The essay introduction is the most important paragraph in the essay because it must grab the reader's attention and clearly state what the essay will be about. The essay writer will need to devote a fair amount of time and energy to writing the essay introduction, and it often helps to write the thesis statement first to ensure the writer knows what his or her main argument will be. The thesis statement is one sentence that clearly states the argument to be made, and it is usually the last sentence in the first paragraph, though some people write it as the first sentence.
The writer should write down the thesis statement first, and then think of an example, study, or other relevant situation to describe that will briefly introduce the general topic. The essay introduction should start broad and end specific: the first sentence or two will introduce the reader to the broad topic, and the thesis statement will give the author's specific argument pertaining to that topic. The first sentence, sometimes known as the "hook" of the essay introduction, will need to catch the reader's attention, so the writer should use strong and vivid language whenever possible.
An easy way to remember a strong format for the essay introduction is to remember the three basic components; the hook, the transition, and the thesis. The hook grabs the reader's attention, and the thesis states the writer's main argument. The transition sentences in between the hook and thesis will help tie the two concepts together by explaining how the hook relates to the thesis. Writing a clear thesis is the most important part of the essay introduction, and it should contain both a firm statement and brief qualifying proof. The thesis can, for example, read something like this:
"The Internet should be considered a revolutionary development in the publishing industry because it has afforded a wider multitude of writers to reach an audience easily and effectively."
Regardless of the validity of the argument, this is a strong thesis statement because it clearly states what the writer intends to tell his audience, and it gives a specific reason. Including the word "because" in the statement is a good way to give the readers specific reasons why the writer's argument is true and right. Conversely, a weak thesis statement would read like this:
"The Internet is a revolutionary development."
This statement features no proof or examples, and it does not give the reader a clear understanding of what the writer is out to prove.
Writing a strong introduction can be tricky, even for the most experienced writers. If you need an extra helping hand, hiring a one on one tutor is a foolproof strategy for improvement.