How to Write an Essay: Introduction Paragraph (with Worksheet)

Summary

This video script is the first in a four-part series on essay writing, focusing on crafting the introduction paragraph. It explains the structure of an essay and the importance of the prompt. The script details how to write a hook to engage readers, followed by background information to provide context. It concludes with the creation of a thesis statement, which is the essay's core, summarizing the main idea and supporting reasons. The goal is to guide viewers on how to start an essay effectively, setting the stage for the body and conclusion.

Takeaways

• 📝 An essay typically consists of three to five paragraphs, including an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• 🎣 The introduction paragraph starts with a 'hook', which is an interesting sentence designed to grab the reader's attention.
• 📊 The hook can be a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, a wise quote, a contradiction, or a simple statement of the topic's importance.
• 🌟 A good hook avoids using the word 'important' directly and instead conveys the importance of the topic implicitly.
• 📚 Background information follows the hook, providing context such as facts, statistics, definitions, opinions, historical data, or trends related to the topic.
• 📌 The thesis statement is the cornerstone of the essay, presenting the main idea and three supporting reasons or elements, which should be clearly articulated in the introduction's final sentence.
• ✍️ The body paragraphs expand on the thesis statement, with each paragraph focusing on one reason or aspect, supported by evidence and examples.
• 🔍 Background information should be carefully selected to align with the main idea and effectively prepare the reader for the essay's argument.
• 📖 The essay's structure can vary, but it commonly follows a pattern of introduction with a hook and thesis, body paragraphs elaborating on the thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes the key points.
• ✏️ The essay's conclusion should not introduce new ideas but rather restate the thesis and summarize the main points made in the body paragraphs.
• 📘 Citations and bibliographies are crucial for providing sources of specific information used in the essay, which is an advanced topic not covered in this introductory script.

Q & A

What is the purpose of an essay?

An essay is a group of paragraphs that explain an idea.

How many paragraphs are typically in an essay?

An essay usually consists of three to five paragraphs.

What is a prompt in the context of an essay?

A prompt is a question or statement that the essay answers.

What are the two ways to show where each paragraph begins in an essay?

One can use an empty line after each paragraph or indent the first word of each paragraph.

What is the first part of an introduction paragraph called?

The first part of an introduction paragraph is called the hook.

Why is the hook important in an essay?

The hook is important because it catches the readers' attention and makes them want to read more of the essay.

What are some examples of hooks that can be used in an essay?

Examples of hooks include a surprising fact or statistic, an interesting question, a wise quote, a contradiction, and a sentence that tells why the topic is important.

What is the purpose of background information in an essay?

Background information provides context and prepares readers for the main message about the topic.

What should the thesis statement include and where should it be placed in an essay?

The thesis statement should include the main idea about the topic plus three reasons or examples, and it should be the last sentence in the introduction paragraph.

How does the thesis statement relate to the essay prompt?

The thesis statement answers the essay prompt in one sentence, including the main idea and three reasons or examples that support it.

Can you give an example of a thesis statement from the script?

An example of a thesis statement from the script is: 'The best exercise is walking, because it is easy, convenient, and usually done outside.'