Writing an Introduction Paragraph for Research

Writing a Research Introduction Paragraph

ELA

What is an introduction?

Just like how you would introduce new friends to each other, the introduction to a paper introduces its contents to a reader. It should lay the groundwork for the entire paper by clearly stating the issue you've been searching about and clearly stating the solution.

An introduction generally needs three specific things:

• 1. General statements about the topic

• 2. Background info or relevant info

• 3. Thesis (most important part!)

As per usual, this is not a rule set in stone, but it is a good rule of thumb to make sure these 3 parts make it into your introduction, usually in this order. You'll need to keep your language formal and academic as well.

Multiple Choice

What do you generally need in an introduction?

• Data, personal stories, an argument

• general statement, background information, thesis

• General statement, data, narrative

Multiple Choice

Which paragraph of the research paper sets the stage for the entire paper?

• Introduction

• Body paragraph 2

• Conclusion

• Body paragraph 1

Multiple Choice

The thesis statement is usually the last sentence in the introduction paragraph?

• false
• true

Multiple Choice

After you have provided background nformation, what is the next step in writing your Introduction?

• Writing your thesis statement

• Providing evidence

• Citing evidence correctly

• Developing a clincher to end the introduction

Multiple Choice

The most important sentence in your introduction is the _____.

• first sentence

• thesis sentence

• counterclaim

First sentence of the essay; The death of the "hook"

• You've been taught for quite a while that you should start your essay with a hook. While this is true for beginner writers, you are now a better writer and can start writing in a more professional way.

• Bury the infamous hook forever and start doing what actual writers do in the first sentence of their introduction:

  • Make a broad statement about your topic

  • Make it clear that your topic is interesting

  • Lead your reader to the thesis

Multiple Choice

Which first sentence of the introduction is better?

• Have you ever heard of Braille?

• Braille is an important invention that has helped level the playing field for with visual impairments.

Answer: Braille is an important invention that has helped level the playing field for with visual impairments. .

The other choice is a boring and quite obvious rhetorical question. I know you may have been taught to take this route when essay writing, but again, many professional writers don't often utilize this strategy as their first sentence.

Multiple Choice

Which first sentence of the introduction is formal?

• In any community across America, it is possible to find families of all types and sizes.

• In any community across America, you’ll find families of all types and sizes.

Background Information or Relevant Information

• Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and research. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

  • Background of the issue or any other relevant information related to the issue

  • A statement about who the issue impacts

  • Social context of the issue

  • Explaining any assumptions or conflicts about the issue

  • Any possible controversies about the issue

Background and Relevant Information Continued

The information you give should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument.

Don’t use any evidence yet. You can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay.

Multiple Select

Which of these could your background information include?

• The hook

• Evidence

• A statement using an "I" pronoun

• Information about the issue

Multiple Select

Which of these could your background information include?

• The hook

• Evidence

• A statement using an "I" pronoun

• Statements about who the issue impacts

Multiple Select

You are writing an essay about lawyers working with dangerous clients. The background information could include...

• Evidence related to this issue

• How lawyers often end up working with different types of clients

• What lawyers do for a living

Multiple Select

You are writing an essay about water conservationists and methods to solve droughts in the central valley. The background information could include...

• Evidence related to this issue

• How water conservation works at the city level

• How a drought impacts people on the east coast

Thesis Statement

• Finally, include your thesis statement. The kind of thesis you include depends on the type of paper you are writing, but, in general, your thesis should include:

• your specific issue

• 3 things that solve your issue

  Your thesis should be clear, and easy to find. Most often, it is the last sentence of the introduction.

Multiple Choice

What is wrong with this thesis statement?

This paper will consider the advantages and disadvantages of certain restrictions on free speech.

• it is a fact.

• It is an announcement.

• It is a question.

• It is too vague.

Multiple Choice

What is wrong with this thesis statement?

Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision.

• it is a fact.

• It is an announcement.

• It is a question.

• It is too vague.

Multiple Choice

What is wrong with this thesis statement?

I believe the best way for school nurses to help students is to be clear about all procedures taken and to include the student's parents during communication.

• it is a fact.

• It is informal.

• It is a question.

• It is too vague.

Multiple Choice

What is wrong with this thesis statement?

Athletes have many difficulties.

• it is a fact.

• It is informal.

• It is a question.

• It is too vague.

Read the following example of a good introduction paragraph. Read it carefully becuse there will be some questions following the slide.

Labelling

Label what each portion of the introduction paragraph is doing.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Giving background information

Explaining what the essay is about

Making a broad statement

Multiple Select

Mark all that apply. The introduction was written using _____ language.

• Formal

• Informal

• Academic

• Casual

Multiple Choice

True or false: the introduction did not include a broad statement, background information about the topic, or a thesis statement.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or false: the introduction made references to other topics outside of the thesis statement.

• True

• False

Poll

Overall, I feel pretty good about writing an introduction.

• True

• Neutral

• False