HOW TO BEGIN AND END AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Ranjit Singh
HRD Corp Accredited Trainer | Trainer, Tutor and Writer @ LOGOS English Services | Expert in Teaching English Using The Structural Approach | Promotes Proficiency in English Among Non-Native Speakers
Writing entails a lot of thinking on the part of the writer.
A writer must also be a thinker. In fact, thinking is the most valuable skill that a writer must possess.
For instance, when a writer begins his introductory paragraph, he must attract the attention of the reader at the outset. Once the reader is hooked to the introductory paragraph of the article, the reader will naturally continue reading all that is written in the article. It is at this stage that the writer has complete "control" over the reader's mind. Therefore, the introductory paragraph plays a vital role in the success of an article or an essay.
The first sentence of the introductory paragraph must contain the topic sentence that will state the topic to be expected in the whole article. Naturally, the reader will know what the topic of the whole article is about. The reader must not be kept guessing what the writer is trying to say in his article. Most writers don't know this golden rule.
The middle sentences of the paragraph follow the topic sentence. They may be three or four sentences. They will state the details of the topic and what the reader can expect to read in the following paragraphs of the whole article.
The middle sentences form the substance of the whole article or essay. As such, the writer must present what he truly wants to say in the introductory paragraph of the article or the essay.
The ending sentence in that same introductory paragraph is a recap of the topic sentence and the middle sentences. It may be a summary of the whole paragraph stating very clearly the topic again or it may state the writer's opinions and beliefs about the topic. In short, the writer is telling the reader about his thoughts and feelings about the topic.
Over a period of time and after much practice, the writer will develop his own style of writing that will entrance the reader into discovering what the topic of the article is all about.
In conclusion, the writer must be a thinker who can project his thoughts clearly in the article. Most people fail to become writers because they have not honed their thinking skills in a proper and logical manner.