Write an introductory paragraph on the topic “Violence During the Gold Rush Era” containing a thesis statement.Turn in, using proper MLA format, your opening paragraph.

Remember, your opening paragraph, often called an introductory paragraph, is simply telling the reader what the paper is about (in a nutshell). Do not go deep, that comes later. For your thesis statement, please put it in bold so there is no question which sentence is your thesis.

Think of it this way, an opening paragraph tells the reader what the paper will be about.

There is not a set number of sentences for the introductory paragraph. A safe number is 5-7 sentences.

(Keep in mind your intro paragraph will very likely change after you have done your research and maybe even after you finished your paper). This assignment is to get you heading in the right direction on your opening. Some good words below…

 

Introduction

INTRODUCTIONS

The introduction of a paper must introduce its thesis and not just its topic. Readers will lose someif not muchof what the paper says if the introduction does not prepare them for what is coming (and tell them what to look for and how to evaluate it).

For example, an introduction that says, The British army fought in the battle of Saratoga gives the reader virtually no guidance about the papers thesis (i.e., what the paper concludes/argues about the British army at Saratoga).

History papers are not mystery novels. Historians WANT and NEED to give away the ending immediately. Their conclusionspresented in the introductionhelp the reader better follow/understand their ideas and interpretations.

In other words, an introduction is a MAP that lays out the trip the author is going to take [readers] on and thus lets readers connect any part of the argument with the overall structure. Readers with such a map seldom get confused or lost.