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Components of an Introductory Paragraph

The document outlines the structure of an introduction paragraph for a CSS essay, emphasizing the importance of coherence and flow. It details the three main components: an attention grabber, a reflection of the outline, and a thesis statement, along with examples of effective attention grabbers. Additionally, it provides guidance on avoiding common pitfalls and maintaining originality in writing.

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Kamran Khan
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12 views7 pages

Components of an Introductory Paragraph

The document outlines the structure of an introduction paragraph for a CSS essay, emphasizing the importance of coherence and flow. It details the three main components: an attention grabber, a reflection of the outline, and a thesis statement, along with examples of effective attention grabbers. Additionally, it provides guidance on avoiding common pitfalls and maintaining originality in writing.

Uploaded by

Kamran Khan
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Introduction Paragraph Structure

CSS Essay: 220 to 250 words (single paragraph, having three parts)
Important: Like all paragraphs in an essay, the introduction paragraph must have
textual flow and coherence. Use linking words between sentences, wherever
required.
Attention  Start your essay introduction with an indirect reference
Grabber (Hook) to the topic:
o A quotation — followed by elaboration and
linking it with the topic. (Always embed quotation
within the paragraph.)
o A well-known incident, a historical event, an
anecdote, poetry lines (English only, or
translation) etc.
o Do not use fact/s which later appear in the essay.
 3 to 5 sentences
 It gives your stance on the topic.
 But extra effort to grab attention often backfires --- try
to avoid it.
 Avoid readymade starting lines at any cost. The same
material is available to thousands of others as well.

 Write sentences related to headings and sub-headings


(Reflection/Gist of the outline.
of the outline)  This should follow a logical sequence.
 The sentences should be coherent with each other.
 Mention all the outline in the same manner.
 8-10 sentences
Concluding  Write 2 to 3 sentences as the conclusion of the
Sentences (introduction) paragraph, which is the same thesis
statement that you wrote in the outline. (Expository)

Important: Do not start discussing the points/argument in the introduction.


How to give a quotation/citation in a paragraph

(Disclaimer: This is not a sample of introduction or body paragraph .)

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn;” (Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave,
1980). This means that employment in the 21 st century would require the flexible
skills of learning and unlearning new concepts continuously. But, in Pakistan, the
concepts learnt through education are considered final and absolute
achievement, and people think they need not learn any new skills for
employment. This rigid mindset is leading to the highest rate of “unemployment
of the educated” in the world. According to Dr. Ishrat Hussain, it is estimated that
67% of the unemployed in Pakistan are educated whereas the unemployment of
the uneducated people stands at 33% (Education vs Employment, June 2020). In
this way, the country is facing the dilemma of educated people being unemployed
due to their lack of re-skilling themselves according to the industry requirement.

Alternately, you may also write like this:


Dr. Ishrat Hussain, in his article Education vs Employment (June 2020), estimates
that 67% of the unemployed in Pakistan are educated whereas the
unemployment of the uneducated people stands at 33%.

Alvin Toffler, in his book The Third Wave (1980) writes: “The illiterate of the 21st
century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn,
unlearn, and relearn.”
Placing Thesis Statement in Introduction paragraph of different types of essays
Expository Essay Argumentative Essay Abstract

Attention grabber Attention grabber Thesis statement

Gist of the outline Thesis statement Attention grabber

Thesis statement Gist of the outline Gist of the outline


IAS Essay Topic: “Political accountability as soul of democracy.”

The day was 18th of May. The city was Kuala Lumpur. The place was Merdeka
Square. And the people who had gathered there were chanting late into the dusk
the name of their beloved leader — Mahathir! Mahathir! Mahathir! Mahathir!
They were especially excited at the victory of their leader this time as he had
forsaken the UMNO that he had fathered and contested the elections this time
from the opposition ticket. The whole nation had one goal: to correct the judicial
mistake that Dr. Mahathir had committed against Anwaar Ibrahim during his last
regime.
Example of using anecdote as Attention Grabber
Essay topic: Looming shadow of food crisis in Pakistan.
Although the proverbial rabbit had all the speed and skill to win the race
with the tortoise, he took the race as too easy and went to sleep on the way. On
the other hand, the tortoise did not have speed, but he had only one thing in his
favour ----- persistence. So, he kept on walking continuously and won the race.
Similarly, Pakistan has all the skill, fertile land, and the human resource to become
an agricultural giant in the region yet it has taken agriculture as too easy, and has
not paid due attention to it. As a result, Pakistan is facing looming shadow of food
crisis right now.
Example of using Poetry lines as Attention Grabber

Essay Topic: Is youth bulge a liability or an asset for Pakistan?


