TERAHOMEWORK

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1. How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay Introduction

A good introduction in an argumentative essay acts like a good opening statement in a trial. Just

like a lawyer, a writer must present the issue at hand, give background, and put forth the main

argument -- all in a logical, intellectual and persuasive way.

Start With a Hook

Start your introduction with a sentence that gets the reader interested in the topic. To pique the

reader's interest, you can begin with a quote, a personal story, a surprising statistic or an

interesting question. For example, if you are arguing that smoking should be banned from all

public places, you can start your introduction by referencing a statistic from a verified source:

"Tobacco use kills more than five million people every year -- more than HIV/AIDS,

tuberculosis and malaria combined, according to the World Health Organization." This strategy

grabs the reader's attention while introducing the topic of the essay

Include Background

Providing readers with background on the topic allows them to better understand the issue being

presented. This information provides context and history that can be crucial to explaining and

arguing your point. For example, if you are arguing that there should never be a military draft in

the United States, your introduction can include information about the history of the U.S. draft

and the events that led to it being abolished.

State Your Thesis

The thesis is the essence of an argumentative essay. In a single, clear sentence, it sums up what

point you are trying to make. The thesis statement should assert a position on a particular issue --

one that a reader can potentially argue against. Therefore, the thesis cannot be a fact. For

example, if a professor assigns the general topic of war, you can formulate the following thesis

statement: "The United Nations must be redesigned because it is currently incapable of

preventing wars." The rest of your essay serves to explain and provide evidence in support of

your thesis statement.

What to Leave Out

A good introduction should not be describing arguments or providing analysis that belong in the

body paragraphs. Your introduction should introduce and set up your point, rather than lay out

evidence to support it. Also, while your intro is a road map for the rest of the essay, you

shouldn't explicitly announce what and how you will be arguing: "I am going to prove to you that

..." This type of set up does not add any pertinent information and only serves as filler.