The Introductory Paragraph
The Paragraph that Hooks
Your Reader
© 2001 by Ruth Luman
References
An Introduction
Definition and Purpose
An introduction is the first paragraph in your essay and
contains the thesis statement. The main purposes of an
introduction are to…

present the focus of your essay and give your
reader some general information about your
subject.

catch your reader’s attention so that he/she will
become interested in reading your essay.
An Introduction
General Information and Focus
An introduction always includes some
general statements about your subject and a
thesis statement that announces the focus of
your essay. The thesis statement is usually
the last sentence in the introduction because
it is the most specific. Notice how the
introduction below begins with general
information and becomes more specific.
An Introduction
General Information and Focus
General statements provide background
information on the focus of health care
for homeless people with HIV.
There are a number of frightening disease epidemics occurring in
the United States today, but one of the most frightening is the
epidemic spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Among the most
serious of these sexually transmitted diseases is HIV which leads to
AIDS, a fatal disease. HIV is especially problematic among
homeless people. This particular population is difficult to treat due to
a number of barriers such as, limited access to health care, mistrust
of health care professionals, and a lack of awareness of the disease,
itself.
Specific focus of
essay and thesis
statement.
An Introduction
A Closer Look
Let’s look at that introduction again and see how the sentences
become more and more specific leading to the thesis statement.
There are a number of frightening disease epidemics occurring in the
United States today, but one of the most frightening is the epidemic spread
of sexually transmitted diseases.
General
Statements
Among the most serious of these sexually transmitted diseases is
HIV which leads to AIDS, a fatal disease.
HIV is especially problematic among homeless
people.
Very Specific:
Thesis
Statement
This particular population is difficult to treat due
to a number of barriers such as, limited access
to health care, mistrust of health care
professionals, and a lack of awareness of the
disease, itself.
More
Specific
Example #2
General Information and Focus
Here is another example of how an
introduction can begin with general
information and become more specific
with a thesis statement at the end.
Example #2
General Information and Focus
General statements provide background
information on the steps the Indian
government is taking to reduce population.
Overpopulation and finding ways to reduce it are big concerns
of many developing nations today. One nation that is concerned
about this issue is India. One of the biggest causes of overpopulation
in India is the high infant mortality rate. Parents often have more
children because they are fearful that if some children die, there
won’t be enough children to take care of them in their old age. India is
taking some important steps in dealing with this problem. Some of
the steps the Indian government is taking are providing birth control
for women, improving pre-natal care, and educating women on the
benefits of having fewer children.
Specific focus of
essay and thesis
statement.
Example #2
A Closer Look
Look at the example below to see how the sentences in the
introduction become more and more specific leading to the
thesis statement.
General
Statements
Overpopulation and finding ways to reduce it are big concerns of many
developing nations today. One nation that is concerned about this issue is
India.
One of the biggest causes of overpopulation in India is the high infant
mortality rate.
More
Parents often have more children because they are fearful that if
some children die, there won’t be enough children to take care of
them in their old age.
Very
Specific:
Thesis
Statement
India is taking some important steps in dealing with this
problem. Some of the steps the Indian government is
taking are providing birth control for women, improving
pre-natal care, and educating women on the benefits
of having fewer children.
Specific
An Introduction
Catch the Reader’s Attention
In addition to stating the thesis and providing some general
information on your subject, an introduction also needs to catch a
reader’s attention and cause him/her to become interested in
reading your essay. There are several ways you can introduce
your subject and catch your reader’s attention.

Use a story or example of a personal experience.

Use a quotation.

