HOW TO WRITE AN

ESSAY

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

There is a famous quote that says “You never get a second chance to
make a first impression.”
- What does that mean?
- Can you connect this quotation to introduction paragraphs?
- What makes a good introduction?
THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
• The introduction is the first paragraph of your essay.
• The introduction should start with a general discussion of your subject and
lead up to a specific statement of your main idea or thesis statement.
THE M AIN FUNC T IONS OF T HE INTR ODUC TORY
PAR AGRAPH:
• It should capture the reader’s attention and create a desire to read.
• It should be relevant to the topic.
• It shouldn’t give detailed information. Detailed information belongs to the body paragraph.
• The thesis statement comes at the end of the introductory paragraph.
• It consists of background information (3-5 sentences) + thesis statement
WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?
• A thesis statement presents the main idea of the essay.

• A thesis statement expresses an opinion, attitude, idea or a complete thought

which has a controlling idea, topic sentence, and preferably two predictors.
• A thesis statement should NOT express a fact. Therefore, the thesis statement is a
statement that needs to be explained or proved.
• The thesis statement is often placed at the end of the first paragraph which is
the introduction paragraph.
PARTS OF A THESIS STATEMENT
• A thesis statement has three parts; a topic, a controlling idea and preferably predictors.
a. The topic is the subject of the essay, or what the essay is about.

b. The controlling idea is what you are going to say about the topic: in other words, the controlling
idea narrows down the topic.

c. Thesis statements also have subtopics / predictors. The subtopics tell the reader how many
body paragraphs there will be in the essay and/or what their content will be can be included in
the thesis statement or can follow in another sentence.
EXAMPLE
• Eating too much fast food causes bad results such as obesity and cancer.
TOPIC CONTROLLING IDEA PREDICTORS
U N D E R L I N E T H E TO P I C , C O N T R O L L I N G I D E A A N D
S U B TO P I C S I N T H E F O L L O W I N G S E N T E N C E S .

1. My best friend is a wonderful person because he is clever and honest.

2. Smoking has several negative effects on people’s health and budget.

3. Too much noise and bad traffic are two disadvantages of living in a big
city.
U N D E R L I N E T H E TO P I C , C O N T R O L L I N G I D E A A N D
S U B TO P I C S I N T H E F O L L O W I N G S E N T E N C E S .

1. My best friend is a wonderful person because he is clever and honest.

2. Smoking has several negative effects on people’s health and budget.

3. Too much noise and bad traffic are two disadvantages of living in a big
city.
SOME PHR ASE S TO START YOUR THE SIS
STATEM ENT
• I believe that
• In my opinion,
• I think that
• I feel that + Sentence
• From my point of view,
• To my mind,
• To my way of thinking,
• It seems (to me) that
CIRCLE THE CORRECT OPTION.
1. I believe that smoking may ruin your life _______________________; health
and a budget.

a) two results
b) because
c) in two ways
CIRCLE THE CORRECT OPTION.
2. In my opinion, ___________________ your health and budget are damaged.

a) smoking
b) because of smoking
c) such as smoking
CIRCLE THE CORRECT OPTION.
3. I feel that smoking ruins your life ________________ your health and budget.

a) two results
b) in terms of
c) main disadvantages
CIRCLE THE CORRECT OPTION.
4. From my point of view, smoking leads to serious problems in your life
______________health and budget and.

a) can cause
b) there are
c) such as
CIRCLE THE CORRECT OPTION.
5. Smoking is harmful _________________health and budget problems.

a) for two reasons

b) because
c) due to
 WRITE YOUR OWN SUBTOPICS / PREDICTORS OF THE
SENTENCES BY COMPLETING THE SENTENCES.

1. Two disadvantages of living in a big city are ____________ and ________________.

2. The film was very good because of its _________________ and
_________________.
3. Depression can cause difficulties in a person’s ____________ and ______________.
4. ______________ and _______________________ are two ways to live well.
5. There are some ways to relieve stress such as __________________and_____________.
NOW WR ITE A T HE SIS STAT EME NT FOR THE
FOLLOWING QUE ST ION.

There are many languages in the world; Chinese, Spanish and Urdu are just a few
examples. Many of these languages are more widely spoken as a native language
than English. Despite this, most people choose to learn English rather than other
languages. What is your opinion on this subject? What do you think are the three
reasons to learn English? Support your topic with reasons and examples.
NOW WR ITE A T HE SIS STAT EME NT FOR THE
FOLLOWING QUE ST ION.

