Writing Composition: Introduction to an Essay

Contributed by:
Ivan
Learning how to make the introduction of an essay look attractive and appealing for the reader to continue on with the rest of the essay.
1. How to Let’s
get it
write an starte
d!
2. Purpose of an Introduction
● To get your reader’s attention and get
then engaged.
● To introduce your topic and purpose
● Present your thesis statement, usually
the last sentence
3. Components of an Introduction
Paragraph - how to “reel it in!”
Hook - to grab your reader’s
Line - to lead your reader to your
Sinker - your thesis
4. The Hook - some strategies
● Counterargument
○ “Some people think___________. “
● Bold or interesting fact
○ “Bill Gates is a failure.”
● Simile or metaphor
○ “Life is like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs.
● Question
○ Do you ever wonder if there is any purpose to all the suffering we endure in our
lives?
● Quote
○ My father once told me that to live is to suffer.
● Fragment(s)
○ Struggles. Hardships. Setbacks.
● Imagine if…
○ Imagine if we went through life without any adversity.
● Anecdote
○ I remember the first time I made a mistake and the guilt I felt as my parents
scolded me for stealing that candy bar from the checkout line at the grocery store.
5. Line = sometimes you need to provide
additional info for a smooth transition to
your thesis
Thesis
Some people think___________. This is simply not true.
● Bill Gates is a failure. Or at least he was, when his first software company failed. Despite
the obstacles he faced, he kept trying until he succeeded.
● Life is like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. We all love when things are going well,
but it is the tough times that build our character.
● Do you ever wonder if there is any purpose to all the suffering we endure in our lives? I
think there is.
● My father once told me that to live is to suffer. It may sound strange, but it’s true.
● Sruggles. Hardships. Setbacks.. You can’t go through life without going through some
tough times.
● Imagine if we went through life without any adversity. It may sound like a perfect world,
but we would never learn or grow as poeple.
● I remember the first time I made a mistake and the guilt I felt as my parents scolded me
for stealing that candy bar from the checkout line at the grocery store. It was a terrible
6. Sinker - Your THESIS!
● Is a complete sentence
● Includes the subject and your opinion
● Directly and clearly answers the prompt, if
there is one
7. Put it all together for a killer
introduction to your essay!!!
Let’s review some of the previous examples followed by a thesis to make a
complete introduction paragraph. Thesis will be underlined and always the last
The prompt for this essay is:
How can adversity have a positive
8. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
The counterargument
introduction
Some people think that the struggles we go through
hold us back from a life of success. This is simply not
true. The reality is that adversity can have a positive
effect because it makes us stronger and more
prepared to handle similar situations that we
encounter in the future.
9. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
Bold or interesting fact
introduction
● Bill Gates is a failure. Or at least he was,
when his first software company failed.
Despite the obstacles he faced, he kept
trying until he succeeded. That is exactly the
positive effect adversity can have if you let
it: it can push you to work harder and lead to
better outcomes.
10. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
Simile or metaphor introduction
● Life is like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs.
We all love when things are going well, but it is
the tough times that build our character.
Adversity can have a positive effect on us
because it makes us stronger and teaches us
valuable life lessons.
11. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
Question
● Do you ever wonder if there is any purpose
to all the suffering we endure in our lives? I
think there is. I believe that the adversity we
face in life shape us into wiser and more
resilient people.
12. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
Quote
My father always told me that, “to live is to suffer.” It
may sound strange, but it’s true. Adversity can have
a positive effect because it makes us smarter,
stronger, and able to handle other problems in the
future.
13. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
Fragment(s)
Struggles. Hardships. Setbacks. You can’t get
through life without going through some tough
times. Adversity can have a positive effect
though, because it makes you work harder to
achieve your goals.
14. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
Imagine if
● Imagine if we went through life without any
adversity. It may sound like a perfect world, but
we would never learn or grow as people. That’s
because adversity teaches us to persevere so
we can achieve what we want in life.
15. *Prompt: How can adversity have a positive effect?
The anecdote introduction
● I remember the first time I made a mistake and the
guilt I felt as my parents scolded me for stealing
that candy bar from the checkout line at the grocery
store. It was a terrible experience but it taught me
to never do that again. Adversity has a positive
effect because we learn from our mistakes and know
not to repeat them.
16. Your Turn!
Take a look at the brainstorming you have already
done for your essay. What hook will you use to grab
your reader’s attention, and how will you make a
smooth transition to the almighty thesis of your
essay? Can you instantly engage your reader and
make them want to keep reading? Try out the
different strategies in previous slides, or come up
with your own unique way to create an awesome