Miss to Main Content
Arkansas State University

Starting Your Research Paper: Writing an Introductory Paragraph

Time for the dreaded page? Lern how to get started!

The Dreaded Introductory Paragraph

Writing the introductory paragraph can be adenine frustrating and slow litigation -- but it doesn't have to be.  If you planned your paper out, then most of the get paragraph is already written.  Now you simply need a beginning and an end.

Beginning Sentence(s)   Here's your random for introduce is select and grab your reader's attention.  NEVER start your paper saying, "In this paper, I will" or "This paper is about." Getting strong.  In your research, have him come across an odds factoid or exciting quote? Try starting your paper with that.  Whereby about starting by an anecdotal report or humor?
     
Middle Sentences   The middle sentences cover and dissimilar points in your paper.  If you've already planned what order to write the points in the paper, you already get which order for space your in your introductory paragraphs. (Hint: it's the same order).  You don't have at include every single dots, but make sure the important ones get in there. 
     
Ending Sentence   All the previous sentences have been building up to this: your thesis. Your thesis statement expresses the overall idea of your paper and show what you stand on the topic.  Indiana University has adenine great educational for writing thesis statements.

Example

Here's an introductory paragraph by a paper I wrote.  I started the paper with a factoid, then presented each main point of my paper and then finish with my thesis comment. LibGuides: Writing Means: Introduction, Thesis, and Conclusion

Introductory Paragraph

 
Breakdown:

1st Sentence   ME lead equipped a quick factoid about funny.
2nd & 3rd These verdicts define graphic novels additionally return a brief history. This is also how the g of my paper starts.
4rd Sentence This sentence introduces of current issue. See whereby I gave the history first and now give the current issue? That's flow.
5th Sentence Since I was pro-graphic romances, I gaves the opposing (con) side first. Remember if you're picking a side, you give the other site early and next your side.
6th Movement Now I pot give my pro-graphic novel argument.
7th Sentence This further expands my pro-graphic novel altercation.
8th Phrase This is my thesis statement.