Essay Writing: Introductory Paragraph

Introductory paragraph

The introductory paragraph introduces the paper's topics to the reader. This type of paragraph is used not only in presenting the topic and organization of the paper, but it is also utilized to grab the reader's attention. It is probably best, when writing the introduction, to use the funnel or general-to-specific method. This method begins with a very broad, general topic (e.g., cars), and then gradually narrows the subject down to a specific example of that topic (e.g., Porsches). The point in the paragraph at which the topic sentences is finally made is most commonly in the last sentence.

There are also three other common techniques that are utilized to open the introductory paragraph:

·       Factual Information: The writer opens his or her paragraph by giving a list of facts that will eventually lead to his or her topic .

     "The music was composed as a drinking song for an 18th-century London social club. The words were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key to commemorate a battle. And on March 3, 1931, "The Star-Spangled Banner" officially became the national anthem of the United States. Ever since then, people have been complaining that the tune is unsingable and the lyrics are offensive. In response to these complaints, a bill was recently filed in Congress to replace "The Star-Spangled Banner" with "America the Beautiful" as our national anthem. For a number of reasons, this bill deserves wide support."

·       Anecdote: The writer opens the paragraph with a story that relates to the topic.

 "Working part-time as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly has given me a great opportunity to observe human behavior. Sometimes I think of the shoppers as white rats in a lab experiment, and the aisles as a maze designed by a psychologist. Most of the rats--customers, I mean--follow a routine pattern, strolling up and down the aisles, checking through my chute, and then escaping through the exit hatch. But not everyone is so dependable. My research has revealed three distinct types of abnormal customer: the amnesiac, the super shopper, and the dawdler."

·       Quotation: The writer builds the introductory paragraph around an applicable quote.

Hillary Rodham Clinton once said that “There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard.” In 2006, when Nancy Pelosi became the nation’s first female Speaker of the House, one woman’s voice rang out clear. With this development, democracy grew to its truest level ever in terms of women’s equality. The historical event also paved the way for Senator Clinton as she warmed her own vocal chords in preparation for a presidential race by optimizing the role of women in democracy and promoting gender equality.