The Introduction

1
The Introduction

• How to begin

2
Find a quotation

• Make sure the quote is related to what you will
  discuss in your essay.
• On the next slides, I will provide a sample of
  how to write your introduction using Edgar Allan
  Poes The Cask of Amontillado

3
First Sentence Quotation Hook

• Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, once wrote, Those
  who plot the destruction of others often perish
  in the attempt.
• I chose this quote because it relates to a major
  theme in The Cask of Amontillado

4
Second Sentence Theme

• In other words, one who plans to destroy
  anothers life will ultimately destroy his or her
  own life in the process.
• This section of the introduction explains the
  quotation hook and depicts its main message.

5
3rd-5th sentences Context

• In The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe
  depicts this idea through Montresor. Montresor
  plans on seeking revenge against Fortunato.
  Although he is never caught, this act still
  haunts him fifty years later.
• In this part of the introduction, you will
  discuss how the story relates to the theme
  addressed in the quotation hook. This should be
  about 2-3 sentences.

6
Last Sentence Thesis

• Through Montresor, Poes The Cask of
  Amontillado suggests that revenge with impunity
  is impossible.
• Your thesis statement will be the last line of
  the introduction. The thesis shows what you will
  prove in your essay.
• It must be an argument that can be disputed. Do
  not simply write a fact. The following is what
  not to do. This is a fact
• ex. In Poes The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor
  seeks revenge against Fortunato.

7
The Intro

• Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, once wrote, Those
  who plot the destruction of others often perish
  in the attempt. In other words, one who plans to
  destroy anothers life will ultimately destroy
  his or her own life in the process. In The Cask
  of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe depicts this
  idea through Montresor. Montresor plans on
  seeking revenge against Fortunato. Although he is
  never caught, this act still haunts him fifty
  years later. Through Montresor, Poes The Cask
  of Amontillado suggests that revenge with
  impunity is impossible.

8
The Body Paragraphs

• Proving your thesis

9
3rd Person Point of View

• When you write any paper that is not a narrative,
  you MUST write in the 3rd person point of view.
• Third person pronouns he, she, it, him, her,
  himself, herself, himself, his, her, hers, its,
  they, them, themselves, their, and theirs
• Second person pronouns You, your, yourself,
  yours
• First person pronouns I, me, myself, my, mine,
  we, us, ourselves, our, and ours

10
Three Body Paragraphs

• 1st body paragraph- 1st point that supports your
  thesis
• 2nd body paragraph- 2nd point that supports your
  thesis
• 3rd body paragraph- 3rd point that supports you
  thesis

11
Introducing the quote Quote with Citation

• Throughout the story, Montresor gives an account
  of the day he killed Fortunato. It is not until
  the end that he reveals that for the half-of a
  century, no mortal has disturbed Fortunatos
  bones (92).
• Use words in brackets to indicate a change in the
  authors words. You may need to do this if the
  wording will not make sense to the reader
  otherwise.
• Quotes NEVER stand on their own. You MUST flow
  them into your sentence.

12
Three Techniques

• With few exceptions, quotes should NEVER stand on
  their own as sentences. Instead, they must be
  attached to or inserted within other sentences of
  your text. There are three primary methods for
  inserting quotes into papers
• blending
• traditional comma or dialogue format
• colon

13
Blending

• Blending is the combining of the writers
  (meaning your) prose with a direct quote from
  another source.
• Blends are generally used with shorter quotes,
  often a key phrase or even a single word.
• Often times the writer will begin a sentence and
  use the quote to finish it, but a blend can
  appear virtually anywhere within a sentence.
• When using this technique, a comma is usually NOT
  required to set up the quote.
• Example When Montresor tells the story to the
  illusive you, who so well knows the nature of
  his soul (87), he indicates that he feels
  justified in his actions because of Fortunatos
  insults.

14
Comma or Dialogue Intro

• This type of quote set-up is often used when
  quoting what a character says, but it is not
  limited to such a role.
• Example It is not until the end that he reveals,
  For the half-of a century, no mortal has
  disturbed Fortunatos bones (92).

15
Colon

• At times, you can formally introduce the quote
  with a complete sentence statement.
• Instead of ending the sentence with a period, a
  colon would be used to connect the statement to
  the follow-up quote. In each case, the quote is
  essentially fulfilling the promise of the
  statement.
• Example Montresors feelings of regret for
  seeking revenge can be seen at the end of the
  story My heart grew sick- on account of the
  dampness of the catacombs (92).

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Explain Quote

• Explain to the reader the importance of the quote
  and how it supports your topic sentence.
• Sample Montresor was never arrested for his
  crimes, and Fortunatos bones were never found.
  The fact that he feels the need to confess this
  story years later indicates that he is not free
  from guilt as he would like to pretend.

17
2nd Quote and Explanation

• When Montresor tells the story to the illusive
  you, who so well knows the nature of his
  soul (87), he indicates that he feels justified
  in his actions because of Fortunatos insults.

18
Last sentence of B.P. Clincher Sentence

• Sample However, when at the end of the story he
  reveals that fifty years have gone by, it becomes
  clear that while his crime may have eluded the
  authorities, it did not elude his soul.

19
The First Body Paragraph

• Montresors need to confess his story fifty
  years later reveals that his crime has tormented
  him his entire life. Throughout the story,
  Montresor gives an account of the day he killed
  Fortunato. It is not until the end that he
  reveals, For the half of a century, no mortal
  has disturbed Fortunatos bones (92).
  Montresor is never arrested for his crimes, and
  Fortunatos bones are never found. The fact that
  he feels the need to confess this story years
  later indicates that he is not free from guilt as
  he would like to pretend. When Montresor tells
  the story to the illusive you, who so well
  knows the nature of his soul (87), he
  indicates that he feels justified in his actions
  because of Fortunatos insults. However, when at
  the end of the story he reveals that fifty years
  have gone by, it becomes clear that while his
  crime may have eluded the authorities, it did not
  elude his soul.

20
2nd Body paragraph- Topic sentence (TS 2) with
transition

• Sample Another indication of Montresors guilt
  is the fact that he hesitates before forcing the
  last stone into its position.
• Transition Another indication- connects previous
  body paragraph to this body paragraph

21
Paper format thus far

• Intro- Due Tuesday (1/24)Typed, double-spaced,
  two copies
• Quote hook
• Theme
• Context
• Thesis
• Body paragraph 1- Due Thursday (1/26)-Typed,
  double-spaced, two copies
• Topic sentence
• Introduction to quote
• Quote with citation
• Explanation of quote (link)
• Quote with citation
• Explanation of quote (link)
• Clincher
• Body paragraphs 23- Due Thursday (1/26)-Typed,
  double-spaced, two copies
• Transition Topic sentence
• Introduction to quote
• Quote with citation
• Explanation of quote (link)