Writing an Writing an IntroductionIntroduction

English 11APEnglish 11AP

MacbethMacbeth Essay Essay

Purpose of an Introduction:Purpose of an Introduction:

1. To get the reader's attention. 1. To get the reader's attention. 2. To lead the reader into your 2. To lead the reader into your

paper and to establish your paper and to establish your thesis. thesis.

3. To control your essay by 3. To control your essay by moving from a general discussion moving from a general discussion of the subject to the specific of the subject to the specific thesis that your paper will prove.thesis that your paper will prove.

How do I begin?How do I begin?

You could begin with an You could begin with an attention attention grabber.grabber. This information must be This information must be true and verifiable, and it doesn't true and verifiable, and it doesn't need to be totally new to your need to be totally new to your readers. It could simply be a pertinent readers. It could simply be a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make. If you begin with a you wish to make. If you begin with a piece of startling information, follow it piece of startling information, follow it with a sentence or two of elaboration.with a sentence or two of elaboration.

Example:Example: Insomnia kills. The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil Insomnia kills. The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil

spill off Alaska, the Challenger space spill off Alaska, the Challenger space shuttle disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear shuttle disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear accident have all been attributed to accident have all been attributed to human errors in which sleep-deprivation human errors in which sleep-deprivation played a role. It is no surprise, then, that played a role. It is no surprise, then, that Shakespeare’s title character in Shakespeare’s title character in MacbethMacbeth makes rash and life-altering choices after makes rash and life-altering choices after going too long without sleep. His guilt-going too long without sleep. His guilt-induced insomnia caused his paranoia, his induced insomnia caused his paranoia, his murders of Banquo and the Macduff murders of Banquo and the Macduff household, and his violent rampage at the household, and his violent rampage at the end of the play. Lack of sleep was the end of the play. Lack of sleep was the cause of the tragedy in cause of the tragedy in Macbeth.Macbeth.

How do I begin?How do I begin?

You could begin with a quotation from the You could begin with a quotation from the play that reflects your thesis. Follow this play that reflects your thesis. Follow this quote with a sentence or two of quote with a sentence or two of elaboration. elaboration.

Example:Example: ““By the pricking of my thumbs/something By the pricking of my thumbs/something

wicked this way comes.” (IV, i, 44-45) In wicked this way comes.” (IV, i, 44-45) In Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s MacbethMacbeth, the title , the title character is inherently evil, with few, if character is inherently evil, with few, if any, redeeming qualities. The heartless any, redeeming qualities. The heartless murders of Duncan, Banquo, the Macduff murders of Duncan, Banquo, the Macduff family and young Siward, as well as the family and young Siward, as well as the blasé response to the death of Lady blasé response to the death of Lady Macbeth reflect a heart incapable of love Macbeth reflect a heart incapable of love and decency. Macbeth’s own death is no and decency. Macbeth’s own death is no tragedy; rather it is the appropriate end tragedy; rather it is the appropriate end for a tyrant who is pure evil.for a tyrant who is pure evil.

How do I begin?How do I begin?

If you tread carefully, you can begin with If you tread carefully, you can begin with an anecdote. an anecdote. An anecdote is a story that An anecdote is a story that illustrates a point. Be sure your anecdote illustrates a point. Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point, and relevant to your is short, to the point, and relevant to your topic. This can be a topic. This can be a very effective opener for your essay, but very effective opener for your essay, but use it cautiously, as it could sound either use it cautiously, as it could sound either hokey or irrelevant. hokey or irrelevant.

Example:Example: A fortune-teller once told my friend Pam A fortune-teller once told my friend Pam

that she would meet and marry a red-that she would meet and marry a red-haired man. Two days later she met the haired man. Two days later she met the new custodian at her school, who new custodian at her school, who happened to be young, handsome, and happened to be young, handsome, and gingerginger. Believing fate to be at play, she . Believing fate to be at play, she pursued the young man, bought him gifts, pursued the young man, bought him gifts, broke him up with his long-time girlfriend, broke him up with his long-time girlfriend, and married him within six months. Much and married him within six months. Much like in Shakespeare’s like in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth, it was the it was the prediction that spurred her to action. The prediction that spurred her to action. The character Macbeth, like my friend Pam, character Macbeth, like my friend Pam, fell prey to self-fulfilling prophecy and fell prey to self-fulfilling prophecy and was the author of his own misfortune. was the author of his own misfortune.

How do I begin?How do I begin?

Summary Information: A few sentences Summary Information: A few sentences explaining your topic in general terms explaining your topic in general terms can lead the reader gently to your thesis. can lead the reader gently to your thesis. Each sentence can become gradually Each sentence can become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis. more specific, until you reach your thesis. This is called the “funneled” form of This is called the “funneled” form of introduction, and it is quite popular. introduction, and it is quite popular.

Example:Example: Shakespeare’s Macbeth was not a good Shakespeare’s Macbeth was not a good

King. He gained his crown by killing the King. He gained his crown by killing the previous King and then maintained it previous King and then maintained it through treacherous means. He was through treacherous means. He was paranoid, uncaring, maniacal and cold, paranoid, uncaring, maniacal and cold, and perhaps worst of all, he was stupid. and perhaps worst of all, he was stupid. Macbeth allowed himself to be influenced Macbeth allowed himself to be influenced by his heartless and ambitious wife as by his heartless and ambitious wife as well as three toothless old hags with little well as three toothless old hags with little to recommend them other than a bag of to recommend them other than a bag of rotting animal parts. Although he had rotting animal parts. Although he had many faults, it was Macbeth’s stupidity many faults, it was Macbeth’s stupidity that led to the tragedy at the end of the that led to the tragedy at the end of the play.play.

How NOT to Begin!How NOT to Begin!

““Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘guilt’ as: ‘Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘guilt’ as: ‘a a feeling of responsibility or remorse for feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.’”…real or imagined.’”…EEK! English teachers EEK! English teachers see this all the time, and it HURTS!see this all the time, and it HURTS!

““In this essay I will…” Argh! That’s about as In this essay I will…” Argh! That’s about as subtle as a train wreck. The subtle as a train wreck. The passivepassive voice voice is appropriate for formal, persuasive is appropriate for formal, persuasive essays.essays.

Elements of an IntroductionElements of an IntroductionAn introduction should include:An introduction should include:- A brief summary of the action of the play or a A brief summary of the action of the play or a

description of the characters being discusseddescription of the characters being discussed- A hint as to the topics to be discussed in the A hint as to the topics to be discussed in the

essay – this can be specific, or more general if essay – this can be specific, or more general if there are numerous topics being discussedthere are numerous topics being discussed

- A THESIS – What will you A THESIS – What will you proveprove to your reader to your reader in this essay? in this essay?

DESPITE WHAT WE TOLD YOU IN GRADE DESPITE WHAT WE TOLD YOU IN GRADE 10, THE ORDER DOES NOT MATTER; 10, THE ORDER DOES NOT MATTER; WRITE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.WRITE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.