How to write an
Introductory paragraph
“One today is worth two tomorrows.”
Ben Franklin
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I am going to teach you the simplest
way . . . I am NOT teaching you
(below)…
Academic Introductions are usually much longer and more
detailed…
• What information is needed for the introductory paragraph?
How do I write one?
• The introduction for formal papers consists of all or as many of
the following elements as appropriate to the paper’s topic:
• 1. who the paper is about
• 2. what the paper is about
• 3. where the topic takes place
• 4. when the idea (s) occurred
• 5. how the event(s), technique(s), idea(s) transpired
• 6. significance of the topic
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When you write an introductory
paragraph, keep in mind that . . .
• Writing an introductory paragraph is like
greeting someone. The paragraph should
be short and to the point like saying,
“Hello!”
• Also, you don’t want to get into the meat
of the essay. Simply give the audience a
concise idea of your essay’s purpose.
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Remember that the introductory
paragraph . . .
• Is the most important paragraph of the
essay
• Must be at least 50 words long or three
sentences minimum
• Has 3 Main parts
– Briefly introduce the topic (hook +/ topic
sentence)
– Linkage
– Clearly state your position (thesis)
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4 main types of Hooks
• General statement introduction(suitable for
academic essays). Impact statements are not
usually suitable if it is too assertive!
• Question(rhetorical) introduction(NOT usually
suitable for academic essays).
• Quotation, statistics / fact introduction(suitable
for academic essays).
• Anecdote introduction(NOT generally suitable
for academic essays, unless quoting qualitative
research).
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Examples of general statement
introduction
• Almost every time that you turn on the television
you will find a number of shows which are extremely
violent.
• Many public schools have decided that their students
should use uniforms.
• In the United States of America the public burning of
our flag has become a common sight.
(These are three different example of how you can begin your
paragraph. In the first sentence you simply introduce the topic. You do
not state your position yet.)
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Examples of question introduction
(sometimes 3 Q’s)
• Are you ever bothered by the excessive violence on
prime time television?
• Do you think that to improve our public school
education the students should be required to wear
uniforms?
• Should we allow citizens to burn the United States
flag in public?
(You can also begin your essay by asking a question. A question
usually takes you to the heart of the problem quickly.)
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3 Q’s Example
• Ask three questions:
• Example (Topic: Agribusiness is devouring the
small farmer):
– Is it true that bigger is always better? Could it be
that society’s insatiable desire for more is in many
ways giving people less? Once society has
accepted the premise that more choice is better, is
it possible to reverse that trend? For small, local,
family-owned businesses, more and bigger has
been anything but better.
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•
Quotation
introduction
A recent article in Time magazine states that the
viewing of extremely violent television shows is the
number one cause of violence in our inner cities.
• The Monitor recently conducted a study and
concluded that students in public schools where
uniforms are mandatory have less problems and
perform better academically.
• A recent article in The Austin Statesman states that
most Americans are very much against flag burning in
public and are in favor of passing a law banning this
activity.
(Finally, you can begin an essay by providing some information from a magazine
or newspaper you might have read. This introduction is a bit more difficult to
write, but just as effective as the other ones.)
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Anecdote Intro.
• The personal anecdote/story:Example (Topic: George Washington):
• It seemed that all they did was drive, and each time they stopped it
was to visit another site. That morning in Washington D.C. was
different. They stepped out of their hotel and walked four or five
blocks. Suddenly, she was amazed by all that surrounded her: the
Capitol building off in the distance, the White House to my left, a
vast field of grass and two ponds reflecting a towering white
monument. “What’s that?” she asked her dad, and he responded,
“That’s the monument of George Washington.” Her mind started to
wonder, “A monument, a city named in his honor? This must be
someone who made a difference.” Through his courage, leadership,
and patriotism, George Washington was able to accomplish so
much.
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In the next three slides you will view
completed introductory paragraphs.
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General statement introduction
Today smoking is an issue
which is on everybody’s mind.
