It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.
The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction. It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.
- It gives your writing direction and focus.
- It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.
- Catch your reader’s attention.
- Give background on your topic.
- Present your thesis—the central point of your essay.
Step 5: Check and revise
To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.
Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. 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. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.
After pitching an effective hook, you should provide a broad overview of your main topic and state some background information for the subject matter of your paper. If you are wondering how to start an essay introduction, the best way to do so is by providing a broad explanation of your theme and then leading your readers into specific points. Simply put, you should first give some general information and then gradually narrow it down into your specific points.
Now, let’s answer the question “how to make an interesting hook?” There are several different strategies you can use to create a powerful hook:
- A shocking fact
- An anecdoteВ
- A question
- A short summary
- A quote
To give you an even better idea of what a good thesis should look like, here is a sample statement for an essay about the importance of an adequate work-life balance:
Part 3: The Thesis Statement
In a nutshell, the introduction paragraph of an essay is the first paragraph of the paper. Therefore, it is also the first thing your reader will see in your essay.
What should an introduction include? It usually consists of 3 parts: a hook, connections, and a thesis statement. Let’s look at each element in detail.
“This is a story I want to tell you about the time I almost set myself on fire in my car while going 200 miles per hour and trying to get away from the cops.” – Fortunately, I don’t have such a story to tell, but I bet that I grabbed your attention. “How did I do that?” – you may wonder. Well, that’s what we call an effective hook. Basically, it is a catchy opening line that grabs a reader’s attention and makes them want to read further. A powerful hook and an engaging introduction are two key elements for success when writing an essay. If you may also be wondering how to write an introduction for an essay, continue to read on! This is the ultimate guide for writing a perfect essay introduction to get your readers engaged.
Writing a shabby introduction or making silly mistakes while writing the introductory paragraph is a huge blow. It creates a poor impression and unless you really improve your game by the conclusion paragraph, there’s no way you can get the scores you want.
Coming to the final and most important part of the introduction - the thesis statement.
The argumentative essay’s thesis statement should be a crisp and clear explanation of the main argument of your essay.
Instructors read several essays in a day. Don’t make it difficult for them by writing a tepid and uninteresting introduction that just makes them yawn.
5. Present your thesis
The toughest part of writing an essay is starting it. Won’t you agree? When you get the introduction right, you’re more confident about writing the rest of the essay.
Are you touching upon an underlying issue, problem or phenomenon? What is the objective of the essay? By the end of this portion, readers need to be convinced about the significance of your topic.
You’re staring at a blank document. The cursor is blinking. Your mind’s been blank for the last thirty minutes. You oscillate between writing and erasing. You look at the watch - your argumentative essay is due in the next 24 hours.
If you’re having trouble with how to start an introduction paragraph, analyze your essay prompt! Most teachers give you some kind of assignment sheet, formal instructions, or prompt to set the expectations for an essay they’ve assigned, right? Those instructions can help guide you as you write your intro paragraph!
It’s the roadmap to your essay, it’s the forecast for your argument, it’s. your introduction paragraph, and writing one can feel pretty intimidating. The introduction paragraph is a part of just about every kind of academic writing, from persuasive essays to research papers. But that doesn’t mean writing one is easy!
In this article, we’re going to explain how to write a captivating intro paragraph by covering the following info:
- A discussion of what an introduction paragraph is and its purpose in an essay
- An overview of the most effective introduction paragraph format, with explanations of the three main parts of an intro paragraph
- An analysis of real intro paragraph examples, with a discussion of what works and what doesn’t
- A list of four top tips on how to write an introduction paragraph
Tip 1: Analyze Your Essay Prompt
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.
For instance, if you’re writing an essay analyzing the consequences of sexism in Hollywood, the context you include after your hook might make reference to the #metoo and #timesup movements that have generated public support for victims of sexual harassment.
However, the thesis statement doesn’t give us any details about why the writer has made this claim or why this will help American families. There isn’t an essay map that helps readers understand what points the writer will make in the essay.
So, what counts as context for an intro paragraph? Context can be any important details or descriptions that provide background on existing perspectives, common cultural attitudes, or a specific situation or controversy relating to your essay topic. The context you include should acquaint your reader with the issues, questions, or events that motivated you to write an essay on your topic. and that your reader should know in order to understand your thesis.
An abortion essay is a relatively easy assignment, considering it is a social issue with numerous published information.
In the body of your abortion essay, you will have to include facts and arguments drawn from the sources of your research.
Medical reasons include the psychological effects of pregnancy, especially on minors, and health issues of the mother that might result in miscarriage or threaten the life of the mother.
Often, your lecturer will set an allowable amount of plagiarism, which is commonly set at below 5%.
Abortion essay conclusion – summarizing your essay
It is where you restate your thesis, briefly remind the reader of your paper’s main points, and answer the ‘so what’ question.
You could start with a question, a quote, or a fascinating fact about abortion.
However, due to the popularity of the issue, you have to come up with a strong and unique argument if you are to wow your lecturer or instructor.
Remember there are different guidelines for writing the different types of reference