Do
Mention both stories and authors
Introduce your topic/theme
Artfully connect your ideas
Have hook or grabber opening line
Have a clear thesis at the end of the paragraph
Bridge the hook to the thesis artfully
Don’t
Use too many short sentences
Give too much background
Be wary of using quotations/specific evidence
Rubric For All Introductions
Content
The hook is engaging and/or functional—it gets readers interested and focused on your discussion.
The bridge/linking sentences are clear. They provided needed context—not the same thing as background--without giving too much information.
The thesis wraps up the paragraph and reflects a thoughtful consideration of the topic.
Any specific details—presented as quotations or examples—add to the introduction and are not distracting.
The language is not too casual or too formal.
The introduction as a whole appears to lead to a thoughtful discussion.
Organization/Mechanics/Grammar
The introduction has a clear hook.
The introduction has a clear thesis statement (with a specific topic and a debatable point)
The paragraph’s connecting sentences artfully connect the hook to the thesis.
The paragraph is coherent—all sentences “stick” together.
The paragraph is unified—and sentences support the thesis.
A plan of organization is implied.
The writer uses tense consistently.
There are no spelling errors.
There are no punctuation errors.
There are no grammatical errors.