The whole country is divided
on this issue. Some people
believe that smoking should
be banned everywhere while
others are not so harsh.
However, I believe that
tobacco should be outlawed
because smoking endangers
everyone’s health, pollutes
the environment, and drains
us of valuable energy.( 57)
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Interrogatory introduction
What do you think about
banning smoking? The whole
country is divided on whether
smoking should be banned. I
firmly believe that smoking
should be outlawed because it
endangers everyone’s health;
it pollutes the environment,
and it drains us of valuable
energy. (41)
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Quotation introduction
In The Monitor it was recently
stated that smoking is the greatest
threat to our health. The whole
country is divided on this issue. I
believe that tobacco should be
outlawed because it endangers
everyone’s health; it pollutes the
environment, and it drains of
valuable resources. (49)
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Final reminders !!!!
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Be concise and to the point!
Do not go into too much detail!
At least 50 words minimum!
You must do three things . . .
introduce topic
state position
provide general reasons
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Mix & match - Hooks
1. Statistic: According to the Bureau of
Justice Statistics, teens and young
adults experience the highest rates
of violent crime.
2. Fact: Many studies show that the
biological sleep pattern for teens
shifts a few hours, which means
teens naturally stay up later and feel
alert later in the morning.
3. Quote: "A man's errors are his portals
of discovery.“
For the thesis: Students grow
more confident and selfsufficient when parents allow
them to make mistakes and
experience failure.
For the thesis: If every school
day started at ten o'clock, many
students would find it easier to
stay focused.
For the thesis: Parents are
justified in implementing a
strict curfew, regardless of a
student's academic performance.
Lead into Thesis Statement
• This can be done in a number of different
ways.
A. The points in your paper.
Since you've already planned
which order to write the
points, you already know
which order to place them in
your introductory
paragraph. You don't have to
include every single point, but
make sure the important ones
get in there.
B. Exploration of your
Introductory sentence
Like the basic paragraph, the
introductory paragraph opens
with a very general statement
about the topic, and is often
followed by some supporting
examples.
C. Differing Points of
view
Here you look at
opposing arguments and
positions that link to your
topic and thesis statement.
D. Outline statement
Outline what is going to
be examined
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Example A. (Points)
Fact
You can see this shows opposing
viewpoints and therefore is good for
an argumentative essay.
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Topic: Declining birth rate world wide
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The birth rate has fallen dramatically in many parts of the world. So what are
the causes of this trend? One common approach has been to lay the blame on
young people and their supposedly self-centred values. It is argued that in
developed societies, we now live in a "post-materialist age", where individuals do
not have to be so concerned about basic material conditions to survive. Thus
people, especially the young, have become more focussed on the values of selfrealisation and the satisfaction of personal preferences, at the expense of
traditional values like raising a family. Another conflicting study found that women
do want children in their lifetime but encounter social and economic obstacles
along the way that prevent them from fulfilling their plans to be parents. These
obstacles can vary from delaying marriage to extended their careers. Finally,
MacDonald cites "Rational Choice Theory", whereby a couple make an assessment
of the relative costs and benefits associated with becoming a parent. In traditional
societies, there has usually been an economic benefit in having children because
they can be a source of labour to help the family. In developed societies, however,
children now constitute an economic cost. In conclusion, the decline in the birth
rate worldwide can be attributed to a number of different factors.
Differing views which will be
examined
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Example B. Exploration of the topic
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Throughout human history, the physical
universe has often presented dangers to
explorers. For example, when primitive humans
left their tribal villages to search for food and
water, they risked death or injury from dangerous
animals. Later, when people sailed the oceans in
search of new lands for settlement or trade,
many died in terrible storms. Similarly, the ocean
of outer space has many dangers, but it also has
several unique challenges for explorers.
Argumentative or
exploratory?
