This document provides guidance on writing introductory paragraphs for literature papers. It recommends that introductory paragraphs should: 1. Briefly orient the reader to the text being discussed, such as mentioning the story or poem and the part of the text being analyzed. 2. Explain why the particular passage or aspect of the text is interesting and worth further analysis. 3. Introduce the first quotation being used as evidence and explain what it illustrates about the point being made in the analysis. 4. Conclude by signaling how the following body paragraphs will further develop this line of inquiry.

1. How to Begin a Literature Paper:
Introductory Paragraphs

3. The essay form they taught in high school:

4. The essay form they taught in high school:
 i.e., a catchy statement of the “case for
the prosecution.“
Then, these paragraphs basically become
a series of evidence “exhibits”: “Exhibit
A,” “Exhibit B,” etc., to illustrate your
foregone conclusion.
And instead of a “conclusion,” we get a
“reminder” or “restatement” of why the jury
should vote to convict.

5. Prosecutor vs. Detective

6. The essay form they taught in high school:
• “Hook” is a gimmick and not
needed.
• Thesis is not needed (it could be
a question).
But your intro paragraph must tell
the reader what your essay is about
and why it’s worth investigating.
“Restate thesis and main points” =
NO!! BORING!!! Instead, tell the
reader what has been learned over
the course of the paper.
Use these body paragraphs to
introduce and explain the
quotations that support your
thesis or (better) lead you
toward the answer to your
question.

7. The Ideal Introductory Paragraph
1. A sentence that quickly orients the reader in the text:
• which story or poem are you writing about?
• where in the text (at what point in the plot) are you beginning your inquiry? Or, what aspect
of the story (an image, a theme, etc.) are you investigating?
2. A sentence about why the passage or aspect of the text that you’re about to
analyze is interesting:
• what makes it unusual or curious, worth scrutinizing more closely?
3. Now begin your inquiry itself:
• introduce your first quotation (remember the “Literary Evidence” tutorial: "Introduce a
quotation in a way that helps readers recognize what you want them to see in it.“
• Explain the quotation in more detail (as seen in the “Literary Evidence” tutorial).
4. Conclude with a sentence that creates a bridge from this first example into the
body of your essay-investigation: e.g. “As we shall see, such
remarks/situations/language/images recur persistently over the course of the
story....”

8. Let’s look at some examples