Introductory ParagraphsA Basic Structure

Purpose Serves to hook your reader’s attention Offers an overview of your paper Establishes your thesis statement/claim

(what you will argue and support in your paper)

Sets the tone for what is to come

Basic Structure for the Introductory Paragraph Hook/Attention Grabber Information Adding Sentence Pivot Sentence Set-Up Sentence Thesis Statement/Claim

TIP: HIPS Claim (H=Hook, I=Info adding, P=Pivot, S=Set-up)

The Hook (the first sentence) Grabs the reader’s attention Needs to be GENERAL Introduces the topic without referring

to it directly Ideas:

A question (tends to be overused) A striking quote An anecdote A wake-up call or startling detail/fact Humor/a joke

Hook Example

According to the Humane Society, “…in 2012 62% of American households included at least one pet.”

Information Adding Sentence (the second sentence) Still GENERAL Adds information or expands on the

hook Does not specifically refer to the thesis

Info-Adding ExampleThe same survey also shared that, “Pet ownership has more than tripled since the 1970s.”

Pivot Sentence(the third sentence) This sentence turns us

toward the thesis This is the first sentence that

hints about our thesis We can use a key word from

our thesis here

Pivot ExampleMore than ever today, families understand the benefits of owning a pet, so the biggest decision is determining what kind of pet is best.

Set-Up Sentence(the fourth sentence)

Leads us directly to the thesis

Connects the topic or idea of the grabber to the thesis

Usually the best place to include the book title and author for a literary analysis

Set-Up ExampleThe debate of the cat versus the dog as the best family pet is long standing across the US.

Thesis/Claim(the fifth or final sentence in your introductory paragraph)

The controlling idea of the entire paper Takes a distinct position on the topic Is debatable (a reasonable person could

argue an alternative position) Allows your reader to anticipate the

organization of your argument – a kind of “blueprint” for your essay

Thesis/Claim ExampleEven though they can scratch and ruin furniture, cats make the best family pets because they are very clean, and they are easy to housebreak.

Putting it all together According to the Humane Society, “…in 2012

62% of American households included at least one pet.” The same survey also shared that, “Pet ownership has more than tripled since the 1970s.” More than ever today, families understand the benefits of owning a pet, so the biggest decision is determining what kind of pet is best. The debate of the cat versus the dog as best family pet is long standing across the US. Even though they can scratch and ruin furniture, cats make the best family pets because they are very clean, and they are easy to housebreak.

Review of the Introductory Paragraph Hook/Attention Grabber Information Adding Sentence Pivot Sentence Set-Up Sentence Thesis Statement/Claim

TIP: HIPS Claim (H=Hook, I=Info adding, P=Pivot, S=Set-up)