The Middle Section of an Introduction.

OK, we've discussed the hook, the first section of your introduction, and the thesis, the final section of your introduction. Now we need to discuss how to get between the hook and the thesis.

If you remember, the hook draws your reader into thinking about the topic of your paper. The hook interests the reader.

The middle section is where you motivate your reader, narrow your topic, and provide some very general background information and context.

Some questions you might answer in this middle section are:

• What's the general background of the problem you address?
• Who are the players or main ways of thinking about your problem/controversy.
• What problem are you working on and why is it important?
• Why is the problem/controversy/discussion of interest and importance to the larger community or to your specific reader(s)?

In short, answer some or most of the questions who, what, when, where, why and how.

All this leads into your thesis statement. Remember, in your thesis statement, you identify the specific aspect of your topic you'll consider. You make a claim about this aspect of your topic, and you provide a kind of road map to how you'll develop the remainder of your paper.

Taken together the hook, background/motivation section, and the thesis make up your introduction.