For example, the first two topic sentences in a basic critical essay on the theme of Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 18’ might look like this: The first way in which Shakespeare explores the theme of ...

Effective topic sentences will often link this local claim back to the overall thesis of the essay. Transitions are verbal bridges that use language to make the logical movement and structure of an ...

An introduction is the opening paragraph of an essay. It should briefly introduce the topic and outline your key ideas to answer the question. These ideas are then explored in more detail in the ...

This handout is available for download in DOCX format and PDF format. In the most abstract sense, the function of an introductory paragraph is to move the reader from the world of daily life into the ...

Writing a strong topic sentence that establishes the subject of the paragraph Using "echo words" -- i.e., consistent terms for the concepts throughout Applying transitions to link sentences logically ...

Focus on personal experiences when choosing a topic. Prioritize strong ... experts suggest outlining the essay first. Next, focus on the opening sentence – a hook that should grab the reader's ...