An Introduction Paragraph Has These Three Essential Elements in This Order
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Writing Introductions
An introduction paragraph has these three essential elements in this order:
- Hook/Grabber
- Topic Introduction
- Thesis Statement
1. Hook or Grabber
A hook is an opening that grabs the reader’s attention and makes him want to read more. Some methods to hook your reader include:
Question
Why did 10 million people die in the Holocaust?
Startling Statement
Contrary to what some people think, most of our learning takes place out of school.
Anecdote (little story)
The rain clouds stayed inactive the moment Mrs. Hotchkiss glided through our front gate, folded brown umbrella tucked sensibly at her side. Our father had been looking for a housekeeper ever since my mother had become ill.
Fascinating Fact
The average child sees more than 20,000 TV commercials in a year.
Quotation
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” --Mahatma Ghandi
2. Topic Introduction
To introduce your topic, simply write a sentence or two describing your topic. Try to connect your hook to your thesis in a brief and interesting way.
3. Thesis Statement
State your specific topic + a particular feeling, feature, or claim in a sentence or two.
Put it all together:
1. Grabber:
The average teenager sees more than 20,000 TV commercials in a year.
2. Topic Introduction
These commercials are telling us we should buy expensive jeans, that we need to be purchasing the latest electronic gadget, and that that we should be stick-thin and wearing the latest fashions.
3. Thesis
Television plays too large a role in the lives of most youth.
Directions:
- Read each introduction paragraph below. Each introduces an essay about the ways in which you might go about making a difference in the world.
- As you read, underline words and phrases that engage your attention and sound interesting to you.
- After reading, complete the introduction analysis questions.
You have probably heard John Mayer’s smooth voice singing on the radio, “I keep on waiting, waiting on the world to change.” A catchy tune, but what message does it send about the nature of our world? In a time of desperation, hatred, anger, and separation, we “keep on … waiting on the world to change.” Why do we have to wait? Why wait when we can do something right now? We have to work to change, but luckily, it’s very simple, because small actions can add up to a significant difference. Learn from people who have made a difference before you. They stood up for what they believed in by taking small steps everyday. They also persevered, staying positive even in the face of challenge.
What techniques did the writer use to engage your attention? ______
______
Have you ever felt alone? Or thought no one cared about you? Has hopelessness overcome you, infecting you with the thought that there’s nothing you can do about all the world’s problems? So many people allow these negatives to take over, paralyzing any effort to make the world a better place. Well, snap out of it! There are several ways for you to make a positive difference. You may need to make sacrifices, but if you remain positive and be kind, perhaps others won’t have to feel alone or uncared for, and the world can rise out of hopelessness.
What techniques did the writer use to engage your attention? ______
______
The world has changed into something dangerous and unpredictable! Hatred spreads, silently killing people and closing them off from the world. Nowadays, students are constantly bullied, put down, criticized, and rejected…at school!!! When you see that kid, the one student who sits and eats in the bathroom at lunch because he has no friends, do you have the courage to sit somewhere new and eat lunch with him? Most students in middle school don’t, and yet those small actions of kindness can make all the difference. You can make a difference one person at a time, ending the silent spreading of hatred in your school’s hallways . All you have to do is stay positive and realize you may make a few small sacrifices along the way.
What techniques did the writer use to engage your attention? ______
______
R Vigil 2006