The Introduction and Thesis Statement Writing an Essay The Introduction and Thesis Statement

The 5 Paragraph Essay: Introduction Essential Questions: How is a five paragraph essay organized? How is it similar to and different from a Regular Essay? Questions Notes An essay has three parts. Introduction Body Conclusion Regular Essay

The 5 Paragraph Essay: Introduction Essential Questions Questions Notes An introduction tells readers what your topic is, lets them know how you plan to discuss your topic, and captures their attention so that they’ll want to read your composition. Regular Essay

The 5 Paragraph Essay: Introduction 2 Parts to an Introduction Part 1: Catch the Reader’s Attention (Hook) Capture your reader’s attention and imagination at the earliest opportunity. Use one of these attention-getting techniques in the first few sentences to grab the readers’ attention. Include an interesting fact Use a vivid description Ask a thought-provoking question Use a quotation Compare and contrast Use an imperative or exclamatory sentence Share an anecdote

The 5 Paragraph Essay: Introduction 2 Parts to an Introduction Part 2: Thesis Statement Your introduction should always include a thesis statement. The thesis statement is ONE (maybe two) sentence that clearly presents your main idea and your purpose for writing. Subject (3) + claim+ purpose = thesis statement

The 5 Paragraph Essay: Introduction Part 2: Thesis Statement Draft Revision I’m going to tell you about how battles were fought in the 1300s.

The 5 Paragraph Essay: Introduction Part 2: Thesis Statement Draft Revision I’m going to tell you about how battles were fought in the 1300s. Warfare in medieval times was fairly simple and included unusual strategies.

The 5 Paragraph Essay: Introduction Part 2: Thesis Statement Have you ever seen a flying horse? Many soldiers in medieval times did. Attackers would sometimes catapult the rotting corpse of a horse over the castle wall in hopes of spreading disease among the enemy. In the heat of battle, any available object would do—rocks, branches, and of course, flaming arrows. Today, warfare is strategically planned and weapons are carefully crafted. Warfare in medieval times, however, was fairly simple and included many unusual strategies.