1. What is the purpose of an introductory paragraph?
Warm-Up
What is the purpose of an introductory paragraph?

2. Introduction Paragraph
Think of your introductory paragraph as a  
recipe with three important ingredients:
1. a strong topic sentence
2. mention of the main points your essay will cover
3. a concluding sentence

3. Here are some ways to do this:
1. Write a Topic Sentence
Here are some ways to do this:
 start with a hook 
            (use a quotation, NO questions)
 start with a plan 
            (tell your reader what to expect)
 start with a teaser 
            (build curiosity & anticipation)

4. The Hook
One way to grab your reader's attention is with an interesting quotation, question, or piece of information 
in the topic sentence:
 "I do not like to write -- I like to have written," reflected American author Gloria Steinem. or
"Not all animals that have fins and swim in the ocean are actually fish."

5. "My three favorite foods are spaghetti, pizza, and jelly beans."
The Plan
Another way to begin your essay is with a  topic sentence that simply lists each subject you will be covering:
"My three favorite foods are spaghetti, pizza, and jelly beans."
This opening sentence helps you easily divide the rest of your essay into its three different paragraphs and tells readers what they can expect.

6. "We practiced all week to get ready for the big game."
 The Teaser
You can also build your reader's anticipation with a topic sentence that is an action statement:
"We practiced all week to get ready for the big game."
Now the reader really wants to know how hard you practiced, and whether all that work paid off!

7. "Hi my name is . . . and I’m going to
The No-No
Here is a type of topic sentence that is not a very strong way to begin your essay:
"Hi my name is and I’m going to 
tell you about . . ."
The readers know you're going to tell them something, so you don't need to say it. Just introduce the subject and begin.

8. 2. Mention your main points
But don't give everything away!
Assuming you started with a topic sentence relating to sports in general, this would be a good follow-up sentence mentioning the main points of your essay: 
 However, the three sports that I like best are soccer, tennis, and riding.

9. 3. Your concluding sentence
This is okay, but needs stronger writing:
"Here are the reasons why I love penguins."
This includes much stronger word choices:
"Your favorite animal is probably not the penguin, but you might change your mind after you hear my reasons for loving penguins so much."

10. topic sentence + main points + concluding sentence
Remember to follow the "recipe" to write a strong introductory paragraph:
topic sentence + main points + concluding sentence
Science fiction is such a fascinating genre for middle school students. Of all the books I've read this year in 6th grade, my favorite ones are Dark Life, Inkheart, and A Wrinkle in Time. You probably wouldn’t pick the same books, but you might just change your mind after you hear the reasons these science fiction stories are my favorites.