Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Following these guidelines can free you up to focus on other aspects of your intro In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The context you include should acquaint your reader with the issues, questions, or events that motivated you to write an essay on your topic The introduction paragraph is a part of just about every kind of academic writingfrom persuasive essays to research papers. Some say to write your intro first; others say write it last. Each of these pieces of the intro plays a key role in acquainting the reader with the topic and purpose of your essay, how to write an intro paragraph for an essay.
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Published on February 4, by Shona How to write an intro paragraph for an essay. Revised on December 6, A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay. It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect. This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille. The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France.
In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact. The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly why the topic is important.
The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about. Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, how to write an intro paragraph for an essay, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation. Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:. The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay.
In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:. Scribbr Plagiarism Checker. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument. This is the most important part of your introduction. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say. You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good. This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided, how to write an intro paragraph for an essay. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.
This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic the invention of the printing press and states the main point the essay will explain the effect of this invention on European society. In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, how to write an intro paragraph for an essay, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:. The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay.
To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay. Everything else you write should relate to this key idea. The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:. Without a clear thesis, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to how to write an intro paragraph for an essay. The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statementa body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.
The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas. Have a language expert improve your writing. Check your paper for plagiarism in 10 minutes. Do the check. Generate your APA citations for free! APA Citation Generator. Give background on your topic. Present your thesis —the central point of your essay. Essay introduction example The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. What is your plagiarism score?
Compare your paper with over 60 billion web pages and 30 million publications. My first sentence is engaging and relevant. I have introduced the topic with necessary background information, how to write an intro paragraph for an essay. I have defined any important terms, how to write an intro paragraph for an essay. My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument. Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay. Well done! Learn more about writing essay paragraphs. Argumentative Expository Literary analysis This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.
Argumentative essay introduction The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. Expository essay introduction In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. What goes in an essay introduction? Relevant background information that the reader needs to know. A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument. What is a hook? What is a thesis statement? Why do I need a thesis statement? The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons: It gives your how to write an intro paragraph for an essay direction and focus.
It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point. What is the structure of an essay? Is this article helpful? Shona McCombes Shona has a bachelor's and two master's degrees, so she's an expert at writing a great thesis. She has also worked as an editor and teacher, working with students at all different levels to improve their academic writing. Other students also liked. It usually comes at the end of the introduction. How to write a paragraph Each paragraph in your paper should focus on one central point.
Follow these 6 steps for a strong paragraph structure. How to conclude an essay Interactive example A strong conclusion ties together your main points, shows why your argument matters, and opens broader questions.
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Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact. The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly why the topic is important. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about. Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation. Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:. The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument.
How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:. Scribbr Plagiarism Checker. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument. This is the most important part of your introduction. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say. You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good. This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.
This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic the invention of the printing press and states the main point the essay will explain the effect of this invention on European society. In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:. The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay.
To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay. Everything else you write should relate to this key idea. The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:. Without a clear thesis, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say. The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas. The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.
Have a language expert improve your writing. Check your paper for plagiarism in 10 minutes. Do the check. Generate your APA citations for free! APA Citation Generator. Give background on your topic. The thesis is usually the last sentence of your intro paragraph. Some instructors also ask students to include an essay map as part of their thesis. An essay map is a section that outlines the major topics a paper will address. Your thesis and essay map might look like this:. Having public transport in rural communities helps people improve their economic situation by giving them reliable transportation to their job, reducing the amount of money they spend on gas, and providing new and unionized work.
The underlined section is the essay map because it touches on the three big things the writer will talk about later. It literally maps out the rest of the essay! The context advances the plot by describing the topic in more detail and helping readers understand why the topic is important. And finally, the thesis statement provides the climax by telling the reader what you have to say about the topic. The thesis statement is the most important part of the intro. And for a piece of writing to be effective, it needs to have a clear purpose. While college students in the U. The U.
government should move toward bearing more of the financial burden of college education. The sample intro indicates that t he essay topic will focus on one specific issue: who should cover the cost of college education in the U. Both the hook and the context help us identify the topic, while the thesis in the last sentence tells us why this topic matters to the writer--they think the U. Government needs to help finance college education. First, the intro starts out with an attention-grabbing hook. The writer starts by presenting an assumption that the U. federal government bears most of the financial burden of college education , which makes the topic relatable to a wide audience of readers.
Also note that the hook relates to the general topic of the essay, which is the high cost of college education. The hook then takes a surprising turn by presenting a counterclaim : that American families, rather than students, feel the true burden of paying for college. Some readers will have a strong emotional reaction to this provocative counterclaim, which will make them want to keep reading! As such, this intro provides an effective opening sentence that conveys the essay topic. Remember: the context helps readers start to zoom in on what the paper will focus on, and what aspect of the general topic college costs will be discussed later on.
The context in this intro reveals the intent and direction of the paper by explaining why the issue of families financing college is important. In other words, the context helps readers understand why this issue matters , and what aspects of this issue will be addressed in the paper. To provide effective context, the writer refers to issues the exorbitant cost of college and high levels of family debt that have received a lot of recent scholarly and media attention. These sentences of context also elaborate on the interesting perspective included in the hook: that American families are most affected by college costs. This writer believes that the U. To revise this thesis statement so that it establishes the specific aspects of the topic that the essay will address, the writer could add the following to the beginning of the thesis statement:.
government should take on more of the financial burden of college education because other countries have shown this can improve education rates while reducing levels of familial poverty. Check out the new section in bold. Not only does it clarify that the writer is talking about the pressure put on families, it touches on the big topics the writer will address in the paper: improving education rates and reduction of poverty. So not only do we have a clearer argumentative statement in this thesis, we also have an essay map! This sample intro paragraph does an effective job of providing an engaging hook and relatable, interesting context, but the thesis statement needs some work!
As you write your own intro paragraphs, you might consider using the questions above to evaluate and revise your work. Keep reading for four tips for writing a successful intro paragraph for any essay. Those instructions can help guide you as you write your intro paragraph! Following these guidelines can free you up to focus on other aspects of your intro like coming up with an exciting hook and conveying your point of view on your topic! To make your intro as effective as possible, you need to define the parameters of your topic clearly--and you need to be specific. There is a lot to talk about in terms of college football! Instead, you should narrow broad topics to identify a specific question, claim, or issue pertaining to some aspect of NCAA football for your intro to be effective.
So before you think about writing your intro, ask yourself: Is my essay topic specific, focused, and logical? Does it convey an issue or question that I can explore over the course of several pages? Once you've figured out your topic, it's time to hit the books! And, guess what? You don't want to sit down to write your intro without a solid understanding of the different perspectives on your topic. Whether those are the perspectives of experts or the general public, these points of view will help you write your intro in a way that is intriguing and compelling for your audience of readers. Some say to write your intro first; others say write it last. Oftentimes, your professor will ask you to write multiple drafts of your paper, which gives you a built-in way to make sure you revise your intro.
Another approach you could take is to write out a rough draft of your intro before you begin writing your essay, then revise it multiple times as you draft out your paper. You can ask yourself these questions as you evaluate your intro:. Also, revising your writing is always a good thing to do--and this applies to your intro, too! Your college essays also need great intro paragraphs. Of course, the intro is just one part of your college essay. This article will teach you how to write a college essay that makes admissions counselors sit up and take notice. Are you trying to write an analytical essay?
Our step-by-step guide can help you knock it out of the park. Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub. com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers. How to Get a Perfect , by a Perfect Scorer.
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