Introduction sentences make up the first paragraph of an essay. The introduction paragraph usually contains a combination of these types of sentences:
- a hook
- general background
- thesis
Hook
The hook introduces the topic and grabs the interest of the reader. Some ways to make the reader interested are:
- tell a short story
- tell an appropriate joke or describe a funny event
- quote an inspirational passage
- state a shocking fact
- make a strong statement
- ask a thought-provoking question (be careful with this since it is the most overused)
Examples
- Desmond Morris once said, "The roots of our Soccer Tribe lie deep in our primeval past."
- People first started to ice skate over 4,000 years ago in Finland!
General Background
General background sentences should give basic information about the topic. Think about the "wh" questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Write facts and/or share some personal knowledge or experience. Provide a context.
Examples
- Soccer is a sport that is played all over the world. The rules are simple: kick a round ball into the opposing team's goal and try to prevent them from scoring in yours.
- People can ice skate anywhere there is a frozen surface. My first ice skating experience was in Riverfront Park at the Ice Palace.
Thesis
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