Use a question or questions.
Catching Attention
Using a Story or Personal Experience
A brief dramatic story or example can be
used to get the attention of your reader.
Look at the example below and think about
how it catches your attention.
Personal Story or Example
A personal story can “hook” your
reader into wanting to read more.
When the car accident happened, my brother was left with a
broken arm, leg, and hip. My mother nearly died due to head
injuries. However, we all survived due to the team of emergency
medical technicians who responded quickly to the scene and
provided us with the help we needed. After my experience of being
involved in a car accident, I saw how I could use my interest in first
aid and desire to help other people through becoming an
emergency medical technician. Now, after twenty years of work as
an EMT, I think it is the most rewarding job I could ever have and
feel that the occupation, itself, has numerous advantages over other
occupations in the health care field.
Thesis
Statement
Personal Story or Example
Example #2
Here’s another example of how you
can use a story to catch a reader’s
attention in an introduction.
Personal Story or Example
Example #2
An example of a story in the third person.
John’s parents divorced when he was in elementary school.
After the divorce, his mother had to go to work to support him and
his three sisters. This disrupted John’s home life in serious ways.
Without the constant supervision of his mother and the lack of a
father for a role-model, John began skipping school and socializing
with the wrong group of people. He eventually turned to taking
drugs and was later arrested for being a drug dealer and sent to
prison. John is not unlike other prisoners. In many prisons today,
over half of all inmates come from divorced families. Divorce can
be the catalyst that unleashes emotional problems in children
and can affect children psychologically, mentally, and socially.
Thesis
Statement
Catching Attention
Using a Quote
Sometimes controversial or well-known
quotations can be used to surprise your
reader. Look at the example below and
notice how a quotation can be used to get
you interested in the rest of the essay.
Using a Quote
A well-known quotation
from American literature.
Henry David Thoreau, an American poet, once wrote, “ Our life is
frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify!” These words of advice
are difficult to follow in a society where a hectic pace of life is the
norm and the attainment of more material goods is encouraged.
However, I believe that this philosophy of living simply has quite a
bit of merit. The difficulty of following this philosophy is knowing
where we should begin. If we examine Henry David Thoreau’s life
carefully, I believe we will find a number of ways in which to simplify
our own lives and yet live richly.
(Quotation from: Watson, 1951)
Thesis
Statement
Quotation
Example #2
Here’s another example of how you
can use a quotation to catch a
reader’s attention in an introduction.
Quotation
Example #2
Quotation
Horace once wrote, “ Many blessings do the advancing years
bring with them.” For many senior citizens in the United States
today, old age can often come as a curse. Many older people suffer
from ill health, loneliness, and/or financial instability; however, life
in later years does not have to be this way. Many senior citizens
can experience the blessings of advancing years that Horace once
wrote about. In order to do that, let’s consider ways in which old
age actually enhances life.
(Quotation from: Watson, 1951)
Thesis Statement
Catching Attention
Using Questions
Another way to catch your reader’s
attention is with a question. Questions can
make your reader begin thinking about the
subject in your essay.
Using Questions
Questions that may surprise your reader.
Have you ever run in a marathon? Most marathons are twenty
six miles. Have you ever heard of one-hundred mile marathons?
The state of Colorado hosts a one-hundred mile marathon each
year. People from all over the United States and the world run in
this marathon. Some of the top runners in this race have been
members of the Tarahumara Indian tribe in the Sierra Madre
mountains of Mexico. Tarahumaras do not train for marathons, but
their lifestyle and culture promotes, develops, and supports this
type of athletic endeavor.
Thesis Statement
Questions
Example #2
Here’s another example of how you can use a question to
catch a reader’s attention in an introduction.
Question
Did you know that one of the eight architectural wonders of the world
is located in Cambodia? Angkor Wat is an ancient Buddhist temple that
was the center of culture and religion for the Khmer empire for several
centuries. It was only recently re-discovered by a French explorer during
the 1800’s. It has now become one of the most popular tourist attractions
in Southeast Asia. If you visit Angkor Wat, you will find much to admire in
its size, historical significance, and beauty.
Thesis Statement
Body Paragraphs
Writing Paragraphs of Importance
© 2001 by Ruth Luman
References
Body Paragraphs
Purpose
The body paragraphs in your essay support
the main idea in your thesis statement by
breaking it down into smaller ideas or subtopics.
Ideas in your paragraphs should relate back to
the thesis statement.
Essay
Introduction &
Thesis Statement
Body Paragraph 3
_____________
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 4
_____________
_____________
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 5
_____________
_____________
Body Paragraphs
Form
Most paragraphs contain between five to
ten sentences. The first line of a paragraph is
usually indented (begin a few spaces to the
right of the margin) to show that there is a
new paragraph.
indent
________________________ . ____________________.
_____________________. _________________________.
____________________________. ____________________.
______________________. ______________________________.
Key Features
Body paragraphs should should contain
some of the following features…

