Introduction Paragraph Expository Essay

Introduction Formula 3 parts: Hook: Bridge: Thesis:

HOOK A sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. It should should relate to the broad idea of the topic in a high-interest way. GOOD ones are: -an amazing fact -a detailed description -a quote, proverb -a bold opinion -a statistic -a question –this is overused!!!!!!

Quotation as a Hook 1.Find a quote that is related to the main idea of your essay. You will need to see the connection between the quote and the rest of your writing! 2. Put the quote between quotation marks. 3. Put the quote in context by naming the person who said it, and backfilling information for the reader, as if s/he didn’t know much about your topic. Examples: “Up, Up and Away!” exclaims Superman, the quintessential superhero, as he soars into the air to fight for justice and against evildoers. As a beloved cartoon figure, Superman is an idol to kids everywhere, and symbolizes all that is good and

Bridge NEVER!!! A few sentences that connect your hook to your thesis. The bridge should fill in background info and add detail for the reader…you are “bridging” the space between the hook(the opening sentence) and the thesis(what you are going to write about in the body paragraphs). One way to make a bridge is to explain why the topic is important. 

Thesis A statement of the main idea of your essay. The thesis statement is the MOST IMPORTANT sentence in your essay. Think “Big Idea”. It should…. -be a sentence (or two) in length - clearly state what you are writing about and specifically list the three topics covered in the body paragraphs

Example topic: "The high cost of living in Tokyo" Hook: Imagine if living in Shibuya, Tokyo cost you $300 every single day! Bridge: Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world. The prices of things in Tokyo are much higher than in other parts of Japan. Many people living in Tokyo have a difficult time paying for their lifestyles. Thesis Statement: Tokyo is definitely one of the most expensive cities to live in due to overpopulation, competition for resources, and lack of supply.

How To Write a Body Paragraph 1. Start with a transition word or phrase and an interesting statement regarding the content of the paragraph. 2. Write the topic sentence, which will state what the paragraph will be about. It will come from one of the three topics in your thesis statement. The first supporting idea listed in the thesis is the first paragraph’s topic.  

3. Include one detail from your brainstorming list for this supporting idea that explains the topic in this paragraph (1-3 sentences). 4. Explain how this fact/idea relates back to the thesis. In other words, answer why this idea proves your thesis. 5. Provide any other details that will help reader understand this idea. For example, how it will be done. (1-any # of sentences)

Repeat steps 3-5 for the 2-4 details you will use to explain your topic sentence (details that you pull from your brainstorming session) 7. Conclude your main point of this paragraph by relating it back to your thesis.

Example Body paragraph: To begin with, the overpopulation of Tokyo makes every aspect of life competitive! For example, parking space is so scarce that people don’t have lawns, they “rent out” their front yards as parking lots for premium prices. You have to prove you have a place to park a car before you can even be issued a pricey drivers license.

Even if you can afford to own a car, you might not be able to afford to drive it with exorbitant gas prices. With so many vehicles in the city, stations set gas prices so high that many can’t afford to drive their cars more than on weekends. This makes Tokyo is an expensive place to live just in terms of too many people crammed into a small amount of real estate.

Example Body paragraph breakdown: To begin with(TRANSITION WORD OR PHRASE) , the overpopulation of Tokyo makes every aspect of life competitive!(TOPIC SENTENCE FOR BODY PARAGRAPH 1) For example, parking space is so scarce that people don’t have lawns (DETAIL), they “rent out” their front yards as parking lots (DETAIL) for premium prices. You have to prove you have a place to park a car before you can even be issued a pricey drivers license. (DETAIL)

Even if you can afford to own a car, you might not be able to afford to drive it with exorbitant gas prices (DETAIL). With so many vehicles in the city, stations set gas prices so high that many can’t afford to drive their cars more than on weekends (DETAIL). This makes Tokyo is an expensive place to live just in terms of too many people crammed into a small amount of real estate. (CONCLUSION sentence that ties it back to the original thesis statement.)

THE CONCLUSION Just as every essay has a clear beginning, it should have a clear ending. The last paragraph, also know as the conclusion, should make your essay sound finished. The concluding paragraph typically has two parts: 1. The summary statement is one or two sentences which restate the thesis in a fresh way to reinforce the essay's main idea. 2. The clincher is a final thought which should create a lasting impression on the reader.

THE SUMMARY STATEMENT The summary statement is an effective way to start your concluding paragraph because it helps to drive home the ideas you've expressed in your essay. Look at your thesis statement again and rework it in a new way. Avoid repeating key words and phrases from the thesis statement because you don't want the summary statement to sound boring or repetitive. Using a thesaurus is a good way to find new, interesting words.

Example of a thesis statement turned into a summary statement: Thesis Statement: Many Americans are buying the Toyota Corolla because of its competitive price, fuel economy, and high resale value. Summary Statement: Reasonable pricing, low miles per gallon, and an attractive resale value have all contributed to the popularity of the Toyota Corolla in today's market.

THE CLINCHER The clincher, also referred to as the closer, is your last opportunity to connect with the reader. One way to make the most of this moment is to return to the technique you used for your grabber.