A. Outline of an Introduction?
- Introduce the topic
- Tell the general opinion
- State your opinion (Thesis statement)
B. Seven Ways to Start an Introduction
1. Funnel
In a funnel introduction, the opening statement is general, then supporting statements
make less general points and lead to the specific topic that is stated in the thesis statement.
I have absolutely no luck with apartments. No, that's not exactly true. The apartment in
which I live is lovely, and I like it a lot. The problem rests with the apartment building
itself. OK, let's narrow that down further. I have no complaint with the actual
combination of concrete, bricks and mortar that makes up the apartment building. If I
am completely honest, I must say that I have no luck with neighbours.
2. Anecdote
An anecdote is a short story about something that happened, which illustrates the point
you want to make in your essay. Using a story at the beginning of an essay is an effective
way to interest the reader.
I remember my dad grumbling about water going everywhere as he put the hose back
in place. He had had the hose in just the right position, and if we hadn't been playing
with it, the rink would have been flooded by now. To us kids, the thought of having our
own ice rink to skate on was too exciting to make us stop and think about the hose.
3. Survey
In a survey introduction, the writer gives readers an overview of the information contained
in the essay. A survey arouses the reader’s interest by giving the reader a chance to agree
or disagree with an opinion stated by the writer, and this entices the reader to continue
with the essay.
An increasingly popular area of research in the field of education revolves around
individual learning styles. It is generally acknowledged that not every student will learn
in the same way, as they all have their individual strengths, weaknesses and interests.
In order to provide effective instruction, teachers must be aware of the different ways
in which their students learn.
4. Quotation
1
Quotations are used when someone has clearly and succinctly stated an opinion you agree
with and that will give the reader a clear idea of your point. For this, the quotation needs
to be relevant to the topic and familiar to the reader.
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Absence also makes the eyes see
more clearly. At least, it makes your eyes see once-familiar things in a new light. If you
have lived in a city all your life, it becomes so familiar to you that you don't really see
it, certainly not in the same way that a visitor would.
5. Question
Asking a question at the beginning of an essay is a useful tool for drawing the reader in.The
writer can ask a question in the introduction and then wrap the essay around the answer. It
is best to use Information Questions rather than Yes/No Questions. Questions, when written
correctly, are great for hooking the reader.
Who would willingly plunge into water that never gets warmer than ten degrees Celsius?
Surprisingly, many British Columbian scuba divers jump at this opportunity twelve
months a year. This may surprise many divers who only consider the sport in the context
of the white sand beaches, cloudless skies, and tepid azure waters of the Caribbean or
Southeast Asia; when one thinks "diving", one naturally thinks "tropics".
6. Setting the Scene
Creating a mental picture for the reader helps introduce essays. Using words that describe
how things smell, look, feel, sound and taste raises the reader’s curiosity and draws the
reader to read more.
It's everywhere you look. Dispensed on almost every street corner and found in almost
every home. Cups of it are held in the hands of workers, students and movie stars. North
Americans love their coffee. What is it about this brew that makes it so popular? In
North America today, coffee is not only a physical stimulant; it is also a fashion
accessory and the focal point of many social functions.
7. Definition
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When a difficult or unknown term is going to be used throughout the essay, defining that
term can serve as an introduction to the essay. Definition paragraphs define difficult terms
or ideas, which are used throughout the essay.
TOEFL and TOEIC are acronyms frequently heard in the field of English language
study, but what are they? TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is an
academic test of a student’s level of listening, reading and writing. Although TOEIC is
a test of English as well, it is more specifically a Test of English for International
Communication. Both these tests evaluate students’ English proficiency, but they are
completely different in nature, content and focus.
B. How to write a thesis statement?
Your thesis statement is the main idea of your essay. Very basically, it tells the person reading
your essay what will be in it. It may also give your opinion if the question asks you for this.It
is the last sentence of your introduction.
These days, more people are making the choice to go to university. Some people think that
the only purpose of a university education is to improve job opportunities. In my opinion,
university education is also important for social life as well as to have a job.
Activity 1: Find the thesis statement in the following paragraphs.
Nowadays vegetarian diets are very popular around the World. Some people believe that
everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet because the consumption of meat can cause serious
health issues. In my opinion, having a vegetarian diet is healthy but eating meat also
contributes to our health.
While for 60% of people, milk is the perfect beverage to go with a cookie, that's not true
for everyone. A new study shows that up to 40% of people prefer something different with
their bedtime snack. I believe, milk and cookies are the best duo.
Activity 2: Read the introduction and write a proper thesis statement.
Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in sports such as boxing or motor-
racing. Because of this, many people are opposed to such sports, and want them to be
stopped or controlled. _____________________________________________.
Some people believe that it is acceptable for young children to undertake jobs that they are
paid for, whereas others believe that this is wrong and should be illegal.
________________________________________.
3
Space for many people, really is the final frontier. They are excited by the exploration and
potential of space. However, not everyone agrees that this Money is well-spent. Many
people feel that we should solve problems here on earth before beginning our journey on
space. ________________________________________.
