The Introductory Paragraph

 
The purpose of an introductory paragraph is
to get the reader's attention and
to let the reader know what will be covered in the essay.
very often, it sets the tone for the entire essay.
gives you a chance to "hook" your audience right away.
Developing Introductory
Paragraphs

•A writing an introductory paragraph can be simplified if you follow the

following steps.
– Compose the thesis sentence/statement
– Decide on the type of hook that is most effective
– Write the hook
– Write the transition
– Draft these three parts into an introductory paragraph
Composing the Thesis Sentence

Although the same process does not always work for everyone, the
part of the introductory paragraph that you write first is the thesis
sentence. As you recall, the thesis sentence consists of either the
topic and a clear direction. or a topic, a clear direction, and a preview
of the points to be covered in the paper. Because the thesis sentence
keeps you on track, it is composed first; however, it will be the last
sentence in the introductory paragraph.
The thesis sentence/statement

The thesis statement states concisely the main idea of the essay, sets
limits on the topic, and indicates the organization of the essay. The
thesis works as a road map for the entire essay, showing the readers
what you have to say and how you will support your ideas.
THESIS   =   topic   +   comment or claim about topic
The thesis sentence/statement is
helpful because it

• is the main point you express, explain, or try to prove in your paper
• makes a specific, precise assertion about your topic
• should be specific, pointed, and provocative, promising the reader(s)
some new information about your topic
• should always be more than a vague generalization.
• This means that your thesis statement should make a kind of road
map for your readers to follow as they go through your paper. It
should focus on the exact message you want them to take from your
paper, and lay out an outline for how your paper will develop.
• Since a thesis must be specific, this wouldn’t be a very good thesis
statement:
•  
• "SBM is a neat place to go." This doesn’t tell us why the SBM is "neat", or
even what you think "neat" means–tidy or interesting?
•  
• A more specific thesis statement would be:
• "SBM is a helpful place to go because the staff is friendly, the tutors are
knowledgeable, and its services can help improve your writing."
•  
• This tells your reader that your paper will now have three chunks to
follow: one on the friendly staff, one on the knowledgeable tutors, and
one on the helpful services. You’ve mapped out your paper for your
readers.
Parts of an Introductory Paragraph
1. Hook
2. Transition
3. Thesis sentence
 
Developing the Hook
After you have composed your thesis sentence. you need to write a
strong hook. Even though the hook is usually the second part you
write, it comes first in the actual introductory paragraph;
consequently, it should be strong and should make the reader keep
on reading. There are several ways to get the reader's attention, and
your job is to be creative in finding the best way for each specific
essay that you write. An effective introduction may contain one or
more of the following hooks.
Types of Hooks

1. Personal Examples
2. Quotations
3. Facts or Statistics
4. Rhetorical Questions
5. Current Events
6. Contrast to the Thesis Sentence
1. Using Personal Examples.

On February 19,1982, life changed for an eighteen-year-old young

man. He became very ill from a bacterial Infection. His body could
not fight the Infection. Why? After a week of tests and examinations
by several specialists, the diagnosis was made. He had leukemia, a
cancer in the bone marrow. I am that young man. When a person
finds out that he has cancer, just as I did, his whole world changes. A
cancer patient is affected physically, psychologically, and socially by
the impact of cancer.
One morning a young mother had her several-month-old son in his
stroller under the peach tree near their family swimming pool. She
walked to her kitchen to get a knife so she could peel a peach for him.
Ten seconds later, she found him face down with the stroller at the
bottom of the pool. She immedi­ately pulled him out and administered
artificial respiration to her son. If she had been gone any longer, he
might have become one of the statistics that plague our country every
year when many children die needlessly in water-related acci­dents.
These child drownings could, however, be greatly reduced if parents
never left their children unattended around water, if pools were
properly fenced, and if other safety devices were installed in or
by_the pool.
 Using the thesis sentences that follow the blanks given, write personal
example that you feel would get the reader’s attention. You may use either a
personal experience or personal observation

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . KFC
offers tasty food, entertainment for children, and quick service.
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--------------------------------------------------. Helping a son or daughter plan a
wedding can create family unity, leave pleasant memories, yet create
unexpected expenses.
 
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . Attending
college allows students to learn new information, make lifetime friends, and
prepare for a career.
Using Quotations.

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a
hell of heaven." This thought by John Milton was recorded over four
hundred years ago, but it is still timely for us today. He seems to be
saying that we are the ones to control our lives. We can be miserable
when things are going well, just as we can be happy when things are
going wrong. With this thought in mind, we can control the way we
face life through our attitude, our determination, and our ability.
Parents of children with learning disabilities have often felt unprepared
to help their children with their handicaps and frustrated with attempts
to seek the proper placement of them in the public-school system. The
experience of school can be overwhelming for any children who have
trouble learning. The learning-disabled student in the public
educational system must deal with aca­demic, social, and emotional
problems.
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Healthy dieting requires accurate medical information, appropriate
exercise, and nutritious food.
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A teenager's sexual behavior can be altered by movies, a fear of AIDS,
and peer pressure.
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Smoking is detrimental because it costs money, creates pollution, and
results in medical problems.
Facts or Statistics.

In the desert regions of Arizona, solar homes date back to

the pre-Columbian Indians. These people carefully designed
their homes in the recesses of south-facing cliffs to receive
the warmth of the winter sun. In the summer, shade was
provided by the overhanging cliffs. Today, as then, the
desert-region solar home must be carefully designed to use
the sun efficiently in the orientation, the exterior, and the
interior.
According to an article in Family Safety Or First Aid published by Berkley
Books,". . . every 45 seconds a fire breaks out in an American home -700,000
residences aflame each year. And 16 times a day somebody dies in one of
these burning homes." These statistics are frightening and should not be
taken lightly. The best way to deal with the possibility of loss from fire is to
plan ahead before it happens. Otherwise, it is too late. In order not to
become one of these statistics, Americans need to equip their homes with
safety devices, set and adhere to safety rules, learn safety procedures in
case of a fire, and practice a family escape plan.
According to' Burt Hood, manager of health services for the Central Arizona
Chapter of the American Red Cross, "In the first six months of 1989, the City
of Phoenix responded to fifty-six calls of water-related accidents, and of the
fifty-six, twelve were fatalities." He went on to say that of these near
drownings, approximately "30 percent never really recover." Neighborhood
drownings occur often. Just yesterday a seven-month-old child' fell into a
swimming pool, but he was pulled out a few seconds later when his mother
found him. He was lucky, but what about the many other children who die
or are perma­nently disabled needlessly in water related accidents? The
number of child drownings and near-drownings could, however, be greatly
reduced if parents never left their children unattended around water, if
pools were properly fenced, and if safety devices were installed in or by the
pool.
 Exercises
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Women who enter politics are usually socially conscious,
extraordinarily bright, and self-directed.
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------------------------. Small businesses usually succeed when the owners are
adventuresome, creative, and well organized.
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------------------------------------------------------------. Visitors to foreign countries
can experience new foods, a different language, and unique architecture.