The introductory section of an academic essay is supposed to do three things: First, we use it to introduce the subject of the essay, and more specifically, the issue with respect to the subject. The subject might be, say, the ethics of sport hunting. The issue might be whether hunting with bow and arrow is more or less humane than rifle hunting. If the issue is somewhat complex or unfamiliar you may need to spend a bit of time on this introductory section, providing enough background and context for the reader to understand, in rough outline, what the issue is. Second, we state the thesis of the essay. The thesis is the position or stance that the essay is going to take, on the issue in question.

Read the following scene from trifles. mrs. peters. she was piecing a quilt. (she brings the large sewing basket, and they look at the bright pieces.) mrs. hale. it’s log cabin pattern. pretty, isn’t it? i wonder if she was goin’ to quilt or just knot it? (footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. the sheriff enters, followed by hale and the county attorney.) sheriff. they wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it. (the men laugh, the women look abashed.) county attorney (rubbing his hands over the stove). frank’s fire didn’t do much up there, did it? well, let’s go out to the barn and get that cleared up. (the men go outside.) how would a film version most likely emphasize the men’s emotions during this scene? by emphasizing the variety of props used by showing the men’s facial expressions by highlighting the characters’ costumes by focusing on the actions of the women