{"id":104,"date":"2026-05-05T23:54:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T03:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/essaywriting\/chapter\/chapter-6-introduction-paragraph\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T00:43:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T04:43:36","slug":"chapter-6-introduction-paragraph","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/chapter\/chapter-6-introduction-paragraph\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 6: Introduction Paragraph","rendered":"Chapter 6: Introduction Paragraph"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n\r\nWhat you will do in this chapter:\r\n\r\n1. Learn about the introduction paragraph in more detail<\/em>\r\n2. Analyze a sample introduction paragraph<\/em>\r\n3. Practice identifying hooks, general statements, and thesis statements<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n

Learn It!<\/em><\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
\r\n

Introduction Paragraph<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of an essay. To understand introduction paragraphs better, learn their location, function, and features.\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Location<\/strong> - the first paragraph of the essay<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Function<\/strong> - 1) introduces the topic and the purpose\/thesis of the essay; 2) provides background information, or general statements, to help readers understand the topic; 3) can include definitions of keywords<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Features<\/strong> - 1) often contains a hook to attract the interest of readers; 2) introduces information about a topic in general statements that become more specific; 3) ends with a thesis statement<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Example Introduction<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

    \r\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Since the end of World War II, Canada has had one of the highest rates of immigration in the world.This fact reflects the concept of \"multiculturalism\" that has been Canada's official policy since 1971. Multiculturalism is defined as \"an ideal of equality and mutual respect among a population\u2019s ethnic and cultural groups\" (Burnet & Driedger, 2014). Many communities and cities in Canada have embraced multiculturalism as a way to enrich local culture by introducing novel customs and ideas. One well-known example is the city of Toronto, recognized for its diverse population. In fact, Toronto is considered to be the world's most multicultural city due to a number of factors.<\/p>\r\nExercise 1: Read the example introduction paragraph. Work with a partner to answer the following questions about its function<\/span> and features<\/span>:<\/strong><\/em>\r\n

      \r\n \t
    1. Which feature does the first sentence illustrate?<\/li>\r\n \t
    2. What is the function of the second sentence?<\/li>\r\n \t
    3. What keyword is defined in this introduction?<\/li>\r\n \t
    4. What is the topic and focus of this essay according to the final sentence (thesis statement)?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n \r\n
      \r\n

      Learn It!<\/em><\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n

      Thesis Statement<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe thesis statement is the key sentence in the introduction paragraph. To understand thesis statements better, learn their location, function, and features.\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • Location<\/em> - usually the final sentence of the introduction paragraph<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Function<\/em> - 1) explains the topic focus of the essay; 2) gives overview of supporting points<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Features<\/em> - 1) states the topic and the specific topic focus; 2) gives information about the content of the essay without too much detail<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThesis statements need to be clearly written with a very specific aim. Similar to the controlling idea of topic sentences for body paragraphs, a thesis statement cannot be too vague or general. A good thesis statement for an essay is specific and clearly states the topic and focus of the paper. Every topic has many aspects, but you need to restrict your focus to one specific aspect. Compare the examples below.\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n

        Practice It!<\/em><\/h1>\r\nExercise 2: Considering the examples above, put a checkmark (\u2713) next to the best thesis statement.<\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\nTopic: Homeschooling<\/span><\/strong>\r\n

        1. ___ Homeschooling is gaining popularity in the United States for several reasons.<\/p>\r\n

        2. ___ I was homeschooled and it was great.<\/p>\r\n

        3. ___ Homeschooling is not common in East Asia, except possibly in one or two of these countries.<\/p>\r\nTopic: The Olympic Games<\/strong> <\/span>\r\n

        1. ___ Many places where the Olympic Games were held are in financial debt and this affects taxes and country budgets for education, infrastructure, and so on.<\/p>\r\n

        2. ___ Hosting the Olympic Games can benefit a city's development in terms of transportation, sport, and tourism.<\/p>\r\n

        3. ___ The Olympic Games are exciting to watch.<\/p>\r\nTopic: Biodiversity<\/strong><\/span>\r\n

        1. ___ The biodiversity in Japan's rivers is good compared to other countries.<\/p>\r\n

        2. ___ We have to protect species and maintain biodiversity.<\/p>\r\n

        3. ___ Protecting forests and coastal wetlands is essential for preserving the biodiversity necessary for healthy environments.<\/p>\r\nTopic: Antibiotic tolerance<\/strong><\/span>\r\n

        1. ___ Bacteria that are resistant to current antibiotic drugs pose a number of major challenges to the medical profession.<\/p>\r\n

        2. ___ Antibiotic tolerance is a problem that we must resolve soon.<\/p>\r\n

        3. ___ You have many bacteria in your body and if you take a lot of antibiotics, some of these bacteria can mutate into \"superbugs.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n

