2.

3 ESSAY INTRODUCTIONS

2.3.1 The introduction of an essay has two main components:

i) Several general statements
• Are sentences that introduce the topic of the essay.
• Give background information on the topic.
• Present facts. In other words, they are not opinions, ideas or concepts, or beliefs. A fact is a
statement that is known to be true, or which is based on generally accepted evidence.
• Become progressively less general as you read from the first to the last general statement.
• At least two, and at most three, of these sentences are needed for a 250 to 350 word essay.
ii) A thesis statement
• Is the last sentence of the introduction.
• Can be divided into two parts: a specific topic, and the controlling idea for the whole essay.
• The controlling idea for the essay is given a special name: the thesis (sometimes, the
proposition). The thesis is an opinion, an idea or concept, or a belief, which people (in this
case, the reader of your essay) can consider and argue about. Unlike a fact, the opinion, idea
or concept, or belief, may or may not be true.
• May also state the subtopics or the method of organisation of the essay.
• Each of the topic sentences in the body paragraphs should relate to the thesis statement.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ More general ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯→

Two or three general
statements

One
thesis statement

⎯→ More specific ⎯
ACTIVITY 2: Introductions

The dog is generally considered the first domesticated animal. The domesticated dog
has lived with human beings as a working partner and household pet in all eras and
cultures since the time people lived in caves. It is generally believed that the direct
ancestor of the domestic dog is the wolf, originally found throughout Europe, Asia
and North America. Archaeologists have found remains of dogs that are 10,000 years
old. In these ancient societies, as well as in our modern one, there are three main
relationships that dogs have with people.

1. Which is the thesis statement?

2. Which are the general statements?
3. Does the thesis statement relate to the general statements?
4. Do the general statements become progressively more specific?

Note these points about a thesis statement:

a) The thesis should express an opinion, an idea or concept, or a belief. The thesis should be
something that you can argue about. However, it should not be a plain fact. A fact does not need
any support, and therefore you cannot write an essay about it.
b) The thesis statement should be a complete sentence. This means it must have a subject and a
verb with a tense.
c) The thesis statement must be a statement, not a question.
d) The thesis statement must state the controlling idea. This means that you must state your position
on the topic; you cannot simply announce the topic of your essay.
e) The thesis statement should have only one controlling idea.
f) The thesis statement should not be a detail or an example.
g) The thesis statement may state or list how it will support the opinion, idea or concept, or belief.

ACTIVITY 3: Thesis statements

Read the following sentences. Nine are thesis statements, while the rest are not. Tick ( ) the
thesis statements.

___ 1. This essay is about air pollution.

___ 2. Television has a bad influence on children for three main reasons.

___ 3. Public transport in London is too expensive, and it is slower than the transport in Tokyo.

___ 4. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.

___ 5. I agree with this statement.

___ 6. Recent methods of reducing air pollution are showing some positive results.

___ 7. City living hazardous to your health.

___ 8. I strongly disagree with this view for the following reasons.

___ 9. The choice of food we eat during our New Year’s festival in India is influenced by tradition and
religion.
___ 10. Public transport in London is too expensive.

___ 11. Are dogs good companions?

___ 12. The water in our homes may contain harmful chemicals.

___ 13. People have always been superstitious about cats.

___ 14. In certain parts of Asia, people believed they became cats when they died.

___ 15. There are many superstitions that are similar in several countries around the world.

___ 16. It is believed that our health and physical condition have an effect on our dreams.

___ 17. It is said that to knock over the salt on a table is to meet trouble.

___ 18. Throughout history, the luck of odd numbers has been a matter of superstitious belief.

___ 19. Dreams of field, sea, country, and difficult roads and journeys are believed to be a sign of heart
trouble.

2.3.3 In the following introductions, the sentences are in the wrong order. Identify the most general statement
first, then the next-most general, and so on. Finally, identify the thesis statement. Write the correct order in the
box.

a) 1. Therefore, anyone who wants to drive must carry a driver's licence.

2. It is divided into four steps: studying the traffic laws, taking the written test,
learning to drive, and taking the driving test.
3. Getting a driver's licence is a complicated process.
4. Driving a car is a necessity in today's busy society, and it is also a special
privilege.

b) 1. Therefore, workaholics’ lives can affect their families, social lives, and health.
2. Because they work so many hours, workaholics may not spend enough time in
leisure activities.
3. Nowadays, many men and women work in law, accounting, real estate and
business.
4. These people are serious about becoming successful; they work long hours
during the week and even on weekends, so they are called "workaholics".

c) 1. While such scientific achievements may ultimately benefit mankind, they have also
created complex legal and ethical issues.
2. Exact duplicates of animals can be made.
3. Recent advances in the fields of medicine and biotechnology have brought about
situations that could scarcely be imagined only a generation ago.
4. People can be kept alive indefinitely by machines.
5. Battery-operated plastic hearts can be implanted into people.

