Introduction - Background facts

Hook: An attention grabber. Typical hooks are questions, facts, anecdotes, or famous quotes. The hook must be relevant to the topic and point of the essay.

Bridge/Background information: The bridge builds on the hook and connects it to the thesis. May offer some background information about the topic.

Thesis: the central idea of your essay. The thesis should answer the question of the prompt.

Ideas to develop: The ideas to develop support the thesis and will be expanded upon in the body paragraphs. (These are your main points/reasons)

Wrap-up: Signals the end of the introductory paragraph and transitions to the body paragraphs.

Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

Historical, geographical, or social context

A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic

Definitions of key terms