IDENTIFY THE TYPE
Last winter, a small village in the north went eight full days without electricity, forcing families to sleep beside open fires to stay warm.
Anecdote
What is the purpose of using an anecdote?
To emotionally engage the reader and make the topic relatable
“Technology is important nowadays.”
Fix it using a surprising fact.
Over 90% of teenagers check their phones before speaking to a family member in the morning.
Topic: Cyberbullying
Which introduction type would create the strongest emotional impact?
Anecdote
Yesterday, a 14-year-old boy collapsed during soccer practice due to extreme heat.
Type: Anecdote
Purpose: To show the seriousness of rising temperatures.
Nearly 40% of the food produced globally is wasted every year.
Surprising fact/statistic
What is the purpose of using surprising facts?
To shock or intrigue the reader and show the importance of the issue
“Pollution is bad and affects people.”
Fix it using a rhetorical question.
How long can a city survive when the air its people breathe becomes poison?
Topic: The history of women’s rights
Which introduction type fits best?
Historical Review
Only 2% of the world’s water is drinkable.
Type: Statistic
Purpose: To highlight urgency.
“‘Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are,’ wrote Benjamin Franklin.”
Quotation
Why use a quotation?
To introduce a powerful idea and add authority or credibility
“Reading books is useful for everyone.”
Fix it using a quotation.
“‘A room without books is like a body without a soul,’ wrote Cicero, reminding us how deeply reading shapes the human mind.”
Topic: The importance of environmental protection
Which type would grab the reader instantly?
Surprising facts/statistics
For most of human history, people believed diseases were caused by evil spirits.
Type: Historical review
Purpose: To show how scientific understanding has evolved.
For generations, people relied on handwritten letters as their main form of communication.
Historical review
What does a historical review help the writer do?
Provide background and show how the issue developed over time
“Sports have changed a lot.”
Fix it using a historical review.
From ancient Greek arenas to billion-dollar modern stadiums, sports have continuously evolved alongside human culture.
Topic: The meaning of leadership
Which introduction type works best?
Quotation
We become what we repeatedly do,’ wrote Aristotle.
Type: Quotation
Purpose: To frame the topic around habits and excellence.
What would classrooms look like if artificial intelligence became every student’s personal tutor?
Rhetorical question
What is the purpose of a funnel introduction?
To guide the reader from a broad idea to a precise thesis
“Healthy eating is important.”
Fix it using an anecdote.
Last year, Maya fainted during a school exam because she had skipped breakfast for three days in a row—a wake-up call about how vital proper nutrition really is.
Topic: The effects of social media on teenagers
Which introduction type would provoke curiosity?
Rhetorical Questions
What does freedom really mean if people cannot afford basic necessities?
Type: Rhetorical question
Purpose: To introduce the theme while provoking reflection.