CNN ESSAY WRITING MODULE 02
Name: ………………………………..
WRITING AN INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
PART 1 – WRITING THE INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
The purpose of the introduction is to introduce the readers to the main topic of the essay and
your opinion. An argument essay’s introduction is very brief and to-the-point. It mainly
consists of:
Topic
introduction
Introduction
paragraph
Thesis
statement
Topic introduction: 1-3 sentences introducing the main topic stated in the exam question.
Thesis statement: 1 sentence directly answering the question/request of the exam question.
Example:
Education is believed to never cease, and there are many ways to keep learning. Although I
concede that learning through regular reading is fruitful, I believe that knowledge
enhancement can take place through other fashions such as interpersonal communication and
travelling, which emerge as other valuable sources of knowledge.
HOW TO WRITE TOPIC INTRODUCTION – 2 Strategies
Strategy 1: Paraphrase the topic introduction sentence in the exam question.
Sample topic: Some people think that increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve
growing traffic and pollution problems.
Paraphrasing methods Example
Transform between Active - It is thought that the price of petrol should be
Passive voice increased to solve growing traffic and pollution
problems.
Change word form: from verb to Some people think that an increase in the price of
noun, noun to verb petrol is the best solution to growing traffic and
pollution problems.
Increasing (V-ing) → increase (noun)
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CNN ESSAY WRITING MODULE 02
Solve (v) → solution (n)
Use ‘It’ as the subject It is important to increase the price of petrol to solve
growing traffic and pollution problems.
Use synonyms Some people think that a rise in the petrol price is the
answer to heavy traffic and pollution problem.
Increasing the price of petrol = a rise in the petrol
price
The best way to solve = the answer to
Traffic problems = heavy traffic
Strategy 2: Use a stock paragraph that can be used for almost any topic
Sentence 1: People have differing views about……/Experts are sharply divided on the
discussion of…../Many people wonder/debate what should be done about………
Sentence 2: Some people say/think that it is best………………
Sentence 3: However, other people/others think that………………
Sentence 4: Thesis statement
Example 1:
People have differing views about the best way to improve public health. Some people say
that the best way is by increasing the number of sports facilities. Others, however, say that
this would have little effect on public health and that other measures are required. This is not
an easy question to answer but in this essay, we will look at both views of this issue.
Example 2:
Many people wonder what to do when they visit other countries. Some people think it is best
for them to adopt the local customs. However, other people think it is best to follow the
customs of their own countries. This is not an easy question to answer but in this essay we
will look at this issue.
HOW TO WRITE THESIS STATEMENT
Your thesis statement needs to answer directly to each and every question/request in the exam
question.
Below are some templates for thesis statement:
Do you agree or disagree?
• I tend to/personally/strongly/firmly think/believe/feel that…
• I am personally/strongly/firmly/fully convinced that…
• As far as I am concerned, …
ACADEMIC WRITING COURSE 2
CNN ESSAY WRITING MODULE 02
• From my (personal) point of view/viewpoint, ….
• In my opinion, …..
• I tend to/personally/strongly/firmly agree/disagree that….
• I tend to/personally/strongly/firmly support/oppose the view/opinion/idea/point of
view that….
• Despite many people’s view that…, I tend to think…
Discuss both views of the idea
• This essay will look at both sides of the issue.
• Both sides of the issue will be discussed/investigated in this essay.
• The purpose of this essay is to discuss both sides of this issue.
• The essay will try/attempt/make an effort to examine both sides of this issue.
Advantages/Disadvantages
• The essay will try/attempt/make an effort to examine/investigate the advantages
and disadvantages/the benefits and drawbacks/ the positive and negative impacts
of this idea.
• The essay will try to discuss/investigate the advantages/benefits of…… as well as
its disadvantages/drawbacks.
• The advantages and disadvantages/benefits and drawbacks of………..will be
discussed/ investigated/explained/examined in this essay.
• Despite its advantages/merits/benefits, I believe that ………. has/ involves/
presents a greater/ larger number of disadvantages/ downsides/ drawbacks.
Cause/Effect/Solution
• The essay will try/attempt/make an effort to examine/investigate the factors
responsible for this problem/issue.
• The essay will try to propose/recommend/put forward some/a number of
solutions/ways to solve them.
• Some potential/ possible consequences of………..will be discussed/
investigated/explained/examined in this essay.
ACADEMIC WRITING COURSE 3
