Because your first sentence (or sentences) of the opener should be very general, and the thesis at the end of the paragraph will be very specific, you will need several sentences to link to each other, getting more specific as the sentences get closer to the thesis. These are just some ways of thinking about linking sentences:
Introduction - Type One
- Use a surprising or startling statement to start the paragraph
- Explain how that startling idea relates to the general topic of your paper
- Introduce background or any necessary information about the issue or subject
- Thesis
Introduction - Type Two
- Use a short story (2-3 sentences) to exemplify the notion you are looking at
- Explain this story in the context of the issue or subject
- Introduce background or any necessary information of the issue or subject
- Thesis
Introduction - Type Three
- Use a relevant quote to start the paragraph
- Explain what the quote means
- Explain the quote toward the issue or subject
- Introduce background or any necessary information of the issue or subject
- Thesis
Introduction - Type Four
- Use a question to start the paragraph
- Answer that question somehow
- Explain that answer into the topic of your issue or subject
- Introduce background or any necessary information of the issue or subject
- Thesis
Linking Sentences [Example]
Jane’s hair is thinning; her eyes have dark circles beneath them; she rarely eats; she even hardly talks to any of her friends or family members: Jane is an “addict.” (opening sentence – an anecdote starter)
Her addiction started when she was twenty years old; at first no one noticed, but her problem grew. (link – continued anecdote)
It grew so much that today, even after many of her friends have confronted her with it, she still cannot get over it. (link)
She is not having to “get over” an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or even gambling; her problem is almost worse. (link)
It is worse because her addiction is to something she must do to live:her addiction is to her work. (link)
While work for some people is just a job done away from home, Jane’s work is something that has consumed her life and ruined many of her relationships and even her health. (link)
