How to Write the Introduction

How to Write the Introduction

The introduction is the first paragraph of your essay, and it is important to make a good impression here. If you don’t start out well, it will be difficult to convince your readers (or the TOEFL assessor!) to take your writing seriously. Here’s what you should know about the introduction:

➢ First paragraph of the essay

➢ Usually 3 to 5 sentences long

➢ Introduces the essay topic

➢ Clearly gives your opinion

➢ Has a strong thesis statement

All introductions must meet these five conditions. If it is missing one or two of them, then it is a weak introduction.

Topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Police officers should carry guns.

Beginning the introduction

The best way to begin the introduction is with a general statement about the essay topic. This explains what the essay is going to be about and mentally prepares the reader for the arguments that will follow. Do not give your opinion in this sentence--this is only a general statement about the topic.

Here’s an example of what a typical first sentence looks like:

Many communities have been debating whether or not police officers should carry guns.

You can see that there is no opinion in this sentence; it is only a general statement about the essay topic.

Developing the introduction

After we have written our first sentence, it is time to develop the introduction. We do this by adding a few more general statements about the topic. One strategy you can use is to explain both sides of the argument. Here’s an example:

In some situations, guns protect the police officer as well as the public. However, guns often result in injuries and death.

By explaining both sides of the argument (this is called contrasting), you show the reader that you have thought carefully about the issue.

You should also know that when you contrast both sides of the argument, it is better to begin with the side of the argument that you do not agree with. This is more natural in English, and your essay introduction will develop logically toward the thesis statement.

Writing the thesis statement

Now it is time to write our thesis statement. This is the last sentence of the first paragraph. It is also the most important sentence in the essay. The thesis statement does two things:

➢ It directly answers the essay question.

➢ It tells the reader what your opinion is.

For our introduction, here’s what the thesis statement could look like:

In my opinion, no police officer should ever carry a gun.

In this example, we have a strong thesis statement. It is simple and direct: it answers the essay

question and tells the reader exactly what our opinion is. It is not an exaggeration to say that the

thesis statement is the most important sentence in the essay. In fact, if the reader has difficulty

understanding the essay, he will often return to the thesis statement to be reminded what the essay is

about. A bad thesis statement results in a bad essay.

Putting it all together

We’ve finally completed our essay. Here it is:

Many communities have been debating whether or not police officers should carry guns. In some situations, guns protect the police officer as well as the public.

However, guns often result in injuries and death. To my mind, no police officer should ever carry a gun.

In the first sentence we began the introduction with a general statement about the essay topic. Then, in the second and third sentences, we contrasted both sides of the argument.

Our last sentence was the thesis statement: this is where we answered the essay question

and gave our opinion.

Writing the Thesis Statement

As explained already, in the Independent Task, you are asked to explain your opinion about a subject. Your opinion about a subject is the thesis of your essay.

A good essay has a clearly stated thesis. A thesis statement focuses the direction of the topic and helps the reader understands what you want to say. It tells the reader what your essay is about. Look at these example topics to see how different thesis Statements can come from the same topic.

Essay Topic:

You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university must be shared by two students. Would you rather have the university assign a student to share a room with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate! Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

THESIS STATEMENT A:

Since I do not get along well with many people, I prefer to choose my own roommate.

From this thesis statement you can assume that the writer will discuss why he or she has difficulty having friendly relationships with people.

THESIS STATEMENT B:

The opportunity to meet new people is an important benefit of a university education, so I believe it is better to let the university choose my roommate for me.

From this statement, we can presume the writer will discuss the benefits of meeting new people at a university.

Note:

Essay Topic:

Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the moon and to other planet’s). Other people disagree and think governments should spend this money for our basic need on Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with! Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

Thesis Statement B:

The moon is a better place to explore because it is nearer than the planets.

This thesis statement is NOT a good thesis statement for the topic. It takes two of the words from the topic and writes about exploration possibilities. The topic, though, is how best to spend limited resources on space exploration or on needs on Earth. This thesis statement is off topic.

Thesis Statement A:

While there is still hunger, poverty, and illiteracy on Earth, our resources should be focused here and not in outer space.

From this statement, we can presume the writer will discuss why hunger, poverty, and illiteracy on earth are more worthy of attention than space exploration.

Thesis Statement C:

Gaining psychological and scientific knowledge through space exploration will benefit us more than trying to solve problems here on Earth.

From this statement, we can presume the writer will discuss in detail the psychological and scientific benefits that we receive from space exploration.

EXERCISE 1

Circle the thesis statements that are appropriate to the topic. There can be more than one correct answer.

1. What is the most important decision you have made? Why was this decision important! Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

(A) Decisions are important because without them nothing would get done.

(B) Deciding to leave home to attend school in the US has been by far the most important decision I’ve made.

(C) Although my parents wanted me to study medicine, I knew that I should follow my heart and get a degree in nuclear physics.

2. Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

(A) New museums are opening in almost in every city in the world.

(B) Museums hold the historic and artistic record of a region, so visiting museums is the best way to understand a new place.

(C) Travelers want to see in person famous works of art that they have only seen in books so they head to museums when in new cities.

3. In general, people are living longer now. How will this change affect society? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

(A) People are living longer now because of improvements in medical care.

(B) As the majority of the population gets older, our communities will have to shift their focus from providing services to the young, like schools, to service to aging adults, like medical care.

(C) Society has been around a long time and it is always changing.

EXERCISE 2

Write introductory paragraphs on the following topics; make sure that your thesis statement clearly reveals your opinion.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Overall, the widespread use of the internet has a mostly positive effect on life in today’s world.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People in today’s world have become too dependent on automobiles. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.