Introductory Paragraphs

StructureIntroductory paragraphs are, both, practical and rhetorical.

They provide readers with a sense of the essay's content, yes.

However, they also create a clue as to the personality of the writer, the style of the writing, the breadth of the writer's knowledge, and the writer's relationship to the audience.

As such, plenty of opportunity exists in an introductory paragraph to bring personality and style to bear.

Are limited to no more than one-fifth (twenty percent) of the essay.

ContextFrom the Latin contextus: to weave, join together; therefore, the broader, cohesive fabric of a subject or the instrument of its coherence. In an introduction, the opening remarks to introduce readers to a general subject that relates to the essay's topic; "hook" the reader's interest by provoking a response, establishing an interesting attitude or evoking a compelling mood. Some standard techniques to achieve this effect are:

begin with a question: When you begin your essay with a question, you ask your reader to consider with you the problem that inspired you to write. What question are you trying to answer in your essay? Why is this question important to you and to your readers? begin by offering background: If your readers may be unfamiliar with the topic about which you are writing, your introductory paragraph may serve to give them necessary background. Sometimes that background can summarize the results of other people's writing about the topic. Sometimes background information can place your topic in a larger context. begin by defining: Whenever you present an essay to readers, you want to be sure that you and your readers are defining terms in the same way. Starting out by defining key terms may be useful when those terms are confusing or able to be misread. begin by illustrating: An illustration, example, or anecdote can be an effective way of generating your readers’ interest in your essay. Vivid details, suspenseful narrative, or interesting descriptions can make your reader want to continue reading. Illustrations, however, should relate to the focus of your essay.

Context (Hook) Examplefrom Paul Rubin, “Environment As Religion”

Many observers have made the point that environmentalism is eerily close to a religious belief system, since it includes creation stories and ideas of original sin. But there is another sense in which environmentalism is becoming more and more like a religion: It provides its adherents with an identity.

Scientists are understandably uninterested in religious stories because they do not meet the basic criterion for science: they cannot be tested. God may or may not have created the world—there is no way of knowing, although we do know that the biblical creation story is scientifically incorrect. Since we cannot prove or disprove the existence of God, science can't help us answer questions about the truth of religion as a method of understanding the world.

But scientists, particularly evolutionary psychologists, have identified another function of religion in addition to its function of explaining the world. Religion often supplements or replaces the tribalism that is an innate part of our evolved nature.

TextFrom the Latin textus: to weave; therefore the fabric of the subject; the announcement of topic

Announces the topic of the essay as a more specific issue within the general subject.

May introduce a narrower topic, or a version of the subject that is more focused.

In response essays--essays in which a thesis is asserted in response to someone else's--this is where an outside text or argument is introduced for the first time by way of the author's full name, the author's authority (credentials) the essay's full title (in quotation marks or italics), and the author's thesis or position

Text (Topic) Examplefrom Paul Rubin, “Environment As Religion”

Many observers have made the point that environmentalism is eerily close to a religious belief system, since it includes creation stories and ideas of original sin. But there is another sense in which environmentalism is becoming more and more like a religion: It provides its adherents with an identity.

Scientists are understandably uninterested in religious stories because they do not meet the basic criterion for science: they cannot be tested. God may or may not have created the world—there is no way of knowing, although we do know that the biblical creation story is scientifically incorrect. Since we cannot prove or disprove the existence of God, science can't help us answer questions about the truth of religion as a method of understanding the world.

But scientists, particularly evolutionary psychologists, have identified another function of religion in addition to its function of explaining the world. Religion often supplements or replaces the tribalism that is an innate part of our evolved nature.

Subtext

Asserts a central claim, or thesis requiring the remaining essay to provide or support that claim;

Forecasts an organizational and developmental strategy for the essay that will follow.

In persuasive essays and position papers, this is where one states an agreement or disagreement with the author, and adds one's own position or perspective.

Subtext (Thesis) Examplefrom Paul Rubin, “Environment As Religion”

Many observers have made the point that environmentalism is eerily close to a religious belief system, since it includes creation stories and ideas of original sin. But there is another sense in which environmentalism is becoming more and more like a religion: It provides its adherents with an identity.

Scientists are understandably uninterested in religious stories because they do not meet the basic criterion for science: they cannot be tested. God may or may not have created the world—there is no way of knowing, although we do know that the biblical creation story is scientifically incorrect. Since we cannot prove or disprove the existence of God, science can't help us answer questions about the truth of religion as a method of understanding the world.

But scientists, particularly evolutionary psychologists, have identified another function of religion in addition to its function of explaining the world. Religion often supplements or replaces the tribalism that is an innate part of our evolved nature.