This PowerPoint focuses on how to construct introductory paragraph, and then how to make thesis statement more meaningful.

1. MAKING A POINT

2. DISCUSSION #1 (READ STEPS FOR WRITERS)
1. What is the main function of first paragraph
(introduction) in one essay?
2. Is it reasonable to begin with thesis statement in first
sentence?
3. What is Three-Step Design? And what is the function
of each step?
4. How many lead-in types can you choose to start
with your essay and capture your readers’
attention?

3. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Introduction is an important part of an essay. A good introduction can
arouse readers’ interests, attention, or tension in your essay from the start,
which will make them want to continue reading and keep curious. The
introduction is the first part of your essay that your audience will read, and
it's important to make a good first impression.
There are three main purposes that introduction deal with:
to spark the interest of readers (lead-in)
to move readers toward the thesis statement (tie-in)
to present the thesis statement of the essay (thesis statement)

4. How would you feel if you knew, at this moment, that some
criminal is writing your name, address, and Social Security
number on credit card applications and plans to charge
thousands of dollars worth of merchandise on those credit
cards? More importantly, how do you know that this is not
happening?(Lead-in) Millions of people have become victims
of identity theft, and they often find out only after thousands
of dollars have been stolen using their names.(tie-in) Identity
theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent
victims, and the government must implement better
regulations to help put an end to this crime.(thesis statement)
Structure of Introductory Paragraph
(Lead-in, tie-in, thesis statement.)

5. PRACTICE
IDENTIFY LEAD-IN APPROACHES
• There are five main Lead-in types:
• A question
• A quotation
• A short , thought-provoking statement
• A surprising fact or statistics
• A problem
Directions: Each of the introduction samples below presents the same thesis
statement: “Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent
victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an
end to this crime.” Please identify what the lead-in type of each introduction
sample is, and identify tie-in.

6. SAMPLE 1
• In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago claims that he "who steals my
purse steals trash / . . . But he that filches from me my good
name / Robs me of that which not enriches him, / And
makes me poor indeed" (3.3.157-161). Today, identity theft is
a new way that thieves steal both the "purses" and the
good names of innocent victims, and these thieves are
enriching themselves at the expense of their victims. Identity
theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent
victims, and the government must implement better
regulations to help put an end to this crime.

7. SAMPLE 2
• Identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in the United
States. In 2004, over nine million Americans, or
approximately one person in 24, became victims of identity
fraud or identity theft, at a cost to the economy of 52.6
billion dollars ("2005 Identity Fraud Survey Report"). Because
many cases of identity fraud and identity theft may go
unreported, the numbers could be even higher. Identity
theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent
victims, and the government must implement better
regulations to help put an end to this crime.

8. SAMPLE 3
• Joe Stevens was finally ready to purchase a home. He spent years
putting money into a savings account, paid off his credit cards,
and diligently paid every bill on time. Confident of his good credit
rating, Joe visited the bank to inquire about a mortgage, but he
discovered startling information: Joe defaulted on a home loan,
had $40,000 in credit card debt, and had a car repossessed for
lack of payment. Joe Stevens, like many Americans, is a victim of
identity theft. Instead of preparing to move into a new home, Joe
began the long journey to restore his good name and to reclaim
his identity. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of
innocent victims, and the government must implement better
regulations to help put an end to this crime.

9. SAMPLE 4
• How would you feel if you knew, at this moment, that some
criminal is writing your name, address, and Social Security
number on credit card applications and plans to charge
thousands of dollars worth of merchandise on those credit
cards? More importantly, how do you know that this is not
happening? Millions of people have become victims of
identity theft, and they often find out only after thousands of
dollars have been stolen using their names. Identity theft is a
serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and
the government must implement better regulations to help put
an end to this crime.

10. KEYS
• Sample one is quotation lead-in type.
• Sample two is surprising fact/statistics lead-in type.
• Sample three is short, thought-provoking statement
lead-in type.
• Sample four is question lead-in type.

11. 1. WEAK VS STRONG THESIS STATEMENTS
Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.

12. THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD BE SPECIFIC AND FOCUSED.
• Explanation: The first thesis statement is too general and would be nearly
impossible for you to defend. It leaves a lot of big questions to answer. Is all fast
food bad? Why is it bad? Who should avoid it? Why should anyone care?
• How about this:
Americans should reduce the regular consumption of
fast food because the fast food diet leads to
preventable and expensive health issues, such as
diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

13. 2. WEAK VS STRONG THESIS STATEMENT
•Secondhand smoke is bad and can cause
heart disease and cancer; therefore, smoking
should be outlawed in public places, but
outlawing smoking is unfair to smokers so
maybe non-smokers can just hold their breath
or wear masks around smokers instead.

14. THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD PICK ONE SIDE
• Explanation: The second thesis statement will make readers confused. Whether
does the author support smoking law or reject it? The author did not clarify it.
• How about this:
Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking and
leads to a higher prevalence of cancer and heart
disease. What’s worse, people who inhale secondhand
smoke are doing so without consent. For this reason,
smoking in any public place should be banned.

15. 3. WEAK VS STRONG THESIS STATEMENT
There are high numbers of homeless people living in
Berkeley, California.

16. THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD BE DEBATABLE.
• Explanation: The third thesis statement is a fact. It cannot give the rest of
essay any guideline, and it cannot convey what the main idea is in this essay.
How about this:
Homeless people in Berkeley should be given access to
services, such as regular food donations, public restrooms,
and camping facilities, because it would improve life for all
inhabitants of the city.

17. SUMMARY OF THESIS STATEMENT
• Thesis statement is one or two complete sentences
that express your main position on a given topic.
• Strong thesis statement should be specific, focused,
debatable, and take a position.
Practice:
Finish steps for Writers page.23 Intermediate Exercise: Thesis Statement