The document outlines the essential components of writing an engaging introductory paragraph for an essay, emphasizing the importance of a strong hook, background information, and a clear thesis statement. It provides guidelines for when one is prepared to write and details on what to include in the introduction, such as attention grabbers and transitions. Additionally, it illustrates the difference between effective and ineffective thesis statements and offers examples.

1. HOW TO WRITE THE
INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH OF AN ESSAY
Erdem
AYDEMİR

2. WHY DO WE WRITE ESSAYS?
To Improve the
fluency of language
To Reform the Way
We Structure our
Sentences
To Deliver our
Arguments in an
Organized way
To Develop our
Critical Thinking /
Analysis
To Express our
Opinion on a
Particular Issue
To Attain High
Writing Abilities
To Transform The
Information We Get via
Reading, Lectures and
Tutorials into Knowledge
that is Communicable to the
Readers with the aim of
persuading, showing
agreement /disagreement
and many others.

4. WHEN ARE WE READY TO WRITE?
After we find an interesting topic to write about?
After we get the green light from the teacher that we
have a good thesis statement?
OR
After an organization and a brainstorm that
combines the piece of evidences and details from the
text or the study which will support our argument.

6. WHAT DOES AN INTRODUCTION
DO?
It greets the reader.
It sets the tone of the paper.
It introduces essay’s thesis or main idea.
It informs the reader what the paper will be
about without getting into the details of the
topic.

7. WHAT GOES INTO AN
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
1st sentence:
• Attention Grabber
options:
• An analogy or
metaphor
• Famous quote
• A shocking
statement
• A question
• A description
Transition Sentences:
• Identify the name of the author
and the work.
• Identify the issue and the topic.
• Give necessary background
information that someone who
does not know much about the
issue would need to know to
make sense out of the paper.
• Keep it brief !
The Last Sentence:
• A poweful sentence that directly
answers the essay question.
• Should include the subject and
student’s opinion.
• Needs to be bold and
something the people can
debate.
• Should give clue about the topic
sentences that will be written in
detail.
• Should include 3 subtopics and
their reasons/arguments that
the writer will prove.

8. SOME EXAMPLES OF STRONG
HOOKS
Almost everytime that you turn on the television you will find a
number of shows which are extremely violent.
Do you think that to improve our public school education the
students should be required to wear uniforms?
In the United States of America the public burning our flag has
become a common sight.
A research article in Time Magazine states that loading stress out of
the workplace and the family is number one cause of sleep disorders
that have reportedly increased during the last 10 years.

9. GOOD VS BAD THESIS
STATEMENTS
Bad: Everyone should exercise.
- Why should I?
Good: Americans should add exercise to their daily morning routine because it keeps their
bodies at a healthy weight, gets them away from stress and also reduces the risk of high
blood pressure.
Bad: High levels of alcohol consumption are bad for you.
- This is too broad. What are the specific detriments of alcohol consumption that you
would like to discuss?
Good: High levels of alcohol consumption have detrimental effects on your personal health,
such as weight gain, heart disease, and liver complications.
Bad: Reading can develop a child's analytical mind.
Good: Reading develops a child's mind by fostering comprehension skills, increasing
vocabulary, and exposing them to new worlds they might not otherwise encounter.

10. GOOD VS BAD THESIS
STATEMENTS
Bad: Organ donors should be financially compensated.
- Why?
Good: Given the grueling surgery, lifelong changes they endure and for the future health
expenses due to the organ donation , kidney donors should be financially compensated for
their act of self-sacrifice.
Bad: The internet has improved the lives of many.
- How has the internet improved people’s lives?
Good: The internet serves as a means of connecting people across the globe, fostering new
friendship and an exchange of ideas that wouldn’t have occurred prior to its inception.

11. EXAMPLE 1
Today smoking is an issue
which is on everybody’s mind.
The whole country is divided on
the issue. Some people believe
that smoking should be banned
everywhere while others are not
so harsh. Tobacco should be
outlawed because smoking
endangers everybody’s health,
pollutes the environment, and
drains us of valuable energy.
HOOK
TRANSITION
THESIS
STATEMENT

12. EXAMPLE 2
Do you think that college
athletes should be paid more
than just tuıtion? Many people
believe that college athletes
should get paid while others
believe they should not.
College athletes should be
paid because they practice
long hours, the schools are
profiting through the athletes’
effort, and this would make
college life much less stressful
HOOK

13. GO TO:
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