space because it's a familiar,
comfortable format. It is ineffective because it offers details that your reader already
knows and that are irrelevant to the thesis.

Weak Example: William Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night in around 1600. It tells the
story of Viola and Sebastian, twins separated by a shipwreck. The play is a tale of
mistaken identities that lead to a comic resolution.

6. The Unrelated Anecdote or Example. Sometimes a personal story closely related to


your essay topic can garner your reader’s interest and make your essay relevant to them.
More often, though, they can lead your reader to think that you are not serious about your
topic or that you don’t have something serious to say. Therefore, decide carefully when
using this kind of introduction.

Example: I was walking down Locust Walk the other day and saw a guy wearing a dress.
“Wow,” I thought, that is so surprising to see. It made me realize how shocking it must
have been for a member of Shakespeare’s audience to see a guy in a dress.

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