        The Funnel Shape of Essay Introductions<\/strong><\/h1>\r\nAs described in the features of a good introduction paragraph (Chapter 6: Learn It), general information about the topic usually is introduced from general to more specific and ends with the thesis statement. This style of essay introduction is often compared to the shape of a funnel - wide at top and narrow at the bottom.\r\n\r\nExercise 3: Read the introduction below from the model essay in Chapter 5 again. As you read, pay attention to how the flow of the paragraph resembles the shape of a funnel and label the features.<\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nExercise 4: Read the sets of sentences below. Order the sentences so as to match the Hook \u2192 General Statements \u2192 Thesis Statement structure for the introduction paragraph.<\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\n1. Demographics and Social Policies<\/span>\r\n\r\n(a) Currently, many countries are experiencing population stagnation and even population decline as their demographics change.\r\n\r\n(b) Population decline in Japan is now accelerating, so it is important to examine the causes and possible effects of this social trend.\r\n\r\n(c) This change, in turn, will affect these societies immensely, including Japan.\r\n\r\n(d) Few people realize that a country\u2019s demographics determine its future social policies.\r\n

        Hook ____ General Statements ____ ____ Thesis Statement ____<\/p>\r\n2. Energy<\/span>\r\n\r\n(a) Therefore, such countries need to plan their energy policy wisely and decide what types of energy production to provide for, balancing between alternatives and fossil fuels.\r\n\r\n(b) Comparing two types of alternative energy production \u2013 nuclear and wind-power \u2013 can help to better understand them and determine which should be promoted for future energy needs.\r\n\r\n(c) Modern lifestyles rely heavily upon electricity.\r\n\r\n(d) Without electricity, cities would be dark, computer systems would not function, and factories and other businesses could not operate.\r\n\r\n(e) It follows that since electricity is so important, relying primarily on fossil fuels to generate electricity poses a serious risk to the current way of life in modern nations.\r\n

        Hook ____ General Statements ____ ____ ____ Thesis Statement ____<\/p>\r\n \r\n

        \r\n

        FYI<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n

        Keywords for research<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nUsing the right keywords when researching a topic is crucial for finding useful information. First, identify appropriate keywords in your research question or thesis. Another way to facilitate your research is to use a keyword chart like the one shown here:\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nInitial Topic<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nSimilar Terms<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nBroader Terms<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nNarrower Terms<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nRelated Terms<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nExample<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nAutomated vehicles<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nAutomated cars,<\/strong>\r\n\r\nSelf-driving cars, autonomous vehicles<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nAI automotive technology,<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nCentral Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nElectric car\/vehicle, Autopilot system<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nFill-in your topic and keywords<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n
        		<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n\r\nUsing keywords can help you research your topic more smoothly. Continue to research your topic using keywords.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
        \n

        What you will do in this chapter:<\/p>\n

        1. Learn about the introduction paragraph in more detail<\/em>
        \n2. Analyze a sample introduction paragraph<\/em>
        \n3. Practice identifying hooks, general statements, and thesis statements<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

         <\/p>\n

        \n
        \n

        Learn It!<\/em><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
        \n

        Introduction Paragraph<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        The introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of an essay. To understand introduction paragraphs better, learn their location, function, and features.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Location<\/strong> – the first paragraph of the essay<\/em><\/li>\n
        • Function<\/strong> – 1) introduces the topic and the purpose\/thesis of the essay; 2) provides background information, or general statements, to help readers understand the topic; 3) can include definitions of keywords<\/em><\/li>\n
        • Features<\/strong> – 1) often contains a hook to attract the interest of readers; 2) introduces information about a topic in general statements that become more specific; 3) ends with a thesis statement<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          Example Introduction<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n


          \n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Since the end of World War II, Canada has had one of the highest rates of immigration in the world.This fact reflects the concept of “multiculturalism” that has been Canada’s official policy since 1971. Multiculturalism is defined as “an ideal of equality and mutual respect among a population\u2019s ethnic and cultural groups” (Burnet & Driedger, 2014). Many communities and cities in Canada have embraced multiculturalism as a way to enrich local culture by introducing novel customs and ideas. One well-known example is the city of Toronto, recognized for its diverse population. In fact, Toronto is considered to be the world’s most multicultural city due to a number of factors.<\/p>\n

          Exercise 1: Read the example introduction paragraph. Work with a partner to answer the following questions about its function<\/span> and features<\/span>:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Which feature does the first sentence illustrate?<\/li>\n
          2. What is the function of the second sentence?<\/li>\n
          3. What keyword is defined in this introduction?<\/li>\n
          4. What is the topic and focus of this essay according to the final sentence (thesis statement)?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

            \n
            \n

            Learn It!<\/em><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
            \n

