Introduction Paragraphs

Your introduction paragraph should get your reader's attention, introduce the topic of your essay, and present your thesis. (The thesis is the main idea of the essay.) You can think of your introduction paragraph as a triangle like the one below. The beginning of your introduction paragraph is general. Then you become more specific about the topic until your thesis statement.

Get the reader's attention and introduce the topic

The first sentence of your introduction should make your reader interested in your topic. The first sentence of an introduction is called a "hook." There are many types of hooks: facts, questions, problems, descriptions, etc. There is not one "perfect" hook for each essay. Your hook can help you introduce the general topic of your essay.

Don't start too generally in your introduction paragraph. Focus on giving background information that your reader needs to understand the topic generally. What does your reader need to know before you make your main points?

Type of Hook	Example
Fact	Everyone needs a good amount of sleep.
Question	Do you get enough sleep?
Problem	Many people have a difficult time sleeping at night.
Description	Sleep is a peaceful and restful experience for most people.

Present your thesis

The thesis states the main idea, or focus, of the essay. The rest of the essay will give evidence and explanations that show why or how your thesis is true.

An effective thesis—

addresses the prompt (i.e., answers the question).
is usually at the end of the introduction paragraph.
controls the content of all of the body paragraphs.
is a complete sentence.
does not announce the topic (e.g., "I'm going to talk about sleep.").
should not simply be a fact (e.g., "Many people sleep.").
should not be too general (e.g., "Sleep is good.").
should not be too specific (e.g., "Sleep decreases the chance of having serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity, and anxiety.").
may state main points (e.g., "Some of the best ways to prevent sleep disorders are establishing good sleep habits, doing regular exercise, and making a comfortable bedroom environment.").
may imply main points (e.g., "Developing good habits is essential for preventing sleep disorders.").

Example: Introduction Paragraph

Humans should typically spend a third of their life asleep. Here are a few questions to ask yourself: Do you get enough sleep? Do you fall asleep at school? Do people often tell you that you look tired? If you struggle to get enough sleep, you may have a sleep disorder. A sleep disorder is a problem that makes it difficult for your body to rest when you go to bed. You might have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or resting peacefully while asleep. Some of the best ways to prevent sleep disorders are establishing good sleep habits, doing regular exercise, and making a comfortable bedroom environment.

Exercises

Exercise 1: Evaluate introductions

Here are essay introductions of a prompt. Read them and answer questions below :

Prompt: Write an essay about the benefits of reading books.

Introduction 1:

Books are just things with pages and words. Some people say reading is good, but honestly, it’s kind of boring and takes up a lot of time. Not sure why anyone would want to read when there’s so much other stuff to do.

Introduction 2:

Reading books is a valuable activity that offers numerous benefits to individuals of all ages. Beyond simply providing entertainment, books expand our knowledge, improve our thinking skills, and open doors to new ideas and perspectives. Exploring the advantages of reading helps us understand why it remains an essential part of learning and personal growth.

Question 1: Which introduction is better?

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Question 2: What makes it become a better introduction?

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Exercise 2: Write an introduction

Write an introduction for the prompts below:

Prompt 1: Describe your favorite hobby and why you enjoy it.

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Prompt 2: Explain why exercise is important for health.

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Prompt 3: Explain what makes a good leader.

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