Effective Introduction Worksheet

Instructions: Copy and paste the following text into a document or create a document that contains the same information. Complete the following steps and your introduction will be written! Your Writing Prompt:

What stylistic elements does King use to influence his readers? After reading and analyzing “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” write an essay in which you answer the question and analyze structure and language in his text, providing three or more examples to illustrate and clarify your analysis. What conclusion can you draw about the power of this text? 1. Look back at the list of hook techniques. Which two techniques could you use to introduce your essay effectively? Quotations, or facts or statistics.

2. Choose one of those techniques for your HOOK and briefly explain why you chose that technique. I decided to go with a quotation, so I can quote Kings’ letter. 3. Write the HOOK for your essay in the space below.

“I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say wait.” 4. Write a two- to four-sentence BRIDGE to connect your hook and thesis statement. Martin Luther King uses both literal and figurative language to get his points across. Metaphors, allusions, and similes also litter the letter. 5. Write your THESIS STATEMENT.

Martin Luther Kings’ letter uses great structure and diverse language, which he uses to influence his readers. 6. Now, copy and paste the sentences from numbers 3, 4, and 5 (above) into one paragraph in the space below. Congratulations! You have your introduction written! “I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say wait.” Martin Luther King uses both literal and figurative language to get his points across. Metaphors, allusions, and similes also litter the letter. His letter uses great structure and diverse language to its advantage, which he uses to influence his readers.