            Thesis Statement<\/strong><\/h2>\n

            The thesis statement is the key sentence in the introduction paragraph. To understand thesis statements better, learn their location, function, and features.<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Location<\/em> – usually the final sentence of the introduction paragraph<\/li>\n
            • Function<\/em> – 1) explains the topic focus of the essay; 2) gives overview of supporting points<\/li>\n
            • Features<\/em> – 1) states the topic and the specific topic focus; 2) gives information about the content of the essay without too much detail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              Thesis statements need to be clearly written with a very specific aim. Similar to the controlling idea of topic sentences for body paragraphs, a thesis statement cannot be too vague or general. A good thesis statement for an essay is specific and clearly states the topic and focus of the paper. Every topic has many aspects, but you need to restrict your focus to one specific aspect. Compare the examples below.<\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

              Practice It!<\/em><\/h1>\n

              Exercise 2: Considering the examples above, put a checkmark (\u2713) next to the best thesis statement.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

              Topic: Homeschooling<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

              1. ___ Homeschooling is gaining popularity in the United States for several reasons.<\/p>\n

              2. ___ I was homeschooled and it was great.<\/p>\n

              3. ___ Homeschooling is not common in East Asia, except possibly in one or two of these countries.<\/p>\n

              Topic: The Olympic Games<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

              1. ___ Many places where the Olympic Games were held are in financial debt and this affects taxes and country budgets for education, infrastructure, and so on.<\/p>\n

              2. ___ Hosting the Olympic Games can benefit a city’s development in terms of transportation, sport, and tourism.<\/p>\n

              3. ___ The Olympic Games are exciting to watch.<\/p>\n

              Topic: Biodiversity<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

              1. ___ The biodiversity in Japan’s rivers is good compared to other countries.<\/p>\n

              2. ___ We have to protect species and maintain biodiversity.<\/p>\n

              3. ___ Protecting forests and coastal wetlands is essential for preserving the biodiversity necessary for healthy environments.<\/p>\n

              Topic: Antibiotic tolerance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

              1. ___ Bacteria that are resistant to current antibiotic drugs pose a number of major challenges to the medical profession.<\/p>\n

              2. ___ Antibiotic tolerance is a problem that we must resolve soon.<\/p>\n

              3. ___ You have many bacteria in your body and if you take a lot of antibiotics, some of these bacteria can mutate into “superbugs.”<\/p>\n

              The Funnel Shape of Essay Introductions<\/strong><\/h1>\n

              As described in the features of a good introduction paragraph (Chapter 6: Learn It), general information about the topic usually is introduced from general to more specific and ends with the thesis statement. This style of essay introduction is often compared to the shape of a funnel – wide at top and narrow at the bottom.<\/p>\n

              Exercise 3: Read the introduction below from the model essay in Chapter 5 again. As you read, pay attention to how the flow of the paragraph resembles the shape of a funnel and label the features.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              Exercise 4: Read the sets of sentences below. Order the sentences so as to match the Hook \u2192 General Statements \u2192 Thesis Statement structure for the introduction paragraph.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

              1. Demographics and Social Policies<\/span><\/p>\n

              (a) Currently, many countries are experiencing population stagnation and even population decline as their demographics change.<\/p>\n

              (b) Population decline in Japan is now accelerating, so it is important to examine the causes and possible effects of this social trend.<\/p>\n

              (c) This change, in turn, will affect these societies immensely, including Japan.<\/p>\n

              (d) Few people realize that a country\u2019s demographics determine its future social policies.<\/p>\n

              Hook ____ General Statements ____ ____ Thesis Statement ____<\/p>\n

              2. Energy<\/span><\/p>\n

              (a) Therefore, such countries need to plan their energy policy wisely and decide what types of energy production to provide for, balancing between alternatives and fossil fuels.<\/p>\n

              (b) Comparing two types of alternative energy production \u2013 nuclear and wind-power \u2013 can help to better understand them and determine which should be promoted for future energy needs.<\/p>\n

              (c) Modern lifestyles rely heavily upon electricity.<\/p>\n

              (d) Without electricity, cities would be dark, computer systems would not function, and factories and other businesses could not operate.<\/p>\n

              (e) It follows that since electricity is so important, relying primarily on fossil fuels to generate electricity poses a serious risk to the current way of life in modern nations.<\/p>\n

              Hook ____ General Statements ____ ____ ____ Thesis Statement ____<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              \n
              \n

              FYI<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n

              Keywords for research<\/strong><\/h2>\n

              Using the right keywords when researching a topic is crucial for finding useful information. First, identify appropriate keywords in your research question or thesis. Another way to facilitate your research is to use a keyword chart like the one shown here:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
              \n
              \n
              \n

               <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Initial Topic<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Similar Terms<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Broader Terms<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Narrower Terms<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Related Terms<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

              \n
              \n
              \n

              Example<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Automated vehicles<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Automated cars,<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              AI automotive technology,<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		\n
              \n
              \n

              Electric car\/vehicle, Autopilot system<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

              \n
              \n
              \n

              Fill-in your topic and keywords<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

              		<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
              \n
              \n

              Using keywords can help you research your topic more smoothly. Continue to research your topic using keywords.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[50],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-104","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":675,"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104\/revisions\/675"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=104"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=104"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openstudio.pub\/academicwriting_1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}