The Introductory Paragraph

The HookThe Topic

The Thesis

This sentence or sentences is at the very beginning of the introductory paragraph. It’s job is to grab the reader’s attention.

◦ There are different types of hooks…

Definition – ◦ A short, interesting or amusing story. It must be

very quick and to the point, only a few sentences long.

Example – ◦ Sally is a home school student who got to do the

best activities to study science. She went to the Space and Air Museum, built a rocket and interviewed a pilot. She loves to be in home school.

(the essay prompt is “Why is home school a good choice for your education?”)

Definition – ◦ A quick exchange between two people.

Example –◦ “Where do you go to school?” a boy asked his

friend. “I am in home school and it is awesome!” replied the boy’s friend.

Definition –◦ Interesting information that supports your opinion

in the essay. Be sure that it is accurate!

Example-◦ There were 1.1 million homeschool students in

the US in 2003 according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Definition◦ A phrase said by someone else (usually a famous

person or an expert) in support of your position.

Example – ◦ George Santayana, a philosopher, and poet said,

“A child educated only at school is an uneducated child.”

Definition –◦ A statement that is overstated for effect.

Example –◦ Homeschool is by far the best schooling option for

everyone. If you are not in homeschool you will not learn anything!

Example –◦ Have you ever wanted to be in charge of your

own education?

The hook must relate to the essay topic The hook should lead into the topic

statement smoothly ◦ For example – In the fact or statistic example the

fact leads directly to the sentence where you tell what your essay is about:

◦ There were 1.1 million homeschool students in the US in 2003 according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Homeschooling is something that many students are choosing to do to better their education.

After the hook write about the topic of your essay – what are you going to be writing about?

Definition – ◦ A thesis statement tells what your position on the

topic is. Example –

◦ Homeschooling is the best choice for your child’s education.

After your thesis statement write your rainbow sentence. In the persuasive essay these will be the three reasons that support your thesis.

Example –◦ In a homeschool environment students learn at

their own pace, can learn about interesting topics, and can go to many different places to learn.

Sentence 1: Hook (either an anecdote, conversation, fact, statistic, quotation, exaggerated information, question)

Sentence 2: Topic Sentence (tell what the topic is)

Sentence 3: Thesis Statement (tell your position on the topic)

Sentence 4: Rainbow Sentence (reasons that support your thesis)

Sentence 5: Transition Sentence (leads to your body paragraph)