The advantages and possibilities of technology are undeniable. It has a place

everywhere in our lives from the moment we take a shower in the morning to the
moment we relax in front of the television before going to bed. What is your idea
about the positive sides of technology in our lives? Support your topic with reasons
and examples.
TECHNIQUES FOR WRITING
AN INTRODUCTION
PA R A G R A P H

1. GENERAL TO SPECIFIC: It
starts with a general statement of the
larger topic, and then each sentence
narrows it down until you get to the
specific thesis statement.

02/23/2024 S a m p l e F o o t e r Te x t 19
TEC HNIQUES FOR WR IT ING AN INTR ODUC TION
PAR AGRAPH

2. HISTORICAL: The writer chooses a brief historical introduction to the essay. It

shouldn’t be detailed information.

Example: As it was clearly seen from the Roman Empire, the human figure was
important in the arts.
3. ANECDOTE: You can base your introduction on a brief story, a personal anecdote
or someone else’s anecdote.
Example. I witnessed an event in which an 8 year old boy pretending to be Superman
threw himself from a balcony.
TEC HNIQUES FOR WR IT ING AN INTR ODUC TION
PAR AGRAPH
4. QUOTATION: You can quote an authority on your subject or use an interesting
quotation from an article. You can also be more informal and use a proverb or
favorite saying of a friend or a relative.
Example: As in the saying “Pen is mightier than sword,” I believe that knowledge
is more important than money.
5. QUESTION: It is a good way to engage readers in the topic right away.
Example: “Have you ever lived abroad?” or “Can people live without
technology?”
TEC HNIQUES FOR WR IT ING AN INTR ODUC TION
PAR AGRAPH

6. FACTS AND STATISTICS: It contains some statistics and facts that help to the
writer’s opinion.
Example: “Research indicates that people will live longer in the future.” or “75% of
children each year harm themselves or their friend.”
 SOME PATTERNS FOR FACTS AND STATISTICS
• Research reports
• A recent survey shows
• A study reveals + (that) (sentence)
• A report indicates
AN E XA MP L E OF A C O MPL E T E I NT R OD UC TORY
PAR AGR APH. W HI C H T E C HNI QU E I S USE D?

ARE YOU A SMOKER?

There are millions of people and millions of different lifestyles. People also have habits, repeated
actions that they carry out on a regular basis. Some of these habits could be good or healthy and
sometimes they could be really dangerous. Have you ever thought what the worst habit of humanity
is? It is smoking. Maybe you, your friend, neighbor or a family member smoke, smoked or will
smoke. More and more people are smoking these days, even teenagers are beginning to smoke. From
my point of view, smoking damages your health, budget and social relations.
 C H O O S E T H E A P P R O P R I AT E T H E S I S S TAT E M E N T.

More than 70 % of people work very hard in their daily life and day by day their life
become routine and boring. Holiday may seem like a great idea for relaxation, but it is not
possible to go on a holiday any time because of money or time problems. For this reason,
they should find a simple way to make themselves happier. One of these ways is
laughing.________________________________________

a. In my opinion laughter is the most relaxing way to be happier because it has

physiological and psychological benefits.
b.Laughter was considered as the best medicine but this is not the case today.
c. In my view, many people laugh frequently, but their laughter is generally
fake.
WHIC H INTR ODUC T ION PAR AGRAPH TEC HNIQUES ARE
USED?
More than 70 % of people work very hard in their daily life and day by day their life
become routine and boring. Holiday may seem like a great idea for relaxation, but it is
not possible to go on a holiday any time because of money or time problems. For this
reason, they should find a simple way to make themselves happier. One of these ways is
laughing. In my opinion laughter is the most relaxing way to be happier because it has
physiological and psychological benefits.
CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE THESIS STATEMENT.
Stress is one of the biggest illnesses of this age and it is one of the most important problems in the
world. As Terri Guillemots says “Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you do
not dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life”. I totally agree with him on its
negative influences on us. ._______________________________

a. In my view, stress is very harmful to our health; it makes us ill, it is very

unnecessary and I do not like being stressed.

b.I believe that there are two main effects of being stressed especially on areas of
psychology and sociology.

c. I believe life without stress is unimaginable because it makes us physically and

psychologically ill.
WHIC H INTR ODUC T ION PAR AGRAPH TEC HNIQUES ARE
USED?
Stress is one of the biggest illnesses of this age and it is one of the most important
problems in the world. As Terri Guillemots says “Stress is the trash of modern life - we
all generate it but if you do not dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your
life”. I totally agree with him on its negative influences on us. I believe that there are two
main effects of being stressed especially on areas of psychology and sociology.