Opening paragraph for essay

Opening paragraph for essay

The introduction should start with a general discussion of your subject and lead to a very specific statement of your main point, or thesis. Sometimes an essay begins with a "grabber," such as a challenging claim, or surprising story to catch a reader's attention Nov 15,  · A thesis statement is, essentially, the idea that the rest of your paper will support. Perhaps it is an opinion that you have marshaled logical arguments in favor of. Perhaps it is a synthesis of ideas and research that you have distilled into one point, and the rest of your paper will unpack it and present factual examples to show how you arrived at this idea A thesis statement must come at the end of the first paragraph. This is a natural position for a statement of focus, but it’s not the only one. Some theses can be stated in the opening sentences of an essay; others need a paragraph or two of introduction; others can’t be fully formulated until the end

Basics of essay writing - Introduction

The best thesis statement is a balance of specific details and concise language. Your goal is to articulate an argument in detail without burdening the reader with too much information. Skip to main content. Module 3: Definition Essay.

Search for:. Effective Thesis Statements What is a Thesis Statement? A thesis statement tells a reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.

A thesis is an interpretation of a subject, not the subject itself, opening paragraph for essay. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel that others might dispute. A strong thesis not only grabs the interest of your reader, who now wants to see you support your unique interpretation, it also provides a focus for your argument, one to which every part of your paper refers in the development of your position.

A thesis keeps the writer centered on the matter at hand and reduces the risk of intellectual wandering. Lead the reader toward the topic sentences the subtopics needed to prove the thesis, opening paragraph for essay. Anticipate the counter-arguments. Once you have a working thesis, opening paragraph for essay, you should think about what might be said against it.

Every argument has a counter-argument. Violence on television increases aggressive behavior in children. This statement is on its way to being a thesis. However, it is too easy to imagine possible counter- arguments. For example, an observer of societal trends may believe that parenting opening paragraph for essay easy access to weapons are important factors in youth violence.

While poor parenting and easy access to weapons may act as contributory factors, in fact when children are exposed to television violence they become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, are more fearful of the world around them, and are more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others. A thesis is the evolutionary result of opening paragraph for essay thinking process, not a miraculous creation.

Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Your claim should not be outlandish, nor should it be mere personal opinion or preference e. Precise — It is focused and specific. A strong thesis proves a point without discussing everything. It clearly asserts your own conclusion based on evidence, opening paragraph for essay. Note: Be flexible.

It is perfectly okay to change your thesis! Arguable — It should be contestable, proposing an arguable point with which people could reasonably disagree. Relevant — If you are responding to an assignment, the thesis should answer the question your teacher has posed.

Aware of Counters — It anticipates and refutes the counter-arguments. Theses that are too vague often have this problem. Would anyone possible care about this thesis? So What? Does your thesis present a position or an interpretation worth pursuing? Myths about Thesis Statements Every paper requires one.

Essays of literary interpretation often want you to be aware of many effects rather than seeming to box yourself into one view of the text. A thesis statement must come at the end of the first paragraph. A thesis statement must be one sentence in lengthno matter how many clauses it contains. Clear writing is more important than rules like these.

Use two or three sentences if you need them. A complex argument may require a whole tightly-knit paragraph to make its initial statement of position. It may be advisable to draft a hypothesis or tentative thesis statement near the start of a big project, but changing and refining a thesis is a main task of thinking your way through opening paragraph for essay ideas as you write a paper. And some essay projects need to opening paragraph for essay the question in depth without being locked in before they can provide even a tentative answer.

A thesis statement must give three points of support. Progressively Complex Thesis Statements Thesis Statement Evaluation The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. The worst thesis imaginable other than non-existent.

While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North opening paragraph for essay for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions. A good pre-draft thesis. Not a bad start at all. As you write, your argument may become more refined or changed. When it does, so should the thesis. A solid preview of your argument and the main points you intend to make.

This would be a strong approach for a persuasive or exemplification essay. While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own rights to property and self-government.

The thesis statement is nuanced, recognizing the existence of an opposing point of view, while strongly defending your point, opening paragraph for essay.

Licenses and Attributions. CC licensed content, Shared previously. The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.

How to Write an Introductory Paragraph for an Academic Essay - Coach Hall Writes

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Effective Thesis Statements | English Composition I: Rhetorical Methods–Based

A thesis statement must come at the end of the first paragraph. This is a natural position for a statement of focus, but it’s not the only one. Some theses can be stated in the opening sentences of an essay; others need a paragraph or two of introduction; others can’t be fully formulated until the end Mar 09,  · The hook for your essay often appears in the first blogger.com opening paragraph includes a thesis blogger.com popular hook choices can include using an interesting quote, a little-known fact, famous last words, or a statistic The introductory paragraph should also include the thesis statement, a kind of mini-outline for the paper: it tells the reader what the essay is about. The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional "hook" which moves the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper