Intro Paragraph Worksheets

Writing Introductions

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Exercise: A great introduction is similar to a great opening scene in a movie.! List a

movie that you have seen and then give the reason why that opening was so

memorable.!

MOVIE TITLE:

______________________________________________________________________________

WHY:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________!

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MOVIE TITLE:

______________________________________________________________________________

WHY:

______________________________________________________________________________

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Writing Introductions

1. An introduction or introductory paragraph is the first paragraph in any multi-

paragraph essay.

2. Successful introductions engage the reader and increase interest in the topic.!

The main parts of an introduction include the lead, the bridge, and the thesis

(claim).

3. The lead should be about three to five sentences. It is how you grab your

reader’s attention.!

4. The bridge fills the gap from the lead to the thesis (claim) and should be one or

two sentences.! The bridge is when you bring up the topic of your essay.

5. The thesis is the last sentence in your introductory paragraph. It is the sentence

that tells exactly what your paper will be about.

6. That makes your entire paragraph about five to eight sentences.

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Questions:

!1. What three things are in an introduction (in order)?

____________________________________, ________________________________,

________________________________!

2. How long is your introductory paragraph? _______________________

!3. Where does the bridge go in the first paragraph?! !

______________________________________________________________________________

4. Where does the thesis (claim) go in your first paragraph?

!_____________________________________________________________________________

5. What is a lead? _________________________________________________________!

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What is a Thesis (claim) Statement?

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It is the stance, the opinion that you take about the subject of the essay. (This

will usually be a one sentence opinion that leaves the paper open to a great

deal of explanation.)

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It ties your paper together and gives it direction (the road map). (This will

usually be the three-part thesis.)

Qualities of a good thesis statement:

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A good thesis is specific – avoid vague words.

o

Poor Example: Playing basketball is great.

o

Better Example: Playing basketball will improve athletic skills.

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A good thesis is not a title

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Poor Example: The Decline of Detroit Football.

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Better Example: Detroit football has recently experienced a decline in

popularity due to performance, trades, and ticket prices.

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A good thesis is not an announcement of a subject.

o

Poor Example: My topic is about the problems I had beginning high

school.

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Better Example: I had various problems when I began high school.

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A good thesis is not a question.

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Poor Example: Why is it important not to be in ISS?

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Better Example: It is important not to be in ISS because a student will

miss out on important educational opportunities.

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A good thesis is not a statement about absolute fact.

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Poor Example: Florida is in the southern part of the United States.

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Better Example: Florida is the best spring break destination.

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DON’T USE THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR THESIS:

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“In my opinion…”

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“My paper is going to be about…”

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“I think that…”

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Don’t be vague or too broad in your claim

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Don’t write the title of the story as your thesis

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Don’t list facts

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Don’t ask questions!

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DO THE FOLLOWING:

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Be specific

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Make a claim that you have to support

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Make a claim that you can make the strongest argument.! (It may not always be

what you agree with)

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Directions: Write a “+” if the statement is a good thesis and a “0” if the statement is not a

good thesis.!

_______ 1. Senator Debbie Stabenow works for Michigan.

_______ 2.! My thesis is about how to get good grades.

_______ 3.! The Great Debate

_______ 4. While on vacation I experienced quite an adventure.

_______ 5. Edgar Allen Poe was born in January 1809.

_______ 6. Implementing school uniforms would have many benefits.

_______ 7. I am against school uniforms.

_______ 8. Students think that being “cool”!means having to sacrifice his or her morals,!!!

giving in to peer pressure, and doing bad in school.

_______ 9. Comparing and contrasting the two poems will illustrate why “If”!by Kipling is

the best poem.

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Read the following essay prompt and write a thesis statement for it:

Many communities are considering adopting curfews for high school students. Some

educators and parents favor curfews because they believe it will encourage students to

focus more on their homework and make them more responsible. Others feel curfews

are up to families, not the community, and that students today need freedom to work

and participate in social activities in order to mature properly. Do you think that

communities should impose curfews on high school students?

______________________________________________________________________

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Building Bridges

A bridge is one or two sentences that connect your lead to your thesis (claim).! A

bridge will contain limiting information that specifically ties to the purpose of your

essay.! For example, it might state the names of people you are comparing, the

issue you are researching, or the topic you will pursue.! Although a bridge limits

information from your lead, it does not limit as much as your single-sentence thesis

(claim).!

Remember, THE BRIDGE IS NOT THE THESIS.!

The bridge is just as it sounds: a connector from one place to another.! As you learn

about different types of leads you will be expected to identify the three different

parts of an introductory paragraph.!

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Exercise: Read the following sample introduction and underline the thesis twice

and circle the bridge. Remember that a bridge is where you bring up the topic of

your paper, but nothing specific.!

Example Paragraph: Circle the bridge. Underline the thesis twice.!

Most people don’t choose who they eat dinner with every night. It is usually

whomever a person lives with, or is around as dinnertime.! There are many

fascinating people to spend time with while eating dinner.! If I were able to choose

any three people, dead or alive to eat with, it would take me a while to decide.!

After great consideration I would invite Oprah, my grandma, and President Lincoln.