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Example C. Opposing views
The type of school a parent sends their
children to can often have a profound effect
on that child’s future . Some people believe
that the same sex- schools are more effective,
whereas other people believe that schools
with boys and girls are better. [thesis
statement]
Weasel Terms
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In an essay, you should never use these phrases without a
reference to substantiate what is said.
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allegedly
arguably
as opposed to most
considered by many
contrary to many
critics say that
experts say that
it could be argued that
it has been noticed
it has been said
it has been stated
it has been suggested
it is generally claimed
it is widely believed that
mainstream scholars say
that
mainstream scientists say
that
many people say
many scientists argue that
research has shown
researchers argue that
serious scholars say that
social science says
sociologists believe that
some argue
some feel that
some historians argue
the scientific community
this is widely considered to
be
this is widely regarded as
widely considered as
Rather than saying that “many social scientists
argue that class is important”
“Goldthorpe (2000) argues that class remains
important.”
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NB *** There are many ways to write an effective introduction, but all of
them should have a topic sentence, a discussion or lead into the thesis and
then the thesis idea. The hook is optional but a good idea.
• The discussion or lead into the thesis is sometimes difficult to write. I
usually use a number of simple constructs to make it easier on myself. And
these are examples of how you should write this part too...
• While some academics believe _________, others point out
_____________________________
• On one hand, __________, on the other hand_______________
• Some people are unquestioning in their support (for/of) ______________,
while others ____________________
• There is a dichotomy of thought surrounding the notion of
______________. Some theorists argue ... While another group argues ...
(lead to thesis) With such arguments the truth is usually found ... (middle
ground) --> (then thesis)
• There are many advantage to ... However, ...
• The pro- () lobby (focuses/points out/ is adamant that) ... whereas ...
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Important transitions
• To make contrasting points:
on the other hand, however, still, yet, but, nonetheless,
nevertheless, even so,
it may be said/argued/claimed that,…
others/many people oppose this viewpoint/strongly
disagree…, claim/feel/believe this argument is
incorrect/misguided
although, though, even though, while, whilst, whereas,
despite/in spite of (the fact that), regardless of the fact that
Opponents of … argue/believe/claim that…
The fact that… contradicts the belief/idea that…
While it is true to say that…, in fact…
While/Although …, it cannot be denied that…
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Example D. The outline statement
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Outline Examples
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The thesis statement must make clear to readers the focus of the paper, and what
the paper seeks to accomplish. This semester, students will write different types of
papers, such as comparison-contrast, cause-effect, and an argumentative paper.
Each of these different types of papers will have different types of thesis
statements.
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For example, a comparison-contrast paper might have a thesis that states: "The
purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast . . . ."
A cause-effect paper might have a thesis that states: "The purpose of this paper is
to examine . . . , the cause of which is . . . ," or "The purpose of this paper is to
examine . . . the effect of which is . . . ."
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(see references at the end of this presentation)
Thesis Statements
• What is a Thesis Statement?
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Although every well-written essay has an introduction, a thesis statement not only
introduces your topic but also alerts the reader to your conclusion.
An assertion that defines the point (or argument) of your essay. A thesis statement is
your answer to the question your essay explores.
Your thesis is more than a general statement about your main idea. It needs to establish
a clear position you will support with balanced proofs (logos, pathos, ethos).
A thesis is your main idea/claim/refutation/problem-solution expressed in a single
sentence or a combination of sentences.
"A thesis statement is a single sentence that formulates both your topic and your
point of view" (Gibaldi 56). However, if your paper is more complex and requires a
thesis statement, your thesis may require a combination of sentences.
1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.
2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.
3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.
4. A strong thesis statement is specific.
Thesis statements
• A useful way to think about the construction of a thesis
sentence is to view it in terms of stating both the
"what" and the "how" of the paper's argument.
• The "what" is simply the basic argument in your paper:
what exactly are you arguing?
• The "how" is the strategy you will use to present this
argument. The following are helpful questions for you
to consider when formulating a thesis sentence:
• What is the argument that I am trying to convince the
reader to accept?
