If you mess up the first paragraph, chances are you're going to mess up the essay.
Essay Introduction Basics
The essay introduction must accomplish two things:
- It must capture the readers' attention.
- It must clearly introduce the topic.
Teaching students how to write an introduction for an essay must incorporate these two aspects.
How to Write an Introduction for an Essay: Capture the Reader's Attention
There are several methods to capturing the reader's attention depending on the audience:
- Quotation: One that sums up the essay would be nice
- Definition: Use sparingly. Too many amateur writers use this method.
- Question: Ask a question in the introduction...and answer it in the body.
- Problem: Pose a problem in the introduction...and solve it in the body.
- Statistics: Make sure they're actual statistics and not something you made up on the way to the library.
- Comparison: Take something the reader is unfamiliar with and relate it to something they are familiar with.
- Metaphor/Simile: An even more effective comparison for making the complex seem simple.
- Shocker: Everybody likes surprises. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to shock people.
- Summary: A brief summary piques reader interest.
- Anecdote: A short humorous story relevant to the topic eases the reader into the material.
- Expert opinion: An expert gives you instant credibility with the reader. Make sure the expert is an actual expert and not your Uncle Fred from Topeka
Essay Introduction Lesson Plan Procedures
- Write a topic on the board.
- Instruct students to write a hook for the topic using each of the above methods.
- Read and discuss.
How to Write an Introduction for an Essay: The Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is the most important part of the essay introduction.
- It introduces the topic in a structured manner.
- It appears as the last sentence of the introduction.
- It contains a subject and an opinion.
- In a persuasive essay it must take a stand.
Essay Introduction Lesson Plan Procedures
Copy the following sentences on the board and instruct students to identify them as thesis statements or not thesis statements.
- Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare. (no)
- Shakespeare uses irony effectively in Romeo and Juliet. (yes)
- The death penalty should be abolished. (yes)
- The death penalty is legal in 49 states (no)
- English is my favorite subject (yes)
- Science is boring (yes)