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LEADS

FUNNEL LEAD

This type of lead is a broad-to-specific approach (think upside-down triangle).! Begin

with a broad general statement of your topic (you will end up narrowing it down to

your thesis statement).! Funnels ease the reader into the topic by providing a

background.

Essay Prompt: The school district is trying to figure out what problems affect

teenagers’ success in school the most.! Teenagers are faced with decisions everyday

that impact their success.! In an essay, to be read by parents and staff in the school

district, write an essay that shows what effects student performance the most.

Example Introduction:

The life of a teenager in modern America is not always pleasant.! He or she is faced

with a multitude of conflicts and problems, many of which seem almost impossible to

overcome.! Most of these problems center around school, which is not surprising

considering that the teenager devotes an average of eight hours a day to school and

school-related activities.! Since school is not an option, teenagers need to be more

aware.! Primary problems created by school are the intense pressure for good grades,

and the even more intense pressure of peers.

List the topics as they narrow down from sentence to sentence:

1. _____________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________

!!! 3. ____________________________________________________

!!!!!!! 4. _____________________________________________ (bridge)

5. Circle five effective words in the sample paragraph

6. Underline the thesis twice

7. Put a box around the entire lead

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Write a Funnel Lead

Now it is your turn to write a funnel lead.! You will use the following essay prompt to

guide you.

Essay Prompt: The school board is considering implementing a longer school day.!

Some teachers are against it because it will affect sport practices. Other teachers are

for it because students need to be better prepared for high education after high school

and a longer school day means more time to learn for the students. In an essay, to be

read by the school board, write why the school day should or should not be longer.

HINT: Before you begin, think about the upside-down triangle. You will begin with a

broader topic and narrow it down to your thesis. If you write your thesis first then you

will know where you are going with your introduction. !

Brainstorm Topic:

1. ___________________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________ (bridge)

5. _____________________________________________(thesis)!

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Example Beginning (DO NOT COPY):! Students go to school five days a week.! They

attend at least six classes everyday.! They are expected to know…

Your introductory paragraph goes on the lines below:

______________________________________________________________________________

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DESCRIPTIVE LEAD

Relies mostly on the senses and creates a “picture”!for the reader.! In order for

descriptive writing to be effective, subtle transitions are necessary.! For example, key

words could be used at the end of the description to tie the descriptive meaning to the

topic.

Example Paragraph:

On a cold October day, an explosion is heard. It echoes on and on as if it were

beckoning for help. Then, suddenly, all is still; and the earth shudders in an

interminable silence of total decimation as the nuclear blast is finished.! Nuclear

obliteration, like what we have just imagined, stands next to us at every political

turning point unless world solutions are reached.! In order for the threat of nuclear war

to be lessoned, we must cease nuclear testing and find a realistic way to police arms

agreement. !

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1. Underline the thesis twice

2. What do you think this paper will be about?

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Circle five effective words used in this sentence that helped the reader picture the

scene.

4. Put a box around the descriptive lead.! How many sentences was the lead?

___________________________________

5. Write the bridge down on the lines below:

______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________!

6. What is a bridge, as it pertains to the introductory paragraph?

______________________________________________________________________________

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Write a Descriptive Lead (9

th

)

Now it is your turn to write a descriptive lead. Use the essay prompt to guide you.

Remember that your lead does not need to be more than three to five sentences.

Essay Prompt: If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go

and why?

Brainstorm: !!

!!

!

!!

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Your introductory paragraph goes on the lines below:

______________________________________________________________________________

ANECDOTE!!

Use an incident or a brief story that is related to the topic.! Stories are naturally

interesting and appeal to the reader’s curiosity.! Types of anecdotes include something

that happened to the writer or something that the writer observed, something the

writer heard about, or something that the writer read.

Example Essay:

The people are swarming about and my thoughts get fuzzy as I run next to the gurney

into the operating room.! There is noise and confusion as I try to revive the victim of

the drunk-driving accident.! His left lung is punctured, he is bleeding profusely, many

bones are broken, and I don’t know if he will ever walk again.! Even through all of the

pressure that can be imagined in this situation I still want to be a surgeon.! If I could

have any job in the world and be great at what I do I would want to be a surgeon so I

can save lives, positively affect the world, and be proud of my job.

1. How many sentences was the lead? ______________

2. Put a box around the lead.

3. Underline the thesis twice.

4. Label the bridge.

!

Example Essay:

Joey was driving home after a school dance one Friday night. As usual he was driving

fast and his Ford began to skid.! He frantically turned the steering wheel, but the car

went out of control and crossed the center line.! It tragically slammed into an oncoming

truck, and both drivers were killed.! One result of terrible accidents like this is a public

demand that high school students be required to take a longer driver’s training course.!

Most high schools offer courses, but the courses are not rigorous enough, or hold

accountability to logged hours by each teenager.! Therefore, all high school districts

should require that student attend driver’s training longer in order to strengthen the

teenagers ability to drive.!

1. How many sentences was the lead? ______________

2. Put a box around the lead.

3. Underline the thesis twice.

4. Label the bridge

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Exercise: Now it is your turn to write an introductory paragraph using an anecdote

lead.

!

Essay prompt: If you could have any job in the world and be great at it, what would

you choose and why?!

Brainstorm:!!

!!

!

Your introductory paragraph goes on the lines below:

______________________________________________________________________________