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How to write the introductory paragraph of an essay
- 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