Introductory Paragraphs within the Persuasive Essay

When writers want to convince their readers of an opinion or point of view they can write a persuasive essay.

When writers introduce a persuasive essay they try to connect with their audience by telling a story, giving an example or citing a convincing fact.

Discuss this introduction. How is the author trying to connect with the audience?

An ancient Native American story says that in the old days all of the animals and people lived together in one family. One day, First Maker decided that human beings and animals should live separately. She had all of the humans stand on one side of a field and all of the animals on the other side. A big chasm began to form in the middle of the people and the animals. The earth began to tear in two. Suddenly all of the dogs leaped from the side where the animals were to the side where the humans were. On that day dogs became connected to people in a special way. This story illustrates my special feeling about dogs. I think that they make the best pets of any animal because they are loyal, affectionate and protective. In fact, a dog may treat you better than some people will. You might say a dog can be a person’s best friend.

Discuss this introduction. How is the author trying to connect with the audience?

Americans love sports. Last year the NBA generated over 3 billion dollars and the NFL generated more than 5 billion dollars. Basketball, football, baseball and NASCAR are the most popular sports in our country but my personal favorite is soccer. I think soccer is the best sport for four reasons. I prefer soccer because of its world-wide popularity, the cost of the equipment needed to play, the fact that people of all ages and abilities can play soccer and also because it is one of the healthiest sports to play.

Think about the introduction to your persuasive essay. How will you connect to your audience? Try a couple of different things. You can choose a fact or a quote or tell a story.

I’ll be coming around to confer with you about this and I will ask some of you to share at the end of the workshop.

When writers introduce a persuasive essay they state their opinion clearly. This is sometimes called the author’s thesis statement.

Look at the following introduction. What do you think the author’s opinion or thesis statement is?

An ancient Native American story says that in the old days all of the animals and people lived together in one family. One day, First Maker decided that human beings and animals should live separately. She had all of the humans stand on one side of a field and all of the animals on the other side. A big chasm began to form in the middle of the people and the animals. The earth began to tear in two. Suddenly all of the dogs leaped from the side where the animals were to the side where the humans were. On that day dogs became connected to people in a special way. This story illustrates my special feeling about dogs. I think that they make the best pets of any animal because they are loyal, affectionate and protective. In fact, a dog may treat you better than some people will. You might say a dog can be a person’s best friend.

Look at the following introduction. What do you think the author’s opinion or thesis statement is?

Americans love sports. Last year the NBA generated over 3 billion dollars and the NFL generated more than 5 billion dollars. Basketball, football, baseball and NASCAR are the most popular sports in our country but my personal favorite is soccer. I think soccer is the best sport for four reasons. I prefer soccer because of its world-wide popularity, the cost of the equipment needed to play, the fact that people of all ages and abilities can play soccer and also because it is one of the healthiest sports to play.

As you work on the introduction to your persuasive essay, make sure you have told your readers what your opinion or thesis statement is.

I’ll be coming around to talk with you about this and I will ask some of you to share at the end of the workshop.

When writing a persuasive essay, writers often foreshadow or list the arguments that they will be using.

Notice if the author does this in the following introductions.

An ancient Native American story says that in the old days all of the animals and people lived together in one family. One day, First Maker decided that human beings and animals should live separately. She had all of the humans stand on one side of a field and all of the animals on the other side. A big chasm began to form in the middle of the people and the animals. The earth began to tear in two. Suddenly all of the dogs leaped from the side where the animals were to the side where the humans were. On that day dogs became connected to people in a special way. This story illustrates my special feeling about dogs. I think that they make the best pets of any animal because they are loyal, affectionate and protective. In fact, a dog may treat you better than some people will. You might say a dog can be a person’s best friend.

Americans love sports. Last year the NBA generated over 3 billion dollars and the NFL generated more than 5 billion dollars. Basketball, football, baseball and NASCAR are the most popular sports in our country but my personal favorite is soccer. I think soccer is the best sport for four reasons. I prefer soccer because of its world-wide popularity, the cost of the equipment needed to play, the fact that people of all ages and abilities can play soccer and also because it is one of the healthiest sports to play.

As you continue working on your introduction, make sure that you are listing or foreshadowing the arguments that you will make in the body of your essay.

I’ll be coming around to talk with you about this and I will ask some of you to share at the end of the workshop.

Ann Arbor Public Schools Office of Curriculum and Instruction 2007