A Topic Sentence

Supporting Sentences

A Concluding Sentence

Unity
Topic Sentences
Definition
Every paragraph should have a topic
sentence. This is the most important sentence
because it expresses the main idea of the
paragraph.
Example
Topic Sentence
Topic Sentence: states
the main idea of the
paragraph.
Body Paragraph
An important factor in learning a foreign language has to do with the
concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. When we do something
for the “fun of it” or because we enjoy it, that is called intrinsic
motivation. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we do
something for the purpose of receiving some kind of external reward
such as money, time off from work, etc. Many education experts believe
that intrinsic motivation is more powerful when it comes to helping
students retain what they’ve learned. The question and challenge for
teachers today is, “How can we help our students become intrinsically
motivated in what we are teaching?”
Topic Sentence Essentials
Complete Sentence
There are several things you need to
remember when writing topic sentences. The
first is that topic sentences are always
complete sentences.
Example
Not a complete
sentence
Strategies of learning English.
There are many strategies
that you can use to help you
learn a new language.
Example
Not a complete
sentence
The Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead is a
special holiday in Mexico
when people can get
together to remember
deceased loved ones.
Topic Sentence Essentials
Two Parts
A topic sentence contains the topic of the
paragraph and a controlling idea. The
controlling idea limits the topic to something
very specific.
Example
This sentence does not contain a controlling
idea. This is not a good topic sentence,
because it does not limit the topic to make it
more specific.
Topic Sentence
Companies need to develop more efficient forms of
energy.
Topic Sentence Companies should develop more efficient forms of
energy such as solar heating panels.
Controlling Idea: limits the ideas
in the paragraph and makes the
sentence more specific.
Topic: names the main
idea
Example #2
Topic and Controlling Idea
Topic: names the main
idea or general subject
of the paragraph
Topic Sentence
One of the most serious problems in today’s inner-city public
schools is overcrowded classrooms.
Controlling Idea: makes a specific
comment about the subject. Tells
the reader what the paragraph will
say about the main topic.
Example #2
Topic and Controlling Idea
Topic: names the main
idea or general subject
of the paragraph
Topic Sentence
One of the most serious problems in today’s inner-city public
schools is the low percentage of trained teachers.
Controlling Idea: makes a specific
comment about the subject. Tells
the reader what the paragraph will
say about the main topic.
Be Careful!
Make sure that your topic sentence does
not contain too many controlling ideas.
Be Careful!
Make sure that your topic sentence does
not contain too many controlling ideas.
Example
There are too many controlling ideas to be
covered in one paragraph. A good topic
sentence should be limited to one controlling
idea.
Topic Sentence The advent of the Internet has benefited society
through improved communication, access to information, and
streamlined commerce.
Topic Sentence The advent of the Internet has benefited society
through improved communication.
Most topic sentences contain only
one controlling idea.
Supporting Sentences
Definition
Every paragraph has sentences that relate
to the ideas in the topic sentence. These
sentences are called supporting sentences.
Look at the supporting sentences on the next
page to see how the writer provided more
information on the subject in the topic
sentence.
Supporting Sentences
Topic Sentence
An important factor in learning a foreign language has to do with the
concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation.

When we do something for the “fun of it” or because we enjoy it, that
is called intrinsic motivation.

Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we do something for
the purpose of receiving some kind of external reward such as
money, time off from work, etc.

