Download Novice writers anguish over composing an introductory paragraph

Novice writers anguish over composing an introductory paragraph for their essays. They have been instructed at
some point to include a “hook” to capture readers’ attention, but they’ve also been warned to avoid sounding
gimmicky. Starting an introductory paragraph with a rhetorical question may at first seem like an effective
technique, but it can easily develop a formulaic or immature tone for the essay. If you are struggling to guide
students with overarching suggestions that can apply to most high school essays, you will find these tips
helpful.
Read more at Suite101: How to Write a Strong Introduction Paragraph: Tips to Teach High School Students to
Compose an Essay Introduction http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-write-a-strong-introductionparagraph-a97752#ixzz15SrS2zJd
Identify the Topic
Following these simple steps will help students quickly write an introduction paragraph after the body has been
written. In the first sentence, students should identify, or generally define, the topic. The topic is a broad
overview of what will be discussed in the essay. For example, if students are writing about whether Kurt
Vonnegut supports or criticizes the government in “Harrison Bergeron,” the topic may address government or
the idea of too much governmental control. Encourage students to visualize an inverted pyramid structure,
where the paragraph begins very generally and gets more specific as it progresses.
Introduce the book/author
The second or third sentence of the introduction should mention the book you are analyzing and the author.
You can briefly explain the context of the story with a brief plot summary in the next two sentences.
State the Thesis
The thesis works well as a final sentence in the introduction paragraph. By definition, a thesis is specific. It
outlines the body of the essay. Writing a loose thesis before the essay is written serves as a helpful guide to
students, but be sure to remind them that it needs to be adapted once the essay is complete to ensure the content
in the thesis is aligned with the content in the actual essay.
These tips define the purpose of each sentence in the introduction paragraph. When students realize that an
introductory paragraph needs to be only four or five sentences in length and that it serves a very specific
purpose, they feel a sense of relief. They are more than willing to impose structure on these mysterious entities
and turn their attention to the heart of their essay, the body.
Read more at Suite101: How to Write a Strong Introduction Paragraph: Tips to Teach High School Students to
Compose an Essay Introduction http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-write-a-strong-introductionparagraph-a97752#ixzz15SrYu8x6
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How to Write a Thesis Statement for Essays
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How to Organize Paragraphs in an Essay