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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 persuasive introductory paragraph, keep in mind that . . .

As the writer of an essay, you're essentially a lawyer arguing in behalf of a client (your thesis) before a judge (the reader) who will decide the case (agree or disagree with you).

All in all, persuasive writing grips the reader though its clarity and the force with which the data bring home the thesis. The point is to give your readers no choice but to adopt your way of seeing things, to lay out your theme so strongly they have to agree with you. That means you must be clear, forthright and logical. That's the way good lawyers win their cases.

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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 (I hate minimums!)• 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 introductionToday 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 !!!!

• 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 positionprovide general reasons

Mix & match - Hooks1. 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 self-sufficient 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.

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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 sentenceLike 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 viewHere you look at opposing arguments and positions that link to your topic and thesis statement. D. Outline statementOutline 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

• 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 self-realisation 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• 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 viewsThe 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.

• 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/misguidedalthough, though, even though, while, whilst, whereas, despite/in spite of (the fact that), regardless of the fact thatOpponents 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

Outline Examples• 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.

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 . . . ."

• (see references at the end of this presentation)

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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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• 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?

• 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)

References• 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-a-fivebod

y-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/academic-writing/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/academicessaystructures.pdf