How to Write Your Introduction Paragraph

This is your attention grabber.

“Holy Crap! Look at the crazy cloud!”

This is your brief explanation of what you will be talking about or, in this case, what is going on.

“There’s a weird funnel that looks like a tornado.”

This is your thesis, where you hityour point home.

“Yup, that’s a tornado alright.”

Introduction Paragraph = Tornado

Step 1: Grab you readers attention with a general statement about your topic. This is the HOOK.

Step 2: Briefly explain in 2 5 sentences what the essay ‐will be about by providing relevant background information.

Step 3: End your introduction with a strong thesis statement that tells your reader what you intend to prove to him or her about your topic.

The 3 Steps to Writing Your Introduction

Step 1:Hook Your

ReaderGrab your reader’s attention

with a general statementabout the topic.

Remember you have 3 ways todo this:

1. Dialogue2. Vivid Description3. Interesting Fact

You want your reader to look like this

Step 2:Explain What You Are

Talking AboutBriefly

explain in 2-5 sentences what the essay will be

Step 3: Write Your Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement tells the reader your position on a topic.

It should be clear, concise and cunning like this cougar

A cougar would not waste time if it wants to strike. Neither, should you.

Your thesis needs to be direct and to the point.

Step 3: Write Your Thesis Statement

You’ve already done this!!

Things to AVOIDYou should avoid using statements like, “This essay will discuss…” or “I’m going to write about…”.

AVOID statements that are too broad, too specific, or to vague.

Long-term drug use can have disastrous effects on one’s marriage, career, and health.

In this essay, I am going to discuss the effects of long-term drug abuse.

Smoking related diseases‐cause an estimated 440,000American deaths each year.Even with facts like these, thewhole country is divided on thisissue. Some people believe thatsmoking should be bannedeverywhere while others are notso harsh. However,tobacco should beoutlawed because smokingendangers everyone’s health,pollutes the environment, anddrains us of valuable energy.

Model Introduction Paragraph

Hook(Interesting Fact)

Brief Explanation

(Leads into thesis)

Thesis(What you will be

proving)

Have you ever noticed that Athens is a popular name for cities? All cities that are named Athens are named after the Greek goddess Athena. The daughter of Zeus, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, just wars, and architecture. She is the best all-around Greek mythology character because she is very wise, a great tactician, and she only helps fight justified wars.

Hook(Thought-provoking question)

Brief Explanation

(Leads into thesis)

Thesis(What you will be

proving)

Another Model Introduction Paragraph

The “Mini-Skirt Rule”BE CONCISE

For many of you, your essays are more

comparable to an ‘elderly, overweight man in a Speedo’–

your essays are way too short, don’t cover much at all, and some

are just sad and pathetic.

Confused?

Ask questions!