Every essay has three parts: a beginning, middle, and an end. The beginning is also called the Introduction. The introduction has two main purposes: to draw the reader in and make him/her want to read more, and to prepare the reader for the direction that the essay is going to take.
The introduction usually has three parts:
1. The grabber (or lead) consists of several sentences that pull the reader in the essay.
2. The transitional sentence (optional) connects the lead to the thesis statement.
3. The thesis statement is a single sentence that states the main idea of the essay.
THE GRABBER or LEAD
There are many types of grabbers (also referred to as leads or openers) that you can use to start your essay. click on each one to see several examples.
Anecdote: a brief incident that relates to the theme of the essay
Startling fact or opinion: a piece of information that will get your reader's attention
Rhetorical question: a meaningful, unanswerable question that gets the reader thinking about your topic
Quotation: someone else's words that relate to the topic
Description: a brief description of a scene, person, or object that appeals to the reader's senses
THE TRANSITIONAL SENTENCE
The transitional sentence acts like a bridge to make a smooth connection between the grabber and the thesis statement. You don't always need to include a transitional sentence, but you should always evaluate your introduction to see if one is necessary.
THE THESIS STATEMENT
The thesis statement is often the last sentence in the introduction. It clearly states the main idea of the essay, expresses your opinion or point of view towards the topic, and indicates the structure of the essay.
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