What goes where
in an Introduction Paragraph:
Questions
When we think about an INTRODUCTION paragraph, we first need to think through the 'purpose' of that paragraph. To do this, you might have to ask yourself a few questions—what is the purpose of an introduction? How does it work to connect to the body-paragraphs or the conclusion? While I am posing questions for you to consider, this is NOT something you will want to include in your essay—unless it is used as the “Hook” sentence of your introduction.
Use these
links to learn more about eliminating QUESTIONS from your writing.
The goal of an introduction is to captivate the reader and make him want to invest time in reading the argument-to-come in the body-paragraphs. However, if the introduction is boring, choppy, slows the reader with numerous questions to consider, or is poorly transitioned, the reader is frustrated from the start.
In an essay at the college level, you will be expected to assert an argument on a topic. You need to be able to do this with clarity and commitment. You may need to begin in the pre-writing stages of your work by asking yourself questions about the topic, the angles associated with it, the oppositional views, and how your feelings might differ from older generations.
Even though these are all important things to ask yourself—and to find answers to—you will not ask your reader any of these questions. Your goal in a persuasive/argument paper is to convince the audience that what you are writing is true. Therefore, you need to know ...
1. exactly what the topic is about,
2. how others feel about the topic, and
3. what your ultimate stand will be on the topic.
When you know these things, you can then write a paper that firmly asserts your P.O.V. (point of view) with conviction. If you are still asking yourself questions when you are drafting your essay, then you are not completely certain of your own P.O.V. and presentation of that P.O.V. in the writing. Take a step back and try to reword those questions or find the answers to them so that you can state them as facts and not questions.
In an introduction, you are leading the reader from the larger overview of the topic to your precise P.O.V. that argues your side of the issue. Therefore, you need to be able to clearly present the basic details without questions or source materials. HOWEVER, there is one place where you can use a question in an introduction—if you feel so compelled to do so—and that is the “Hook” sentence of the introduction. The “Hook” sentence of an introduction serves to grab the reader. Therefore, a startling fact or a well-crafted question that directly relates to the topic can be quite useful at the “Hook”. After that initial sentence, though, the introduction must be completely in your own words, with your own convictions, and leading the reader to the ultimate point of the essay—your Thesis—which asserts the narrow view and focused point of the topic.
Use of questions and sources tend to pull the reader out of your argument a little bit due to the break in the flow of your writing. When you think about the percentage-distribution of the writer’s voice compared to source usage in an academic essay, at the college level, you need to keep in mind that the content must be at least 80% YOU and only 20% or less of outside sources. This means that you really need to be careful and purposeful in what source content you use and WHERE you put it in the paper. Just as importantly, though, is knowing when and where you can use questions in your writing. You need to be certain that you limit how often the reader pulls away from your voice in the writing to consider a question. Questions make a reader stop and think—at least that is what they are supposed to do. Therefore, if you use a question to grab the reader in your first line of the introduction, then fine. That can work. You will not want to use this tactic anywhere else in the introduction or in the body-paragraphs, though, since your goal is to keep the reader fully embedded in your voice, your beliefs, and your proven argument.
Please remember, there are three-parts to an introduction paragraph. Therefore, logically, you must write at least 3-sentences in your introduction paragraph for it to meet the minimum requirements. See the visual below to understand WHERE you can place a question in your INTRODUCTION, and where it cannot go.
Part 1: 'Hook"
Part 2: Background/content/transition ideas, and
Part 3 Thesis.
INTRODUCTION
Introduction Paragraph
Follow the guidelines for Introductions found here: https://learnessaywriting.blogspot.com/p/drawing-readers-in-asyou-begin-to-write.html
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Part 1: Hook
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Begin your introduction with an attention grabber to “hook” your reader’s attention. You MAY use a question—as long as it is a deep, intriguing question that clearly relates to your overall topic—here; however, if you can captivate your audience without a question, you will find your introduction is typically smoother and has better flow from the “Hook,” to the background, and ending with the Thesis.
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Part 2: Background
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Add a few sentences between your hook and thesis to transition from the hook to the thesis: Do not use source materials or questions in this section of the introduction. You need to assert your own view, voice, and argument—in your own words, from your own thoughts. Save all source materials for the body-paragraphs, and do not use ANY questions in the body-paragraphs.
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Part 3: Thesis
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End your introduction with your THESIS STATEMENT. See thesis statement. The thesis should be just one sentence, not a question, not sourced content, and it must show the point you aim to argue. Consider using words like “should” and “because” to help make it arguable. You will never use a question in a Thesis—since a Thesis statement is…well…a statement, not a question. You will also never use source materials in a Thesis statement. The Thesis is YOUR argument on the topic that will be addressed and proven in the body-paragraphs.
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© 2018 by Jeanette L. H. Dick
Using Questions in the Introduction
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