ACTIVITY 4: Introductions

Read the three introductions to the IELTS Task 2 essay below. Decide which you like best, and why.

If countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private cars
very heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel. To what
extent do you agree with this view?

INTRODUCTION 1
Motorcars were invented at the end of the last century and have developed greatly
over the last 100 years. In many countries families have two cars and sometimes
even three. As there are so many cars on the road there are often traffic jams on
major roads. It can take many hours to complete a short journey at peak times in
some major cities. Many attempts have been made to solve the problems of bad
traffic. These include limiting the times cars are allowed to drive in certain areas
and making cars carry a certain number of passengers. These schemes have met
with varying degrees of success.

INTRODUCTION 2
Many people say that if countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they
should tax private cars very heavily and use the money to provide free rail travel.

INTRODUCTION 3
Many nations are facing massive traffic congestion in their cities. This both
makes travel difficult and causes environmental damage. In order to solve this
problem it is necessary to establish alternative transport systems such as
railways. In my opinion the best way to finance the development of public
transport is to tax car drivers.

2.3.4 Write an introduction for an essay on the following topic. Use the answer sheet your teacher will give
you.
Name an important occasion or festival in your country. Describe how people prepare for it.
Do not write the whole essay.
Only write one or two general statements, and only one thesis statement.
Make sure your thesis statement relates to the essay task given above.
See EXAMPLE 1 for a sample introduction.

EXAMPLE 1: Model introduction

For many centuries Thais have held an important festival called

Songkran. The festivities, which run for three days in April every
year, celebrate the Thai New Year, which starts on 15 April. There
are many things that people do to prepare for the festival.
ACTIVITY 5: Essay structure

Read the following essay. Then complete the essay outline below.
MAN’S BEST FRIEND
1. The dog is generally considered the first domesticated animal. The domesticated dog has lived with
human beings as a working partner and household pet in all eras and cultures since the time people lived in
caves. It is generally believed that the direct ancestor of the domestic dog is the wolf, originally found
throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Archaeologists have found remains of dogs that are 10,000
years old. In these ancient societies, as well as in our modern one, there are three main relationships that
dogs have with people.
2. First, we have the working dogs. These dogs, such as Siberian huskies and collies, serve people almost like
employees. The dogs help pull heavy loads, round up cattle, and keep a sharp eye out for strangers. To a
sheep farmer, for example, a good sheepdog is his most valuable partner. Sheepdogs, such as border collies,
standard collies and Shetland sheepdogs, are very intelligent and can learn to respond to hand signals as well
as spoken words. Sheepdogs in Scotland, for instance, move sheep along with barely a glance from the
shepherd. As a result, working dogs know their worth to their master, and they are proud of it.
3. Other dogs are known primarily for their excellence in sports. The sleek and supremely fast greyhound is
used in dog races. These races take place on specially prepared tracks where the competitors chase a
mechanical rabbit. People gamble on these athletes’ performance. Bird dogs are a type of hunting dog. Setters
and pointers, for example, recognise a bird’s scent long before it makes a sound and show their owner where
the bird is by standing rock still. Retrievers, such as golden retrievers or Labrador retrievers, will throw
themselves into an icy cold lake to pick up the bird their owner has shot. These special hunting dogs often
compete in hunting trials. Clearly, sporting dogs are the athletes of the dog world.
4. Third, many people enjoy a dog as a companion. All kinds of dogs can be excellent companions. Both the
working dogs and the hunting dogs have great patience and are very good with small children. Most of these
dogs will allow children to climb all over them and are great baby-sitters because of their loyalty to their
owner and their family. A few breeds are kept only for the purpose of being a companion. Some of these are
the toy dogs, such as a Chihuahua or a Lhasa apso. Since these dogs are so tiny, they are great to have if you
live in a small apartment. In short, all dogs, including the toy dogs, are wonderful companions.
5. Although there are a great many breeds of dogs, they can be classified into these three main types by
their relationships to their owners. Even if you have no interest in sports and no farm to run, you can have a
great companion in a dog. Because of the relationships they have with people, dogs are often called “man’s
best friend.”

THESIS STATEMENT _________________________________________________

First body paragraph
Topic sentence . First, we - - - dogs .

Major support 1 . These dogs - - - employees .

Major support 2 _________________________________________________

Concluding sentence _________________________________________________
Second body paragraph
Topic sentence _________________________________________________
Major support 1 _________________________________________________
Major support 2 _________________________________________________
Concluding sentence _________________________________________________
Third body paragraph
Topic sentence _________________________________________________
Major support 1 _________________________________________________
Major support 2 _________________________________________________
Concluding sentence _________________________________________________
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
Concluding sentence _________________________________________________