The body consists of one or more paragraphs.

Each body paragraph develops a

subdivision or subtopic of the topic, so the number of paragraphs in the body will
vary with the number of subtopics. The conclusion, like the concluding sentence in a
paragraph, is a summary or review of the main points discussed in the body. However,
although every essay needs a concluding paragraph, a concluding sentence is often
not necessary for each body paragraph, especially when the ideas in consecutive
paragraphs are closely related.

An essay has unity and coherence, just as a paragraph does. Transition signals and the
repetition of key nouns help link the paragraphs and make the essay more coherent.

THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

The general statements and the thesis statement in an introductory paragraph each
play a specific role in the essay.
General statements
• introduce the general topic of the essay;
• capture the reader's interest.
The thesis statement
• states the specific topic;
• may list subtopics of the main topic;
• may indicate the pattern of organization of the essay;
• may indicate the writer's position or point of view;
• is usually the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.
Notice how the general statements in the introductory paragraph of the writing model
(see below) introduce the topic. The first sentence is about the "tough" middle school
years. The next two sentences point out that there are large differences between boys
and girls of middle school age, and that these can cause a problem. The next sentence
explains how the issue of single-sex classes has been changing. We don't, however,
read about the author's position on the specific topic of single-sex classes until the
introduction's final sentence. The final sentence is the essay's thesis statement.

The middle school years (grades 6, 7, and 8) are known to be the "tough years."
These are the years when the different rates of girls' and boys' physical, emotional,
and cognitive development are most noticeable. Girls develop ahead of boys in every
area, and both suffer. Educators debate whether separating boys and girls into single-
sex classes might improve students' academic performance. Single-sex classes were
against the law in public schools until several years ago, but now they have become
more common (Bonner and Hollingsworth). Although some parents, educators, and
civil liberties groups continue to oppose single-sex classes, there is some evidence
that separating boys and girls in middle school produces positive results.

The thesis statement in the model is specific: It explains the author's point of view
about single-sex education (in favor of separating boys and girls in middle school) and
the reasoning that will be explored in the essay (positive results).
There are several different styles of introductory paragraphs. In this chapter, you'll learn
about two of them: the funnel introduction and the attention-getting introduction.

From Paragraph to Essay 79

 Funnel Introduction
A funnel introduction is so called because it is shaped like a funnel-wide at the top
and narrow at the bottom. It begins with one or two very general sentences about
the topic. Each subsequent sentence becomes increasingly focused on the topic until
the last sentence, which states very specifically what the essay will be about. Writing
a funnel introduction is like focusing a camera with a telephoto lens. You start with
a wide picture and gradually narrow the focus so that just one object appears in
the camera's viewfinder: your thesis statement. The writing model has a funnel
introduction.

+-- General
Statements

- - - - Thesis
Statement

Attention-Getting Introduction
Another kind of introduction is one that captures your reader's attention. Three of the
most common attention-getting techniques are telling a dramatic or funny story, using
surprising facts or statistics, and offering historical background.

PRACTICE2 Recognizing Introductory Techniques

Work with a partner. Underline the thesis statement in each introductory

paragraph. Then decide what kind of introduction each one is, funnel or
attention-getting (dramatic story, surprising fact, or historical). Discuss which
introduction captures the reader's interest the best and give reasons.

INTRODUCTORY p ARAGRAPH 1 historical background

One day, a few miles off the southern coast of Iceland, the crew
of a fishing boat noticed smoke on the horizon. Thinking that another
fishing boat was on fire, they went to investigate. When they got closer,
they discovered that the smoke was not from a boat on fire; rather, it was
from an undersea volcano about to erupt. The next day, ash, cinders, and
pumice were blown 1,000 feet into the air. The fishermen had witnessed
a rare event-the violent birth of an island. The volcano continued to
erupt for about four years, eventually creating an island about 1 square
mile in area and 560 feet in height. The birth of Surtsey, as the island is
named, offered scientists an extraordinary opportunity to learn how life
takes hold on a sterile landmass.

80 CHAPTER4
INTRODUCTORY p ARAGRAPH 2 fuunel
Moving to a new country can be an exciting, even exhilarating
experience. In a new environment, you somehow feel more alive. Seeing
new sights, eating new food, hearing the foreign sounds of a new
language, and feeling a different climate against your skin stimulate
your senses as never b efore. Soon, however, this sensory bombardment
becomes sensory overload. Suddenly, new experiences seem stressful
rather than stimulating, and delight turns into discomfort. This is the
phenomenon known as culture shock Culture shock is more than jet
lag or homesickness, and it affects nearly everyone w ho enters a new
culture-tourists, business travelers, diplomats, and students alike.
Although not everyone experiences culture shock in exactly the same
way, many experts agree that it h as roughly five stages.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH 3 historical

The Pilgrims who arrived in Massachusetts in 1620 came to find

religious freedom. In the 17th and 18th centuries, large n umbers of
African men and women were brought as slaves to work on large
plantations in the South. Immigrants from northern and southern
Europe came in the early 19th century to escape poor economic
conditions at home. Later in the 19th century, the first immigrants from
China came as contract laborers to build the railroads connecting East
and West. In the 20th century, political and economic refugees arrived
from Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Indeed, the United States
has seen immigrants come from many different parts of the world, and
they have come for many different reasons. Their ability to adjust to life
in their adopted land has depended on several factors.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH 4

Got high blood pressure? Try a truffle. Worried about heart disease?
Buy a bon-bon. It's the best news in years! Studies in two prestigious
scientific journals say dark chocolate is good for you. It seems that
eating a small piece of dark chocolate regularly can reduce the risk of
heart disease becau se dark chocolate-but not milk chocolate or white
chocolate-contains high amounts of flavenoids, powerful cholesterol-
fighting compounds. What is the next health food going to be? Ice
cream? Sugar cookies? There are so m any conflicting news stories about
which foods are good for you that it is often difficult to make the right
choices at the supermarket.

