Writing Introductions (Notes from Monday, March 25)

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Writing Introductions

Objective: To write the introduction for our nonfiction books, thinking about how we can set up our readers to be experts on our topic and how we can draw them in right from the start.

Ask yourself…

• What do my readers need to know right away?

• Basic info about King Henry, childhood, reign, what he is known for.

• How can I draw my reader in right from the start?

• (question, quote, fact, imagine…, anecdote)
• Anecdote about when Henry found out he was to be king.

• Does my introduction set up my readers to become experts on my topic? Does it make them want to read my book?

• Ask this after you have written your introduction.

Remember ANC:

Attention-Getter: Anecdote about when King Henry VII found out he was going to be king.

Necessary Information: appearance, reign, what was important to him, new church, wives.

Claim: King Henry VIII’s reign was less about him and more about the women he married.

Example:

Prince Henry raced through the palace grounds toward the large oak tree at the edge of the lawn.

“Prince Henry, come back,” he heard his maid yell as she struggled to keep up with him.

Henry laughed and raced on, leaping toward the tree, using his strong, young arms to pull himself up from branch to branch. He heard his maid, Martha panting as she reached the tree’s trunk.

“Prince Henry,” she gasped. “Your father, he wants to see you.”

This stunned Henry. His father never wanted to see him. As the second son, he was largely unimportant. And now, with his older brother, Prince Arthur sick in bed, he was even more neglected.

He scrambled down the tree and allowed Martha to fuss over him as they walked quickly back to the palace and into the throne room. His father, King Henry VII sat imposingly on his throne, though his face was white.

“Your highness,” the young prince said, shakingly. “You wanted to see me?”

“My son.” The King said. “Your brother, Prince Arthur is dead. One day, you will be king.”

And with that, the young prince’s knees buckled underneath him and he fell to the ground.

Henry became the king when he was seventeen years old. Unlike his brother, he had not been raised from birth for this role, so he ascended the throne less prepared. Despite this, King Henry VIII became an intimidating and powerful ruler. He was handsome and charismatic and beloved in his kingdom.

He did many significant things during his reign, including breaking from the Catholic church and creating his own Church of England in order to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. He is also known for his investment in the Royal Navy. He increased its size from just a few ships to over fifty.

More importantly, he increased the power of the monarchy, increasing his power by executing those who did not agree with him, including two of his wives.

Though a powerful king, King Henry VIII is most known for the six women who became his wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. Their lives and deaths will be the subject of this book.

To Do:

1. Plan out ANC
2. Write your introduction on lined paper and keep it in your folder.
3. Continue working on chapter plans