Essay
Shape without form, shade without color/ Paralyzed force, gesture
without motion (T.S. Eliot, The Hollow Men). These lines by T.S. Eliot may be
applied to the situation of youth in Pakistan. Although they have a ‘shape’, they
have not been equipped with enough skills to give this youth bulge a ‘form’. They
do give the feeling of a ‘shade’, but one is unable to perceive their ‘color’. Due to
the continuous neglect of this segment of Pakistan’s populace, youth has become
a ‘paralyzed force’. At best, what the youth in Pakistan today is that it is a force —
a ‘gesture’ — but it has no ‘motion’ towards the progress of the country.

Introduction paragraph: 220 – 250 words


Attention grabber: 70 - 90 words
Gist/reflection of the outline: 100-120 words
Thesis statement: 35-45 words

Example of using a well-known incident as attention grabber.


Topic: Changing world order and Pakistan’s foreign policy
While witnessing the burning and then falling of the two towers of world
trade center on 11th September 2001, the people gathered there could not
imagine the long-lasting effects that the tall, vanished shadows of those two
buildings could have on world’s future. The site of the demolished buildings was
later turned into a monument of the incident. But the thousands of buildings that
USA destroyed in the world as a revenge, could never have any remembrance. The
world changed forever that day. However, the change did not stop even after the
revenge was a bit satiated, although its direction changed the world order later
on. Pakistan’s foreign policy has also been changing according to the demands of
the changing world order.
Topic: Universal human equality is utopic.
The traffic signals were switched off, yet the traffic was not moving. The
traffic police had stopped all kinds of traffic in the scorching heat of mid-
summer noon. The stoppage went on for more than half an hour when the
public witnessed a motorcade of black shining cars with national flags on them
preceded by long columns of security vehicles. The whole show of state power
took just a minute to pass when the kilometers long lines of traffic were finally
let go. A VVIP was using the road, so the public had to wait for him to pass.
What does this indicate? Universal human equality is just a farce.

Common questions

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An attention grabber serves to capture the reader's interest and set the stage for the essay's topic. However, using overly showy or common attention grabbers may backfire as they can distract rather than engage or may make the introduction seem unoriginal. Linking effectively to the essay's subject is crucial for coherence.

Embedding quotations within paragraphs enhances the essay by directly supporting claims with authoritative voices, such as Alvin Toffler's, linking theoretical insights with practical issues like employment trends. This approach increases credibility and strengthens arguments by providing concrete evidence within the flow of the essay, seamlessly integrating external perspectives with the writer’s points.

Using readymade starting lines can undermine originality as they make the introduction appear clichéd and uncreative. Since this approach is accessible to many, it offers no unique perspective, potentially reducing the impact on the reader and not effectively differentiating the writer's stance or voice.

The tortoise and hare anecdote criticizes Pakistan's complacency in agriculture. While the nation has potential advantages like fertile land and resources, akin to the hare's speed, its lack of consistent investment and attention is compared to the hare's failure to capitalize on its capabilities. Conversely, persistence as in the tortoise's winning strategy is lacking, leading to agricultural underachievement and a looming food crisis, portraying a need for strategic perseverance.

The example of traffic being halted for a VVIP's motorcade illustrates the discrepancy between idealistic views of universal equality and the reality of societal power structures. Despite theoretical equality, such incidents highlight the privileges accorded to individuals in power, reinforcing the view that genuine universal equality remains a farce amidst evident hierarchical structures.

A thesis statement is crucial as it encapsulates the main argument or stance of the essay, providing a roadmap for the reader. It aligns the introduction by affirming the central theme following the attention grabber and outline reflection. The ability to synthesize a clear thesis within the introductory paragraph ensures cohesion with the essay's subsequent arguments and supporting details.

Alvin Toffler's quote emphasizes that modern literacy involves the continuous ability to learn and unlearn. This adaptability is crucial for employment in a constantly evolving job market. In Pakistan, the rigid educational mindset, which views knowledge as static, has contributed to higher unemployment among the educated, as they fail to reskill according to industry demands.

Anecdotal attention grabbers should be considered carefully as their relevance to the essay topic and connection to the thesis must be direct and clear. Effective anecdotes relate directly to core themes, such as using historical events like Dr. Mahathir's political turnaround as a metaphor for political accountability impacting democratic processes. These stories should enhance rather than compete with the essay's main argument.

The reflection or gist of the outline should follow a logical sequence and be coherent, with sentences that relate to the headings and sub-headings of the essay's outline. Typically, it consists of 8-10 sentences that avoid preemptively discussing points or arguments, maintaining focus on the general framework being introduced.

Historical events as attention grabbers provide context and depth, grounding the essay topic in a real-world scenario that the audience can relate to or learn from. These events can effectively introduce complex topics by demonstrating the lasting impacts on societal or global structures, like 9/11 influencing world order and foreign policy changes. They engage and educate by offering a pertinent backdrop for the essay's main arguments.

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