Writing

l Writing an introduction

An introduction is the first part of a text, which normally consists of one or more paragraphs. Its function is to get the readers prepared for the topic you are going to write about and then to put forward your main viewpoint. You don’t need to discuss anything in detail yet. In an introduction, you always:

ü Give a general description or explanation of the topic;

ü Identify your research questions and propose a thesis statement;

ü Outline the organization of the text.

  If the text is short, you may not need to outline the organization of it.

ü Writing a thesis statement

A thesis statement is a sentence which clarifies the writer’s general opinion about the topic under discussion. It is usually put in the introduction to capture the main idea of the whole text. A good thesis statement should follow these guidelines:

ü It should be an opinion rather than a fact that someone could disagree with.

ü It states the main idea of the essay in a complete sentence, not in a question.

ü It should be specific, because you are going to support and elaborate it in the rest of the essay.

ü Do not directly announce your main topic.