2. Introduction
The introduction of an essay is located at the
beginning of the essay and is comprised of 1-2
paragraphs.
An effective introduction should:
Introduce your subject
Catch the reader’s interest
Give your Thesis Statement
3. Beginning an Essay
There are several ways to begin your introduction:
Give background information
Give a definition of your subject or topic
Begin with a relevant story or anecdote
Ask a question and provide an answer
Start with a quotation
Begin with a surprising statement or fact
Start with a contradiction
Give a relevant fact or statistic
4. What NOT to do in an Introduction
Be sure to avoid the following when creating an
introduction:
Don’t apologize – never start with statements like “In my
opinion” or “I may not be an expert, but…”
Don’t begin with dictionary definitions – avoid beginning an
essay with “According to Dictionary.com,”
Don’t announce what you intend to do – never start with
phrases such as “In this essay, I will…” “I am going to argue
that…”or “The purpose of this essay is to…”
Don’t wander – give a detailed but short overview of your
topic. Give your reader just enough to make them want to
read the rest of your essay.
5. Compare and Contrast
Thesis Statements
A thesis statement for a compare and contrast essay
should do the following:
It should identify the subjects of your essay.
It should list the points for comparison you are using.
It should make it clear if you are focusing on the
similarities, differences, or both.
It should give the point you will making by comparing
and contrasting.
6. Activity:
Drafting an Introduction
Using the information from this presentation and from
your topic workshop, draft an introduction for your
essay. Be sure to:
Introduce your topic
Catch your reader’s attention by using one of the
strategies for beginning an essay
Give your Thesis Statement
Avoid the common errors in writing an introduction
