TEACHER’S NOTES
ESL / EFL RESOURCES Introduction Paragraphs
Activity Type Introduction
Reading and writing In this introduction paragraphs worksheet, students learn
activity and practice how to write introduction paragraphs that have
a background and thesis statement, and show a funnel type
structure.
Language Focus
Introduction paragraphs Procedure
Give each student a copy of the two-page worksheet.
Aim Students begin by reading a short passage, explaining the parts
To learn and practice and structure of an introduction paragraph. The students also
how to write introduction examine an example introduction paragraph and its organisation
paragraphs that have a to reinforce introduction paragraph structure.
background and thesis
statement, and show a Students then move on to reorder sentences so that they make a
funnel type structure. logical and coherent introduction paragraph that shows a funnel
type structure.
Preparation Exercise A - Answer key
Make one copy of the 1. b. T
he world is a fascinating mix of places, landscapes, peoples
two-page worksheet for and cultures, which is why tourism is a continuously growing
each student. industry.
2. c. O
ne of the most diverse and interesting parts of the world to
Level travel is Asia, which has a number of popular regions.
Intermediate (B1)
3. a. P
erhaps the most popular of these is Southeast Asia, which is
home to beautiful beaches, flavourful cuisines, and friendly
Time locals.
75 minutes 4. e. W
ithin this region, one country stands out in popularity, and
that is Thailand.
5. d. T
here are three main reasons why Thailand is the region's
most popular destination.
Next, students add a thesis statement to general statements in
order to complete an introduction paragraph.
Exercise B - Possible answer
There a number of ways students can improve their academic
writing skills.
(continued on the next page)
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TEACHER’S NOTES
ESL / EFL RESOURCES Introduction Paragraphs
Activity Type Procedure continued
Reading and writing Students then write a complete introduction paragraph by adding
activity general statements to a thesis statement.
Exercise C - Possible answer
Language Focus
Introduction paragraphs The study of English is a global phenomenon with people learning
the language to take advantage of the career and educational
opportunities it affords. For most people, learning English involves
Aim attending classes either after school or after work at a language-
training centre. There are other ways to learn the language such
To learn and practice as through self-study or hiring a private tutor.
how to write introduction
paragraphs that have a After that, students use prompts to write an introduction
background and thesis paragraph that begins with general statements and ends with a
statement, and show a thesis statement.
funnel type structure.
Exercise D - Possible answer
Preparation Australia is a large and diverse country that is a popular destination
Make one copy of the for emigrants. Most migrants to Australia tend to settle on the
two-page worksheet for east coast, but more should consider moving to Western Australia.
each student. The most attractive location to settle in Western Australia is the
Perth region, which is by far the most populous and economically
important city in the state. For those considering moving to Perth,
Level the Fremantle area has a number of advantages over other parts
of the city.
Intermediate (B1)
In the final exercise, students are given freer practice to write an
introduction paragraph on a specific topic without the guidance of
Time prompts.
75 minutes
Exercise E - Possible answer
In order to live a balanced life, people should not only focus on
their work and career, but also pay attention to how they spend
their free time. There are many leisure activities that people can
enjoy that will help them relax and destress. For many people,
sports are a popular way for people to unwind in their spare time,
and there are many types of sports to choose from. Team sports,
in particular, are very popular, and there are a number of benefits
to playing them.
Note: This is an editable PDF. To edit the document, select the Edit
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ESSAY WRITING
ESL / EFL RESOURCES Introduction Paragraphs
Introduction paragraphs in an essay have two basic parts, which are the background and the
thesis statement. The background introduces the topic and tries to attract the reader's interest.
The background consists of a number of general statements about the topic that gradually
become more specific and narrowed down to a particular focus. You can think of an introduction
paragraph as having a similar shape to a funnel in the way ideas relate to one another. The thesis
statement is always the last and most important sentence in an introduction, and it aims to
make the specific topic clear. The thesis statement also aims to express clearly what the writer
wants to say about the specific topic. It may in some cases list or summarise the subtopics.
In the example introduction paragraph in the box below, notice how the ideas start with a broad
focus and become progressively more specific.
Sentence 1 moves from popular music (broad) to rock music (specific).
Sentence 2 divides rock music (broad) into smaller categories such as punk rock (specific).
Sentences 3 and 4 move from heavy rock (broad) to a particular band, Led Zeppelin (specific).
It ends with a thesis statement that tells the reader that the essay is about Led Zeppelin (topic),
and it tells the reader that the writer wants to explain the band's importance (purpose/focus).
Popular music comes in many forms and styles and one of the most enduring is rock music.
Within this genre, there are many sub-categories such as psychedelic rock, punk rock,
and alternative rock. One of the most popular of these styles is hard rock, which is loud,
aggressive, and heavily guitar based. No other band better exemplifies the virtues of hard
rock than Led Zeppelin. There are a number of reasons why Led Zeppelin is arguably not only
the most important hard rock band of all time but the most important rock band.
A. Arrange the sentences below in the correct order so that they make an introduction
paragraph that shows a funnel type structure.
......... a. P
erhaps the most popular of these is Southeast Asia, which is home to beautiful
beaches, flavourful cuisines, and friendly locals.
......... b. T
he world is a fascinating mix of places, landscapes, peoples and cultures, which is
why tourism is a continuously growing industry.
......... c. O
ne of the most diverse and interesting parts of the world to travel is Asia, which
has a number of popular regions.
......... d. T
here are three main reasons why Thailand is the region’s most popular destination.
......... e. Within this region, one country stands out in popularity, and that is Thailand.
B. Complete the introduction paragraph below by adding a thesis statement. The
purpose of the essay is to offer advice.
Millions of students globally are studying English for academic purposes (EAP) with the aim of
pursuing a first degree in English. EAP courses are often organised according to the main skills,
which are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. However, of these, writing is perhaps the
most important as most assessments at university are writing based. Therefore, having good
writing skills is crucial to academic success.
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ESSAY WRITING
ESL / EFL RESOURCES Introduction Paragraphs
C. Add general statements to the thesis statement below to make a complete
introduction paragraph.
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However, in order to speak the language well, there are a number of reasons why living in an
English speaking country is the best approach.
D. Use the prompts below to write your own introduction paragraph that begins with
general statements and ends with a thesis statement. Use the introduction paragraph
in Exercise A as a guide.
your country > your province or state > your town or city > your district
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E. Now, write an introduction paragraph for an essay that aims to convince the reader
that your favourite hobby or leisure time activity is something they should try.
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