Many education experts believe that intrinsic motivation is more
powerful when it comes to helping students retain what they’ve
learned.
Supporting Sentences
Concluding Sentence
Definition and Purpose
A concluding sentence is the last
sentence in a paragraph. A conclusion can
remind the reader of the main points of a
paragraph and/or leave the reader with
something to think about in relation to the
topic. Look at the next page to see how
the writer used a concluding sentence.
Concluding Sentence
Definition and Purpose
A concluding sentence is the last
sentence in a paragraph. A conclusion can
remind the reader of the main points of a
paragraph and/or leave the reader with
something to think about in relation to the
topic. Look at the next page to see how
the writer used a concluding sentence.
Concluding Sentence
Definition and Purpose
A concluding sentence is the last
sentence in a paragraph. A conclusion can
remind the reader of the main points of a
paragraph and/or leave the reader with
something to think about in relation to the
topic. Look at the next page to see how
the writer used a concluding sentence.
Concluding Sentence
Definition and Purpose
A concluding sentence is the last
sentence in a paragraph. A conclusion can
remind the reader of the main points of a
paragraph and/or leave the reader with
something to think about in relation to the
topic. Look at the next page to see how
the writer used a concluding sentence.
Concluding Sentence
Body Paragraph
An important factor in learning a foreign language has to do with the
concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. When we do something
for the “fun of it” or because we enjoy it, that is called intrinsic
motivation. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we do
something for the purpose of receiving some kind of external reward
such as money, time off from work, etc. Many education experts believe
that intrinsic motivation is more powerful when it comes to helping
students retain what they’ve learned. The question and challenge for
teachers today is, “How can we help our students become intrinsically
motivated in what we are teaching?”
This concluding sentence tries
to leave a final thought with the
reader by asking a question.
Concluding Sentence
Useful Expressions
It is sometimes helpful to have a concluding expression
in your last sentence to signal the end of your paragraph.
Some common expressions used in concluding sentences
are listed below.

As we can see,

Finally,

In summary,

Consequently,

As a result,

These examples show that…
Concluding Sentence
Useful Expressions
It is sometimes helpful to have a concluding expression
in your last sentence to signal the end of your paragraph.
Some common expressions used in concluding sentences
are listed below.

As we can see,

Finally,

In summary,

Consequently,

As a result,

These examples show that…
Unity
Definition
Good paragraphs have unity. That
means that each sentence in the paragraph
is related to the topic sentence. Unified
paragraphs also discuss only one main idea.
Find the sentences that are “off topic” or do not relate to the topic
sentence.
Topic
Body Paragraph
Sentence
One of the recent status symbols for many American business people is the
palm pilot. Palm pilots are small electronic devices that help people organize
information such as dates for meetings, short notes, and addresses of contacts.
Fax machines are also very popular among office workers. With palm pilots, a
person can input information at any time and any place. Many business people
also have cellular phones so that they can make phone calls from just about
anywhere. When a person returns to the office from a business trip, he/she won’t
have to spend hours organizing notes or addresses, because the palm pilot
already has that information. All that person has to do now is hook up the palm
pilot to a personal computer, and voila! All the information from meetings is
efficiently organized on the hard drive of the personal computer!
These sentences do
not relate to the
topic sentence in the
paragraph. This
paragraph does not
have unity.
The Conclusion
Making Your Last Paragraph Count
© 2001 by Ruth Luman
References
A Conclusion
Definition and Purpose
The conclusion is the last paragraph in your
essay. A conclusion completes the essay and
reemphasizes your thesis statement or main
ideas. Look at the example thesis statement
and conclusion below.
A Conclusion
Thesis Statement
When I first found out that I was diagnosed with cancer, I took
two important steps to fight the disease.
First sentence in conclusion reemphasizes ideas in thesis statement.
First Sentence of Conclusion
Ultimately, because of the steps I took, I was successful in
fighting the disease…
A Conclusion
So What?
In addition to referring back to your main idea, your
conclusion needs to show your reader the significance of
your thesis. When discussing the importance of your
thesis, try to address questions such as…

How and why is this topic important?

