Introductory Paragraph and Thesis Statement
The role of an introduction in an academic essay is to inform your reader of what you intend to argue in your essay. When starting out with academic writing it is best to be as clear and concise as possible. Do not worry about being creative until you are more comfortable with the format and your own skills as an academic writer.
The first thing you need to make sure of is that your introduction contains a thesis statement. The thesis statement tells the reader what the essay will be about, and what point you, the author, will be making.
In the planning phase of your essay you decided what your essay would be about. That was your topic. Remember that your topic is not just a repetition of the essay question but your own personal engagement with the question.
Revisit your planning and determine the key point that you will be making. Then determine the supporting points or ideas. Your thesis statement should encapsulate your key point.
The most formulaic way of writing an introduction would be to write a few [2-3] introductory sentences which build into your thesis statement. Then write your thesis statement. Follow up your thesis statement with a sentence which leads into your first body paragraph.
Here is some advice from Livingston.tripod.com’s guide to essay writing…
Your thesis statement will have two parts.
- The first part states the topic.
- Kenya's Culture
- Building a Model Train Set
- Public Transportation
- The second part states the point of the essay.
- has a rich and varied history
- takes time and patience
- can solve some of our city's most persistent and pressing problems
Or in the second part you could simply list the three main ideas you will discuss.
- has a long history, blends traditions from several other cultures, and provides a rich heritage.
- requires an investment in time, patience, and materials.
- helps with traffic congestion, resource management, and the city budget.
Here is a more English specific formula for constructing a Thesis Statement
In text, by author, a [technique] is used to [verb] a [theme].
A technique could be something like imagery, irony, narrator, satire, a particular character; the verb could be something like comment on, critique, highlight, reflect, etc. The theme bit will be determined by the essay question, as that should give the student focus with regards to what he/she has to focus on.
So, for example: In Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, Jane is used to critique Victorian class and gender ideologies.
In this case “critique” is both the technique and the verb. But in the following, it is more strait forward…
In ‘Bird, Trapped’ by Leon de Kock, the speaker makes use of imagery to evoke a state of religious self-reflection in the reader.
Once you have completed your introduction you can move on to writing the body paragraphs of your essay.
