INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you haven't had a haircut in a few months, you probably have split ends. This is normal. However, split ends can cause a lot of frizz. Get your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks to avoid splitting and breakage. Book your appointments well in advance so that you won't forget. Cotton bed linens create friction during the night as you toss and turn. This friction causes frizz, along with tangles, breakage and split ends. Satin has a much smoother texture, so sleeping on a satin pillowcase will reduce the friction that causes frizz. Satin also helps hair maintain moisture, which helps combats frizz. Cotton and other fabrics tend to dry the hair out. Wrapping your hair in a satin or silk scarf before you go to sleep will provide the same benefits as the satin pillowcase. Tousling and running your fingers through your hair causes frizz because it disrupts the smoothness of the hair shaft. The more often you touch your hair throughout the day, the frizzier it will become. Whenever possible, avoid touching your wavy hair to maintain your smooth style. Natural oils from your scalp smooth and moisturize your hair, which prevents frizz. Shampooing frequently strips your hair of those natural oils. Whenever possible, wait at least two days between shampoos. This will give your scalp time to create more natural oil. Four shampoos every week should be enough. On the days when you don't shampoo, rinse it and then apply conditioner as you normally would. You can also use dry shampoo in between regular washes. If you have fine hair, you probably need to shampoo every other day. If you have very thick hair, you can probably go three of four days without shampooing. Wavy hair tends to get dehydrated fast, which makes it prone to frizz. A weekly deep-conditioning mask can help to rehydrate your dry strands by delivering a large dose of much-needed moisture. These masks will also keep hair feeling soft and restore damaged hair cuticles. Look for deep-conditioning mask products that contain glycerin, proteins, shea butter and other hydrating ingredients to prevent frizz.

SUMMARY: Get regular haircuts. Sleep on a satin pillowcase. Avoid touching your hair during the day. Reduce hair washings. Use a deep-conditioning mask once per week.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you find yourself getting stuck by the introduction and it is preventing you from writing the rest of your paper, skip it for now. Just write your thesis statement at the top of your paper and start on your body paragraphs. You may find it easier to write your introduction after you finish your essay, after you know what you end up saying with your essay. It is more important to get into a groove with your writing than to write each part in the order that it comes in the essay. An introduction should introduce your topic, state your argument, and provide your reader with the context of your essay. If sentences in your introduction do not help with any of those goals, they are likely unnecessary. A hook, often the very first sentence in your paper, is a sentence or two that "hooks" or grabs the interest of your audience. Commonly used hooks may be good for novice writers, but some college professors think that certain hooks are overused. A few ideas for hooks follow. A statistic (particularly one that seems surprising to the reader) can be a good way to start certain types of papers. Be sure the statistic is from a reliable source, like one from your school's library database. A personal story or anecdote told in detail can draw the reader in. It should, however, be relevant to the topic, and you will need to explicitly connect it to your thesis statement. This may not be appropriate in a formal essay. A quotation from a famous person can be a good lead-in. However, since this is one method that has been overused, try putting a twist on this method by using a surprising quote, contradicting the quote, or using it in a new context. You will also need to connect this to your thesis clearly. Illuminating a paradox or puzzling scenario could draw your reader in by making them question something that is usually taken for granted. Try to avoid introductions that start by giving a dictionary definition of a word and explaining it or by asking a question. Avoid over-used and essentially empty phrases like "from the beginning of time" or "throughout the history of mankind." You will need to write a few sentences that explain the context of your hook and transition into the thesis of your paper. If your hook is long, as with a detailed personal anecdote, this may be a phrase like "this experience has led me to believe that" If your hook is shorter, like a statistic, you will likely need to write 3-4 sentences explaining your statistic and leading up to your thesis statement.

SUMMARY: Consider writing your introduction last. Remember the purpose of an introduction. Write a hook. Transition from your hook to your thesis.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you purchase a new grape plant, you will likely find that it has a dense root system and many shoots rising out from the top. Immediately before transplanting the plant into your garden, you should cut the shoots off, only leaving the strongest intact. Look at the buds on your remaining shoot. Count off the lowest three buds, and cut the shoot back just above the third bud. After you transplant the grapevine, new green shoots will begin to form. Once these shoots reach a length between 8 and 12 inches (20.3 and 30.5 cm), choose the best one and remove all the other shoots. The shoot should be strong and nearly upright, and it should also come directly out of your original stem. Do not choose a shoot coming out of the underground root system. Support your remaining shoot by tying it to a stake or fence. Tie both the top and bottom of the shoot. Throughout this first summer, continue tying your shoot to its support system, keeping it as straight as possible. This shoot will act as the permanent trunk of your grapevine and will last throughout the duration of the vine's life.

SUMMARY:
Reduce the shoots. Cut back the buds. Remove all but one shoot after new shoots start growing. Maintain your main shoot.