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| How to Write a TOEFL Essay Introduction |  It is always necessary to keep in mind that the introduction is really not only the first; it is also the most important paragraph of your TOEFL essay. This is why it is extremely important to make a good impression in it. In case you fail to start out well, it may be very difficult to convince your reader, which is in a given case the TOEFL assessor, to take your writing seriously later on. Here are the facts you are to keep in mind about your essay introduction:
• Introduction is the first paragraph of the essay;
• Introduction is usually to be 3 to 5 sentences long;
• Introduction should introduce the topic of your essay;
• It is necessary to express your opinion clearly in the introduction;
• Every introduction is to have a strong thesis statement.
It is extremely important that all introductions are to meet these five criteria, mentioned above. Remember, if it happened so that your introduction is missing at least one of them, it can be considered as being a weak one.
Every introduction consists of the following steps:
Step one: beginning the introduction
Your introduction should begin with a general statement about the topic of your TOEFL essay. It is necessary to explain what the essay is going to be about in it, which helps to make your reader mentally prepared for the following arguments. Although, you should also remember that your opinion should not be expressed in this sentence, because it is only a general statement about the topic of your essay.
Here comes a good example of a typical first sentence:
Many communities debate whether or not police officers should carry guns.
You see that there is no opinion of the writer, provided in this sentence, there is only a general statement about the topic of the essay.
Step two: developing the introduction
After your first sentence is written, the time of your introduction development comes. It is possible to do with the help of a few more general statements about the topic of the essay. One of the ways to do it is to discuss both sides of the argument. Here comes the example of how it can be done:
There are situations, when guns help to protect the police officer, as well as the public; therefore, from the other point of view, guns can result in serious injuries and even death.
When you explain both sides of the argument, the thing, which is called contrasting, you show your reader that you have though about the issue in the most careful way.
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