Introduction Paragraph:
An introduction typically has three main elements. Each of these components can be a sentence each, but
can certainly be longer.
Hook: A hook is an attention grabber. It may provide a general example or very brief anecdote which
sets the tone for the essay and creates reader interest.
Context: The context provides a “bridge” to the thesis. It moves the reader from the general statements
provided in the hook, to the specific argument posed in the thesis.
Thesis: This is the crux of the argument. This is the arguable claim the author makes which he/she will
support with the rest of the essay. A sentence like, “Los Angeles is in California” is a poor thesis because
it is not arguable.
Sample intro:
As a pimple-faced, crackly-voiced freshman in high school, I remember telling my English
teacher, “I don’t need to know how to write no essays.” He smiled and corrected me, saying, “It’s any
essays. And yes, you do.” I had assumed, like many of my friends, that since I knew how to speak, and I
could put my words on paper, I already knew how to write. Mr. Hunter, my freshman English teacher,
taught me that knowing how to write is not the same as knowing how to write well. Through his class, I
learned that the ability to write well can make students better communicators, and organized thinkers who
are able to use logical analysis in many walks of life. Therefore, we do in fact need to learn how to write
essays.
Can you locate the different parts of the introduction?
Outlining:
An outline is like a road map for an essay. It provides you with the structure you need to successfully
complete your essay. A thorough outline makes essay writing easy.
Major Support: Think of major support as the big steps you need to take to prove your point.
Essentially points of major support should have a job to do in order to support the thesis. For the intro
above, one area of major support would be demonstrating how essay writing creates better
communicators.
Minor Support: These points are specific examples which clarify major support. (Who are some people
that became better communicators as a result of their essay writing skills?)
Explanation/ Analysis: Essentially, these sentences explain how/why the minor points are important.
That is, how are they relevant to the major point and the thesis?
*Below is a sample outline. The structure can be changed if necessary. There is not enough room on this
sample for your entire essay, but it is a start. Please take your outline to the Writing Center if you get
stuck or have questions. Remember, your body paragraphs should PROVE that your thesis is
accurate.
Introduction: Hook, Context, Thesis.
Thesis/Topic Sentence/Main Idea: Should ANSWER the prompt with an arguable claim.
I.
Major Support: _____________________________________________________________.
a. Minor Support:__________________________________________________________.
i. Explanation, detail, or example:______________________________________.
ii.
Explanation, detail, or example:-
______________________________________.
b. Minor Support:__________________________________________________________.
i. Explanation, detail, or example:______________________________________.
ii.
Explanation, detail, or example:-
______________________________________.
II.
___________________________________________________________________________.
a. ________________________________________________________________________.
i. __________________________________________________________________.
ii.
_____________________________________________________________
_____.
b. ________________________________________________________________________.
i. __________________________________________________________________.
ii.
-
__________________________________________________________________.