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What Not to do in an Introduction 32940 Views


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Description:

This video offers some rules of thumb for writing a good introduction. It covers everything from tone (confidence is key!) to phrases and clichés to avoid (no need to tell the reader you’re writing an essay—they already know that), and where to put (and not to put) that all-important thesis statement.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

What not to do in an Introduction, a la Shmoop

00:08

The introduction is arguably the most important part of the essay. In fact… we’re arguing

00:12

it right now.

00:14

Your teacher is going to have to read the whole thing no matter what, but don’t you

00:18

think they should want to read it?

00:21

Here’s what you should never do in an introduction, to make sure your teacher actually enjoys

00:27

it. They’ll thank you. Maybe with a better grade.

00:33

First of all, you should never not be confident. Always sound sure of yourself.

00:41

If you sound unsure of yourself, by saying something like “in my humble opinion”

00:45

or “if I recall correctly”, no one is going to believe anything you have to say.

00:52

Basically, if your intro can be summed up with a few texting acronyms, it’s a bad

00:57

intro.

00:58

Along those same lines, don’t use phrases like “in this essay” or “the purpose

01:03

of this paper is to…”

01:05

What is following your introduction? Pages and pages of an essay. The fact that you’re

01:11

writing an essay makes it apparent that you’re writing an essay. You don’t need to tell

01:15

anyone this.

01:16

If there’s anything that would grant your essay a one-way ticket to the incinerator,

01:21

it’s referencing the dictionary.

01:23

Avoiding this is simple: Don’t reference the dictionary.

01:27

Just don’t do it.

01:29

Along those lines, it’s also cliché to begin your essay with a quote from someone

01:34

else. Don’t ever being an essay saying something

01:38

like, Dr. Phil says, Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision

01:44

right.

01:45

In fact, don’t quote Dr. Phil ever.

01:48

Your introduction should only be your words.

01:51

Finally, don’t start with your thesis statement.

01:54

That’s like trying to run up the side of the Empire State Building your first day doing

01:59

parkour <<par-coor>>.

02:02

Work your way up to it.

02:04

The best place for your thesis is at the end of your introduction.

02:09

So those are a few things not to do in an introduction.

02:12

Don’t sound unsure of yourself.

02:14

Don’t say that you’re writing an essay.

02:16

Don’t quote the dictionary.

02:17

Actually, don’t quote anyone in your intro.

02:20

And don’t lead off with your thesis statement.

02:23

Following these simple rules will keep your teacher’s blood pressure low, and might

02:29

just keep your grade high.

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