Introductions In an Argumentative Essay

What does a good introduction do?  Introduces the topic to the reader and gives some background – be specific. Do not say: I’m going to write about video game systems. Say: Video game systems have evolved a lot since their first conception.  States your claim and your reason. This will also be your thesis statement and should be the last sentence of your introduction Do not say : “ I think the Playstation is better then Xbox. Say: “ Playstation is better then Xbox because it is more reliable, has better graphics, and more features.”

What tense should your introduction be in?  All formal writing MUST be written in third person.  First person is referring to one’s self such as “ I”, “my”, “me”, or “mine”  Second person is referring directly to the reader “you”, “your”, or “you’re”  Third person uses someone’s actual name or can refer to any person such as “a person”, “a boy”, “a girl”, “one”, “a man”, “a woman”, “Ms. Fernandez”, etc…  If you are tempted to write in third person such as saying “You might think…” switch it to third person for example: “One might think”

Things Not To Do and Why  Do not ask questions in your introduction or anywhere in your paper. Bad introduction: “Have you ever wondered which game system is the best?” Your reader will not answer your questions, nor do you want them to question anything you say. Therefore, everything in the paper should come off as fact. Your reader shouldn’t go in with questions nor have any questions at the end of the paper. Avoid using questions anywhere in your paper, use statements instead. Better introduction: There has been much debate over which video game system is the best, but Playstation by far outperforms Xbox.  Do not refer to the essay it’s self Bad Introduction: “In this essay I will talk about why Playstation is better then Xbox.” Your reader already knows that he or she is reading an essay and they don’t need you to tell them that. It just sounds like meaningless filler. Better introduction: “ In the world of video game systems Playstation is clearly better then Xbox.”

Things not to do…  Do not ever use the phrases “ I think”, “I feel”, or “In my opinion” Why? This essay isn’t about “you”, it isn’t about the reader, it’s about Playstation and Xbox. Saying “I think” means you’re not telling me the facts you are just telling me your thoughts. The point of an argumentative essay is to state your point of view as though it was a fact. Your reader is suppose to come out after reading your essay thinking that your side is the only logical one. Not because of your feelings towards the subject, but because the facts which you displayed point to only that one rational conclusion that your side is the right one.  Do not use a quote in your introduction unless the entire essay is going to focus around that quote. Save your quotes for your body paragraphs. Why? Starting with a quote will confuse your reader into thinking that the whole essay is about the quote. The introduction is a brief summary or preview of what your reader will expect to see in your essay and should always be in your own words.

Example of Good Introduction  Video game systems have evolved a lot since their first conception. While there are many different video game systems out there, both Playstation and Xbox have many of the same games. Both of them make their product appeal to the age groups between 10 to 25 year olds making them stiff competitors in the video game industry. When one needs to make a choice between which of these two game systems to buy there are several factors to consider in order to ensure that they will the best value for their money. However, Playstation is better then Xbox because it is more reliable, has better graphics, and comes with more features.