How might this topic affect me or other people?

What can be learned from this topic?
Example #1
So What?
Look at the example below of a
conclusion that shows the reader the
importance of the main idea of the
essay.
Example #1
Conclusion Paragraph Draft
Ultimately, because of the steps I took, I was successful in fighting the disease. I
was able to become healthy enough to attend my daughter’s wedding, and I no longer
worried about dying. Others suffering with cancer can learn an important lesson from
my experience: Don’t give up no matter how hopeless things may seem and always
get a second opinion from another doctor!
The writer
points out how
the steps she
took to fight
cancer affected
her and other
people.
The writer
discusses the
importance of her
topic by writing
about the lessons
that can be
learned.
Example #2
Conclusion
Look at the example below of a
conclusion that refers back to the
thesis statement and shows the reader
the importance of the main idea of the
essay.
Example #2
Thesis Statement
There were several factors that caused my family to make the difficult decision
to immigrate to the United States.
Conclusion Paragraph
The decision to move to the United States was a difficult one for my parents to
make. Though I was angry with their decision at the time, I understand now that the
poor economy and political instability of my country forced them to immigrate.
Through this experience I learned that one simply cannot control all of life’s
circumstances. One must learn to deal with tough situations as they come and work
to be successful regardless of one’s location.
The first two
sentences
reemphasize the
thesis statement.
The writer concludes
by discussing the
lessons learned from
his experience.
Concluding an Essay
Techniques
Some ways to enhance a conclusion are to
include a…

Prediction

Recommendation

Quotation
Concluding an Essay
A Prediction
A prediction talks about what might
happen in the future. A prediction can be a
good way to finish your essay. It can make
your reader think about the possible results
of your thesis statement.
Thesis
Statement
Prediction
Example
A program to reforest parts of Haiti is urgently needed.
Finally, the importance of beginning a program to re
forest parts of Haiti will be an important step in making this
country more economically self-sufficient. Without such a
program in place, the people of this country will continue to
destroy their natural resources for fuel in order to salvage their
present state of survival.
A prediction is used to make the
reader think about possible
results of the thesis.
Concluding an Essay
A Recommendation
A recommendation is often used by a
writer after he/she has discussed a problem
in an essay. A recommendation can be used
to suggest a solution or call the readers to do
something about the problem in the essay.
Recommendation
Example
As we have seen, international students face a number
of difficulties when coming to a new country to study.
However, problems such as culture-shock and the language
barrier can be lessened before a student comes to the new
country through preparation. If you are considering going to
school in another country, you should begin learning about the
culture, customs, and history of your host nation. Also, you
should be sure that you are proficient in the national language
or be sure to sign up for language classes once you are there.
A recommendation is used to
suggest a solution to a problem.
Concluding an Essay
“A Quotation”
A relevant quotation can bring good
closure to your essay, especially if the
quotation is from an expert on the topic in
your composition.
Quotation
Example
David Werner, author of, Where There Is No Doctor,
notes that, “Only when the people themselves become actively
responsible for their own and their community’s health, can
important changes take place.” This should be the mantra of
every public health agency when looking at making
improvements in common health problems. Unless a
community understands the importance of the intervention and
takes responsibility for transformation, no long-lasting changes
will be made.
A quotation from an expert can
be used to add credibility to a
writer’s position.
A Conclusion
Useful Transitions
It is sometimes helpful to have a transition at the
beginning of your conclusion to signal the end of your
essay. Some common transitions used in conclusions
are listed below. Remember to use a comma after your
transitions.

In conclusion,

Therefore,

In summary,

To conclude,

Thus,

In short,
A Conclusion
Example of Transition Use
Thus, despite the advances in computer
technology, the kind of computers that take on
human characteristics often found in sciencefiction movies are still a long way off.
The transition, thus, is
used at the beginning of
the conclusion to signal
the end of the essay.