1. How to write an
Introductory paragraph
Mandy Davis
Somerset Community College

2. When you write an introductory
paragraph, keep in mind that …
 Writing an introductory paragraph is
like greeting someone. The
paragraph should be short and to
the point like saying, “Hello!”
 Also, you don’t want to get into the
meat of the essay. Simply give the
audience a concise idea of your
essay’s purpose.

3. Remember that the introductory
paragraph…
 Is the most important paragraph of
the essay
 Must be at least 50 words long or
five sentences minimum
 Needs to do three things
 1.Briefly introduce the topic
 2.Get the reader’s attention- have a “hook”
 3.Have a solid thesis statement which provides
three points you will discuss

4. Let us consider different types of
introductory paragraphs . . .
 General statement introduction
 Question introduction
 Quotation introduction

5. Examples of general statement
introduction
 Almost every time that someone turns on the
television he or she will find a number of shows
which are extremely violent.
 Many public schools have decided that their students
should use uniforms.
 In the United States of America the public burning of
our flag has become a common sight.
Here you will notice in the first sentence you
simply introduce the topic. You do not take
a position on the topic yet.

6. General statement introduction
Today smoking is an
issue which is on
everybody’s mind. The
whole country is divided
on this issue. Some
people believe that
smoking should be
banned everywhere while
others are not so harsh.
However, I believe that
tobacco should be
outlawed because
smoking endangers
everyone’s health,
pollutes the environment,
and drains us of valuable
energy.

7. Examples of question introduction
 Are you ever bothered by the excessive violence
on prime time television?
 Do you think that to improve our public school
education the students should be required to wear
uniforms?
 Should we allow citizens to burn the United States
flag in public?
You can also begin your essay by asking a
question. A question usually takes you to the
heart of the problem quickly.

8. Interrogatory introduction
What do you think about
banning smoking? The
whole country is divided
on whether smoking
should be banned.
Smoking should be
outlawed because it
endangers everyone’s
health; it pollutes the
environment, and it
drains us of valuable
energy.

9. Quotation introduction
 A recent article in Time magazine states that the
viewing of extremely violent television shows is
the number one cause of violence in our inner
cities.
 The Monitor recently conducted a study and
concluded that students in public schools where
uniforms are mandatory have less problems and
perform better academically.
 A recent article in The Austin Statesman states
that most Americans are very much against flag
burning in public and are in favor of passing a law
banning this activity.
Finally, you can begin an essay by providing some
information from a magazine or newspaper you
might have read, if you are allowed to use outside
sources. This introduction is a bit more difficult to
write, but just as effective as the other ones.

10. Quotation introduction
 In The Bridge it was
recently stated that
smoking is the greatest
threat to our health.
The whole country is
divided on this issue.
I believe that tobacco
should be outlawed
because it endangers
everyone’s health; it
pollutes the
environment, and it
drains of valuable
resources.

11. REMEMBER
 Be concise and to the point!
 Do not go into too much detail!
 At least 50 words minimum!
 You must do three things . . .
introduce topic
state position
provide reasons