HTML Preview Sample Introduction Literary Essay page number 1.
Name: ________________________________
Writing Introductions for Literary Essays
The Elements of an Introduction
I. The hook introduces a broad topic/idea (such as “justice” or “loyalty”)
that is related to your essay.
II. The transition narrows the big idea by connecting it to
the literary work you are discussing.
III. Your thesis statement is the
specific idea that you are discussing
in the essay.
Part I: The Hook
The hook gets your reader’s attention by presenting a broad topic or question that relates to
your essay. For example, an essay about the guilt of a character in a trial could start with the
sentence, “In the American criminal justice system, a jury cannot prove a person guilty
unless he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Introducing this idea
prepares the reader to understand the details you will be presenting. Provocative questions,
such as “Can someone commit murder and still be a good person?” can also introduce your
topic and hook your reader.
Part II: The Transition
The transition connects the big idea you presented in the hook with the literary work you are
discussing in your essay. Always give the name and author of literary works in this part of
the introduction.
Part III: The Thesis
The introduction ends with your thesis statement. Your thesis statement must:
1. Answer the essay question. (“People have different opinions about…” is a very weak
thesis because it does not take a stand on the question that was asked.)
2. Provide a preview of what the essay will discuss. This preview—which often takes the
form of a list of the topics you will discuss in each body paragraph—acts as a roadmap so
the reader knows where you are going.
(continue to the back for examples and an exercise)