Topic 2: Introductory Sections

PHI332 : The Class : Essays : Introductory Sections

Topic 2: Introductory Sections

Introductory sections are the opening paragraphs of an essay. If the essay contains section headings, the introduction will usually be everything up to the first section heading (although sometimes in longer essays the introduction itself contains headings). The introductory section ought to contain two things: background information and a statement of the thesis, if any, that will be defended. It might also give a summary of the argument in defense of the thesis.

Consider the introduction to "Four Models" on pp. 67-8. Although it is not labeled, you should be able to tell that it is the first three paragraphs.

The first paragraph, beginning "During the last two decades . . . ," is all background information.

The second paragraph, beginning "We shall outline four models . . . ," tells us the plan of the essay. The last sentence of this paragraph tells us a thesis will be defended: "Finally, we shall evaluate these models and recommend one as the preferred model." This tells what the thesis will look like, though in an incomplete way. The thesis will look like this: "The best model for the physician-patient relationship is . . . ."

The third paragraph is more background information, even though it contains an argument (notice that "consequently" is a synonym for "therefore").

To complete this topic successfully, do as many of the following exercises as you find necessary to acquire the relevant skill. You have acquired the relevant skill when your answers to exercises are reliably either the same as the given answers or are alternative answers you can explain and defend:

ASSIGNMENT 1: Exercise3.2.1

ASSIGNMENT 2: Exercise3.2.2

ASSIGNMENT 3: Exercise3.2.3

ASSIGNMENT 4: Exercise3.2.4

Once you have completed this module you should:

Go on to Topic 3: Standard Form of Thesis-Defending Essay
or
Go back to Argument ID in Essays

E-mail George Rudebusch at George.Rudebusch@nau.edu
or call (520) 523-7091