We began our next unit today: Introductions, conclusions, qualifying arguments, and the use of punctuation to add meaning to an argument. On the board, I listed and we then discussed the techniques that can be used to introduce an argumentative or synthesis essay: anecdote, startling statistic or data, quotations, and rhetorical questions. I further addressed the "so what" factor or telling the reader why your argument is important or why the reader should care about your thesis.