Source: Paragraph 2 adapted from Hadley, Ryan. "Mr. Wygard' s Story."

From Paragraph to Essay 81

 PRACTICE 3 Constructing Introductory Paragraphs

The sentences in each group are in the wrong order. On a separate sheet
of paper, write the sentences in the correct order to form an introductory
paragraph. Write the thesis statement last. Identify the type of introduction:
funnel or attention-getting.

GROUP 1
1. If done properly, a handshake gives the impression of strength and honesty, and if
done improperly, it conveys weakness and dishonesty.
2. In some cultures, people bow, and in others, they shake hands.
3. In English-speaking countries, shaking hands is the custom.
4. A proper handshake has four ingredients: pressure, pumps1, eye contact, and
verbal message.
5. The way people greet each other when they meet for the first time varies from
culture to culture.
6. How one shakes hands sends an important message about one's character.

Type of introduction: _ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _

GROUP 2
1. To celebrate the occasion, Mr. X decided to throw a big party at the plant.
2. Mr. X went from his native land to a new country to manage a milk
pasteurization p lant.
3. Then one day an impressive new pasteurization unit arrived and was installed.
4. The employees did most of the planning and draped the new unit with garlands.
5. During the party one of Mr. X's supervisors took him aside and said, "Now we see
what a good man you are; from now on I am sure everyone w ill really try to do
their best for you."
6. And so it was-neither punctuality nor quality checks were any longer needed.
7. This story illustrates the need to understand that doing business in a different
culture demands an understanding of the culture.
8. The party was a great success, and everybody had a good time.
9. For eight months, he tried every way possible to convince his workers of the
importance of punctuality and of checking every detail of their work.
10. The response was always, "Yes, yes, we w ill do our best," but nothing
ever changed.
Type of introduction: _ __ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ __

1
pumps: movements up and down

82 CHAPTER4
 GROUP3

Note: The order of sentences 2, 3, and 4 can var:y.

1. Currently under study are four main methods for predicting when and where the
next Big One will occur.
2. In 1976, an earthquake in Tangshan, China, killed over 250,000 people.
3. In an average year, earthquakes kill 10,000 people worldwide and cause millions
of dollars worth of property damage.
4. Iran suffered more than 80,000 deaths in two massive quakes in 1990 and 2003.
5. Scientists keep trying to find ways to predict earthquakes-so far without
much success.

Type of i n t r o d u c t i o n : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the most important sentence in the introduction. It states the
specific topic of the essay and often gives the writer's point of view.
Although some parents and educators oppose same-sex classes, there is some
evidence that separating boys and girls in middle school yields positive results.

Young people in my culture have less freedom than young people in the United States.

The large movement of people from rural to urban areas has major effects on cities.

Sometimes a thesis statement lists the subtopics that will be discussed in the body.
Although some parents and educators oppose same-sex classes, there is
some evidence that separating boys and girls in middle school yields positive
results, particularly in improved learner self-confidence and decreased
classroom discrimination.

Young people in my culture have less freedom than young people in the
United States in their choice of where they live, whom they marry, and
what their job is.

PRACTICE 4 Analyzing Thesis Statements

Read each thesis statement. Draw a box around the topic. Underline the
subtopics. Circle the words or punctuation marks that introduce the subtopics.

1. apital punishment should be abolished ot onli because it deprives another

person of life~ because it does not stop crime.

2. Women generally live longer than men for two main reasons: They tend to take

better care of their health, and they have better resistance to stress.

3. Teenagers d eclare their separateness from their parents by the way they dress
and talk.
(continued on next page)

From Paragraph to Essay 83

 4. In choosing a major, a student has to consider various factors, such as personal

interests, job opportunities, and the availability of training institutions.

5. An architect should be both an artist and an engineer.

6. A healthy lifestyle involves eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and

getting enough sleep.

PRACTICES Adding Subtopics

Complete the thesis statements by adding subtopics.

1. A computer is necessary for college students for three reasons:

2. Students have a difficult time taking notes in class due to

3. Successful politicians have the following qualities:

4. A generation gap1 exists in my home because of

5. To survive a major disaster such as an earthquake requires

6. My two sisters are as different as day and night not only in

but also in ___________________ ________ __

1
generation gap: differences in attitudes and values between generations, esp ecially
between parents and children

84 CHAPTER4
 7. Living in a large city has certain advantages over living in a small town:

8. Latino culture has enriched North American culture in several areas:

Thesis Statement Pitfalls

Because the thesis statement is so important, it must be written with special thought
and care. Avoid these three common problems: The thesis is too general; the thesis
makes a simple announcement; the thesis states an obvious fact.

Problem 1: The thesis is too general.

Too GENERAL A college education is a good investment.

IMPROVED A college education is a good investment for four reasons.

Too GENERAL Lasers are very useful.

IMPROVED Lasers have several applications in industry and medicine.

Problem 2: The thesis makes a simple announcement.

ANNOUNCEMENT I am going to write about sports injuries.

1MPRoveD You can avoid sports injuries by taking a few simple precautions.

Problem 3: The thesis states an obvious fact.

osv1ous FACT The Internet is a communication superhighway.

IMPROVED The growth of the Internet has had both positive and negative consequences.

From Paragraph to Essay 85