Introductory paragraph

The introductory paragraphs are those that give an overview of what will be explained in the rest of the text. That is, they refer to the central theme, the position of the writer, and the arguments that will be used. Introductory paragraph types and examples

The goal of these paragraphs is to give the reader a good idea of ​​what the text is about. It is the first meeting between the writer and the reader, so it can be love at first sight or total rejection.

Herein lies their importance: they are the opportunity to hook the reader to continue reading.

Structure of the introductory paragraph

Although it depends a bit on the type of text in which it is to be applied, the introductory paragraph usually has a general structure:

– Approach or organizing phrase: introductory phrase that we have on the subject to be discussed.

– First element exposition: exposition of a first concept that breaks with the statement of the introductory sentence. It can be for, against or neutral.

– Second element exposition: exposition of a second concept that collides with the first element described above.

– Exposure other elements: more elements such as the first or second can be captured. All serve to create a conceptual map of the subject to be discussed.

– Development: the order in which the text will be developed is exposed.

– Closure: is optional. You can capture a short reflection without anticipating the purpose or conclusions of the topic.

Main types of introductory paragraphs

1- Academic essay

Academic papers have formats. These are established to create parameters within which to evaluate the performance of individuals.

Academic introductions must specify what the subject is, but not reveal the arguments, but refer to them in a general way.

Example

“All fields of study are related in one way or another to the search for truth and, as they develop, each successive phase of growth contains knowledge and clear perceptions, elements that over time can be considered as more or less confusing, contradictory and even incorrect. However, each generation of scholars relies on the efforts of their predecessors. “

First paragraph of Essay on the current situation of comparative education: a western point of view  (1979) by Max A. Eckstein.

2- Academic article

Academic essays are distinguished from academic articles because the former are investigative in nature, while the articles deal with current circumstances.

Introductory paragraphs in scholarly articles should give the context surrounding the topic to be covered.

Example

“The analysis of health problems with the so-called
social and economic determinants approach is a central issue on the agenda of the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministries of Health of several countries. It is also a frame of
reference for research in different areas of public health and epidemiology. “

Initial paragraph of the article Social determinants of health: beyond risk factors  (2009) by Luz Stella Álvarez Castaño Introductory paragraph types and examples

3- Journalistic note

Newspaper notes are short texts about a specific and current situation. Therefore, these should explain the social or political circumstances surrounding the event.

Example

“The president of the National Human Rights Commission, Raúl Plascencia Villanueva, said that on average 4 out of 10 children in each state of the country suffer from school abuse. He warned that it is necessary to join efforts and design new strategies in order to prevent and eradicate the phenomenon of school bullying , called bullying, a word derived from the Dutch language. “

Note About bullying  (2013).

4- News article

The articles are longer and follow events that unfold over the long term. In these cases, the introductory paragraphs should be a summary of everything that the news describes. These facts are then explained in detail in the development of the article.

Example

“The artisan method of making Panama hats has been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco, as announced today by the intergovernmental committee of this body on the South Korean island of Jeju.”

Extracted from the article Unesco recognizes Panama hats as intangible heritage  (2017).

5-  Literary narration

In literature, the first paragraph is of paramount importance for the writer. In this area, capturing the reader’s attention is vital.

These should give a preview of the events that will follow, as well as clues regarding what has happened previously that may be important. At the same time, it is necessary to introduce the main characters. Introductory paragraph types and examples

Example

“I sing oh Muse! of Achilles, son of Peleus, the fatal anger that caused infinite evils to the Greeks; who hurled the brave souls of many heroes to hell, and made them serve as pasture for dogs and all birds of prey – thus the will of Jupiter was fulfilled – since, for the first time, he separated a dispute to the son of Atreus , chief of the Greeks and the divine Achilles. “

First paragraph  of Homer’s Iliad . Translation of Laura Mestre Hevia

6- Article encyclopedic

As for encyclopedic articles, they should have introductions that state the basics of the concept, so that there is at least a superficial understanding of the topic.

Example

“Latin America or Latin America is an ethnic-geographic concept that appeared in the 19th century to identify a region of the American continent with a majority speaking of languages ​​derived from Latin (mainly Spanish or Portuguese and to a lesser extent French).”

Article on Latin America (2017).

7- Introductory paragraph of theoretical framework

The introduction to the theoretical framework will present a small idea about the most important concepts that will be treated in it.

Example

Healthy eating is based on the consumption of fruits and vegetables, being the most important contribution in the human food pyramid. The majority of nutrition experts have reached this agreement, valuing the vitamin or antioxidant properties that vegetables provide to humans.

What has not reached the consensus among nutritionists is the adequate amount to consume fruits and vegetables each day. The famous message “have five pieces of fruits and vegetables” is more in doubt than ever. Introductory paragraph types and examples