Introductory Paragraphs
Getting Started
What NOT to do:
• Apologize. Avoid phrases like the following:
In my humble opinion . . .
I'm not sure about this, but . . .
• Announce your intentions.
In this paper I will . . .
The purpose of this essay is to . . .
• Use a dictionary or encyclopedia definition.
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary,
a computer is . . .
• Wander or dilly-dally.
An Introductory Paragraph
Should…
1. get the reader's interest so that he or
she will want to read more
2. let the reader know what the writing is
going to be about.
How to Get the Reader’s
Interest…
1. historical review
2. anecdotal
3. surprising statement
4. famous person
5. declarative
Historical Review
• a brief historical review can help the topic be
better understood
• be brief so that it does not take over the
paper
• don’t start the essay off with: “Throughout
history…” (Starting off your essay with those
two words is a mistake; it’s a cliche and will
not grab anyone’s interest.)
Located in Washington, D.C., the
United States Capitol Building is the
seat of the legislative branch of the
federal government. Because of its
importance, the Capitol Building holds a
key place in American history and has
its own history that is uniquely different
than any other building in the United
States. Through its creation to its
construction and continuous
renovations, there is no other building
like the Capitol Building.
Anecdotal
• An anecdote is a little story.
• Begin a paper by relating a small story that
leads into the topic of your paper.
• Your story should be a small episode, not a
full blown story with characters and plot and
setting.
• One caution: be sure that your story does not
take over the paper. Remember, it is an
introduction, not the paper.
The young man with the hammer hoisted
himself onto the top of the wall. All around him
on the wall and on the ground, people chanted and
cheered. The young man knelt down, with his
hammer, and began to chip away at the cold, gray
concrete. Little by little, the wall began to
crumble. As I watched in amazement, it was hard
to comprehend the fact that I was watching the
Berlin Wall coming down. The removal of the
Berlin Wall signified the fall of not just a wall, but
an entire system of government. The fall of the
Berlin Wall ended communism in Germany and
created the growth of capitalism in Eastern Europe
which allowed for globalization to spread through
Europe and into Asia, creating the current global
state of affairs.
Surprising Statement
There are many ways a statement can
surprise a reader.
• Sometimes the statement is surprising
because it is disgusting.
• Sometimes it is joyful.
• Sometimes it is shocking.
• Sometimes it is surprising because of
who said it.
Have a minute? Good. Because that may
be all it takes to save the life of a child—your
child. Accidents kill nearly 8000 children
under age 15 each year. And for every fatality,
42 more children are admitted to hospitals for
treatment. Yet such deaths and injuries can
be avoided through these easy steps parents
can take right now. You don't have a minute
to lose.
[This article begins with a surprising, even shocking, statistic, 8000
children die each year from accidents. The article then lists
seven easy actions a person can take to help guard a child
against accidents. These range from turning down the water
heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to putting firearms under lock
and key.]
Famous Person
• Drop the name of a famous person
• It may be something that person said or
something he or she did
• The famous person may be dead or alive.
• The famous person may be a good person
like the Pope, or he or she may be a bad
person like John Wilkes Booth.
There’s one thing former Republican President
Ronald Reagan and former Democratic President Bill
Clinton can both agree on: the importance of adoption.
Reagan, along with many other famous Americans Babe Ruth, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie - all adopted
babies. Clinton was himself an adopted child.
However, a person doesn’t have to be a famous
politician, a legendary sports hero or a wealthy actor
to make a huge difference in the life of a child. All it
takes is the willingness to love, care for, and protect
an adopted baby.
Declarative
• the writer simply states straight out what
the topic of his paper is going to be
about.
• Be careful or it will be boring
In the College of Veterinary Medicine and
Engineering, for example, nearly one-third of the
teaching faculty may retire by the year 2004. In the
College of Education, more than a third of the
professors are 55 years old and older. The largest
turnover for a single department is projected to be in
geology. More than half of its faculty this year are in
the age group that will retire at the millennium, says
Ron Downey of K-State's Office of Institutional
Research and Analysis. The graying of K-State's
faculty is not unique. A Regents' report shows
approximately 27 percent of the faculty at the six
state universities will retire by the end of this decade,
creating a shortage of senior faculty.
Decide on your subject
• Sports
Limit Your Subject
• Sports
– Player’s Salaries
Make an Assertion
• Sports
– Player’s Salaries
• High player's salaries are bad for the game,
for the fans, and for the values our children
are developing.
Another Example
• People Who Have Influenced Me
– My mom
• Love myself, love others, love God
• My mother, through her words and
actions, taught me how to love myself,
to love others, and to love God.
Thesis Statements
• A good thesis statement should:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Take a stand
Justify discussion
Express one main idea
Be specific
Take a Stand
•
At present, there are few factories where my friends and
family and I live, and the construction of a new one would have
both positive and negative effects on our community. Over all, I
believe the new factory would give us more advantages and
disadvantages.
•
Construction of a new factory would create more air pollution,
increase living costs and add to traffic congestion on the already
busy streets around town.
Justify Discussion
Watermelon is a delicious fruit.
Watermelon is not only great on a hot
summer day, this delicious fruit may
also help prevent asthma, diabetes, and
colon cancer.
Express One Main Idea
Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of
the Internet, and Web pages can provide both
advertising and customer support.
Because the Internet is filled with tremendous
marketing potential, companies should exploit this
potential by using Web pages that offer both
advertising and customer support.
Be Specific
World hunger has many causes and
effects.
Hunger persists in Ethiopia because
jobs are scarce and farming in the
infertile soil is rarely profitable.
Activity
General
Subject
Family
Limited Topic
Parents
Thesis
Statement
?
Television
Sitcoms
?
School
English
Teachers
Roommates
?
Eating Out
?
The College
Experience
Food
?