Page 3 Introduction Samples

Following is a sample essay introduction.



What is a Thesis?


The thesis is the most important sentence in your essay.
  • It provides direction or focus for the rest of the piece.
  • It often provides an overview of the main points of your body paragraphs and the order in which they will occur.

Example:

Young people should not be allowed to use cell phones because studies have shown that cell phones are distractions, can cause health problems, and hinder creativity.

The thesis statement below states an opinion (young people should not use cell phones) and shapes a discussion in three parts:

  • cell phones are distractions
  • cell phones can cause health problems
  • cell phones can hinder creativity

These three parts fit nicely into three body paragraphs. The first body paragraph is represented by the colour purple, the second by pink, the third by blue.

Unfocused Thesis Statements


Avoid unfocused thesis statements that...

  • ask a question
  • provide a detail, or
  • do not provide direction for the reader



Unfocused:




Do you think people should text and drive?

Distracted drivers are three times more likely to be in a crash than attentive drivers.

I believe people should not text and drive. (Writing "I believe" is redundant or unnecessary)

A topic sentence does not provide enough direction for an essay. A thesis statement is something bigger.


Topic Sentence:

No text is worth dying over.



Writing Effective Thesis Statements


A strong thesis provides an outline or focus for the essay. It may use

  • key words such as numbers
  • order such as chronological or order of importance


Strong Thesis:



Three reasons why people should not text and drive are it is distracting, expensive, and dangerous.

(list in order of importance; the most important point comes at the end)



  Please contact your teacher if you have questions.