Introductory Paragraph Template
An introductory paragraph template shows the key elements of the first paragraph of a paper in their order and structure. It is a guide for writing an excellent intro paragraph for all your writing assignments.
Since it is the first part of your written work that your audience interacts with, it is paramount to pen statements that will not only leave an everlasting mark in their mind but also arouse their curiosity to read on. Be creative, focused and informed as you do your intro.
First paragraph templates may differ because of the existing varied types of essays. However, as you shall see in the subsequent sections of this article, certain elements define the composition of an introductory paragraph.
Let us look at some of the critical parts of these templates:
Elements of a good introductory paragraph template
An introduction is a guidebook to your writing assignment. Whether you are working on an essay, term paper, research paper or proposal, it should always be your starting point. Once you master the art of drafting this section, your assignment becomes as simple as ABC.
Importantly, the introduction delves into the background of your topic of study and gives an outline of what the reader should expect in the rest of the essay. Mostly, intros are about 10% of the final paper.
The key elements of an introductory paragraph template include the following:
- Background of the topic-remember to put your essay introduction into context. You do not want to lose your readers at this early stage. Without mincing words, make it clear what you are discussing. Include interesting quotes and figures to arouse curiosity.
- State the purpose of your essay. Every writing assignment has a reason behind it. The reader also wants to know why you chose the topic.
- Definition of terms. This is not always necessary. However, it is important to state the meaning of key terms that the audience is likely to encounter in the paper. It is common in specialized writing.
- Introduce your main ideas. Here, bring out the main ideas, which emanate from your topic. Also, give the order in which you intend to discuss these ideas in the body of your paper.
Sample #1 introductory paragraph template
Note: (This introduction is similar to what is used when writing 5-paragraph essays.)
Sentence 1
Hook: This is something interesting that holds the readers’ attention.
_______________________________________________________________________
Sentences 2-4
Body: Give a review of the reasons why your topic is important and which you will discuss in the paper.
- Here are three important things to note about my topic:
- 2. 3.
_______________________________________________________________________
Sentence 5. This is the last sentence of your introduction paragraph. Restate your thesis statement, which serves as the backbone of your essay.
_______________________________________________________________________
This introduction template was retrieved from washingtonprep.org.
It shows you the order in which the first five sentences of your essay should appear.
Structuring an introductory paragraph
As the first paragraph of your essay, the introduction should invite the reader to go through your work. The biggest challenge here is holding the reader so that he or she does not stop reading the remaining sections of the paper.
In all academic papers, an introductory paragraph template must have a thesis statement, to guide your arguments. This statement defines your beliefs as you write the essay and determines your support and evidence for the claim.
Some lecturers may ask you to adopt a 1-3-1 essay format when drafting your essay. This essay consists of introduction, three body paragraphs and the conclusion.
Here is another intro paragraph template showing the various component of a standard introduction:
Sample #2
Grabber Sentence: (Arrest the attention of the reader) _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sentence 1 Intro: give the background information of your essay
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sentence 2 Intro: State your purpose. Bring out any controversy arising in your essay
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sentence 3 Intro: Define terms and acronyms. Use working definitions from an expert as opposed to general definitions from a dictionary or world book.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sentence 4 Intro: State your main ideas, which should be between three and five
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thesis Statement: Here, state your argument.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Click here to access the template.
Things to consider when writing an introductory template
To enjoy the writing process, you must do your homework conclusively. Importantly, preparing for your writing assignment is as important as the actual exercise. Below are four things to have in mind that will give you an excellent introductory paragraph template.
- See writing as a process. Essay writing does not happen overnight. Be sure to set aside enough time to execute this.
- Do the pre-writing– This is where you brainstorm your ideas, words or phrases. Free write for about five minutes and develop a thought cluster for your essay.
- Plan for your essay. Develop an effective thesis, which will allow you to bring out enough evidence as you support your arguments. Come up with an outline for your paper.
- Remember to practice. Here is where you draft, edit and repeat as many times as possible to get a refined intro.
How your essay topic affects your introductory paragraph
The topic of any written work is literally its head. It determines the intro, body and conclusion of your essay. It can be limiting or open ended. In the latter, you have are at liberty to narrow down to specific areas as you write.
Here are things to avoid when choosing a topic for your essay.
- Avoid a broad topic. When your topic is too broad, it becomes harder to focus your writing. Instead, you will have more than enough to work with. A topic should allow you to bite, chew and digest.
- Avoid personal topics. When a topic is too personal it ceases being an academic assignment because it will have more of your experiences and opinions.
- Avoid topics with no evidence. From the intro through to the conclusion, the reader wants to encounter facts, which support your arguments. Pick a topic that has enough literature.
- Avoid too factual topics. It is almost impossible to argue out something, which is 100% factual. Pick on a topic that has room to for arguments.
Applying different elements in an introductory paragraph
The main elements, which every introductory paragraph template should have, are:
- Hook
- Context
- Thesis
It is important to note that a strong intro sets the stage for your paper. Readers have so much to read that they will not waste time on flat and boring introductory statements. Get the right angle, mood, energy and oomph to get their attention.
Using the Hook, context, and Thesis in your introduction paragraph
The hook, if well thought out can do magic in not only cementing your essay introduction, but also luring the audience in reading your paper.
The hook is an attention grabber because it introduces your topic. At this point, avoid making this statement too broad or too narrow. Moderate your ideas to have the best and appealing.
Definition of Context: Every essay has a context. It offers guidance to your discussion by contextualizing the issues in terms of historical time, text or theoretical frame. In essence, we always move from broader topics of discussion to a specific context.
Drafting a Thesis Statement. Thesis statement gives direction to your essay. It makes a claim about your topic of discussion. From this statement, you should bring out key evidence to support this claim through documented and authentic research.
A thesis has the following elements:
- Claim. This is what you are saying about the topic
- Evidence. How did you come to this conclusion? Give support for your claim
- Significance. Does it matter? It would be meaningless to research or write on a topic that does not matter. The audience is interested in issues that matter.
Example: Let us see how you can include the above elements in your introductory paragraph template:
This following excerpt is an introduction of the Culture and Society, written by a professional writer.
{The hook}: A subculture comprises of people who share an identity but initially existed in the broader culture.
{Context}: In understanding subculture, it is important to note that it does not refer to an inferior culture in the society. Thus, some scholars prefer using the term co-culture to refer to a group that shares an identity with the larger culture.
{Thesis}: A subculture is mainly centered on symbols that characterize people, including their mode of dressing and language, coupled with how other members of the society perceive this group.
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ONLINE SOURCES
http://www.library.dmu.ac.uk/Support/Heat/index.php?page=485
https://www.irsc.edu/uploadedFiles/Students/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingLab/Introductory_Paragraphs.pdf
http://nationalenglishessaychallenge.weebly.com/uploads/4/0/3/6/40367051/essaytemplate.pdf
www.washingtonprep.org