What makes a GOOD Introduction
paragraph?



A strong HOOK that captures your attention
and invites you to keep reading.
 An anecdotal hook
 An allusion hook
 A contrast hook
Strong FUNNEL SENTENCES that help you
transition from the hook to the thesis sentence.
A definitive and specific THESIS SENTENCE
that clearly states the writer’s argument.
What makes a STRONG Thesis
statement?
A thesis usually has two parts:
1. your topic, and
2. the analysis, explanation, or assertion
you are going to make about the
topic.
For example,
THESIS: In the book A Separate Peace by John
Knowles, Finny is a nonconformist because he
acts differently than the other students at Devon
and he breaks school rules.
TOPIC: In the book A Separate Peace by John
Knowles, Finny is a nonconformist because…
ASSERTION: he acts differently than the other
students at Devon and he breaks school rules.
A good thesis makes an argument
that some may disagree with.


Your assertion, analysis or explanation of your
topic may not be the same as your neighbor’s
assertion, analysis or explanation. THAT’S
OKAY!
In fact, it makes your thesis better. Your paper
will be interesting to read if you make a
statement that begs to be proven.
For example,
If your thesis states:
“A Separate Peace by John Knowles is about
friendship and jealousy.”

No one is going to want to read your paper. We
already know that’s what the novel is about. How
boring. All you would do in a paper with this
thesis is re-tell the story. You wouldn’t be
analyzing or interpreting anything.
A better thesis would be…

“In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles,
feelings of jealousy in a friendship always leads
to mistrust among friends and to termination of
the friendship.”

This thesis makes the reader say, “Oh, really?
How are you going to prove that?” It shows
independent thought and analysis on the part of
the writer. It makes the reader interested to read
more.
A thesis statement should be a very
SPECIFIC statement.



It should cover only what you want to discuss in
the paper.
You should be able to support it with specific
evidence.
You should think of your thesis as a MAP for
how your paper will come together. Whatever
you write in your thesis, you will need to prove
in your paper.
An additional note about thesis
statements:
Open Thesis: A thesis that tells the reader only
your position on a topic.
Ex. In the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles,
Finny is a nonconformist because he dares to live his life
differently.
 Closed Thesis: A thesis that tells the reader
both your position and the reasons you feel that
way.
Ex. In the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles,
Finny is a nonconformist because he acts differently than the
other students at Devon and he breaks school rules.

So, if your thesis is a map for the
essay…
How could I organize my paper to fit my thesis?
What would my body paragraphs focus on?
If my thesis is:
“In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles,
feelings of jealousy in a friendship always leads to
mistrust among friends and to termination of the
friendship.”
THESIS
POINT
Ex.
POINT
Ex.
Ex.
GOAL: Connectedness and Cohesiveness
throughout
Ex.
In conclusion….
Your thesis statement is your argument
and controlling idea. It ties everything
together and gives direction to your
paper. Your purpose is to persuade the
reader that your thesis is a valid one.