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.