• How exactly do I expect to convince the reader that
this argument is sound?
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Thesis statement
Fear of foreign influence in the Western
hemisphere, national pride, and contemporary
popular ideas concerning both expansion and
foreign peoples had significantly more influence
on American foreign policy than did the voices of
industrialists.
• This sentence shows the position you will
argue and also sets up the organizational
pattern of your paper's body.
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Underline the Thesis
Will This Thesis Sentence Make the Grade? (A Check List)
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In the end, you may have spent a good deal of time writing your thesis and still not know if it's a good one. Here are some
questions to ask yourself.
Does my thesis sentence attempt to answer (or at least to explore) a challenging intellectual question?
Is the point I'm making one that would generate discussion and argument, or is it one that would leave people asking, "So
what?"
Is my thesis too vague? Too general? Should I focus on some more specific aspect of my topic?
Does my thesis deal directly with the topic at hand, or is it a declaration of my personal feelings?
Does my thesis indicate the direction of my argument? Does it suggest a structure for my paper?
Does my introductory paragraph define terms important to my thesis? If I am writing a research paper, does my introduction
"place" my thesis within the larger, ongoing scholarly discussion about my topic?
Is the language in my thesis vivid and clear? Have I structured my sentence so that the important information is in the main
clause? Have I used subordinate clauses to house less important information? Have I used parallelism to show the
relationship between parts of my thesis?
In short, is this thesis the very best sentence that it can be?
The next slides present a
couple sample
introductory paragraphs.
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Do you think that college athletes should be
paid more than just tuition? Many people
believe that college athletes should get paid
while others believe they should not. I
adamantly believe that college athletes should be
paid because they practice long hours; the
schools are profiting through the athletes efforts,
and this would make college life much less
stressful for the athletes.
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Question: Workplace diversity is now recognised as an important feature in organisations,
especially in multicultural nations like Australia. What communication problems might arise in a
culturally diverse workplace, and how can managers best deal with them?
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Over the past twenty five years, since Australia embraced multiculturalism as a
policy, issues of intercultural communication have become more and more
prominent in the workplace. However, until relatively recently, little had been
written on these issues, and even now, many organisational managers have no
training or knowledge of how to deal with communication problems, even though
most workplaces are staffed by people of diverse cultures. Particular problem
areas include the difficulties that some non-English speakers have in
understanding safety instructions (figures produced by the ABS in 1997 show that
migrant workers have a higher incidence of accidents at the workplace); an
ignorance of the different forms of non-verbal communication used by other
cultures (for example it is considered impolite in some societies for an employee to
look directly at his or her employer), which can lead to misunderstandings and
unpleasantness; and the lack of knowledge about differing expectations. Based on
interviews with managers and staff in six organisations (public and commercial),
this report examines these three problem areas, and shows that many of the
difficulties faced by both natives and migrants in the workforce are caused by a
lack of awareness of, and training in, intercultural communication. (About 190
words)
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References
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http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/05/
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/1
http://www.essaywritinghelp.com/
http://www.essaywritinghelp.com/thesisstatement.htm
http://www.you-can-teach-writing.com/expository-writing.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/
http://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/thesisstmt.html
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/types%20of%20essays/Cause%20and%2
0effect%20Essay.htm
http://www.englishdiscourse.org/example.thesis.statements.htm
http://college-college-life.knoji.com/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement-for-afivebody-paragraph-cause-and-effect-essay/
http://freedownload.is/ppt/the-argumentative-essay-12196061.html
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http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/essaybasic.html
http://www.whitesmoke.com/how-to-write-an-introduction
http://www.une.edu.au/tlc/aso/aso-online/academicwriting/introduction-paragraphs.php
http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/introductions
http://libguides.astate.edu/content.php?pid=54191&sid=398866
http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eap/essayintrotype.htm
http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/academicessaystr
uctures.pdf
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