Introduction paragraph generator with a hook, context and thesis
Most writers get stuck on the first paragraph, not the essay. Give your todo.is agent your topic, thesis and main points, and this prompt drafts three introduction paragraphs with different hooks, each moving from a hook to the context the reader needs to a thesis that previews your argument.
The prompt
- Write an introduction paragraph for my [TYPE OF TEXT] on [TOPIC]. My thesis or main point: [THESIS]. My body paragraphs cover: [MAIN POINTS]. Readers: [READERS]. Length: about [LENGTH]. Give me 3 versions, each with a different hook: a specific scene or example, a surprising fact (only real facts with a source link), and a question or a common belief to challenge. Each should go from hook to 1 or 2 sentences of context to the thesis as the last sentence, and preview my main points in order. No dictionary definitions, no "Since the dawn of time", no clichés. Tell me which version you would pick for these readers and why.
What to change
- [TYPE OF TEXT]: e.g. "persuasive essay", "research paper", "blog post", "report".
- [TOPIC]: e.g. "four-day school weeks".
- [THESIS]: Your main claim, e.g. "four-day weeks help rural schools hire teachers but hurt families who need childcare". No thesis yet? Write "suggest one".
- [MAIN POINTS]: Your body paragraph topics in order, e.g. "teacher hiring, student results, childcare costs".
- [READERS]: e.g. "my history teacher", "parents reading a school newsletter", "policy makers".
- [LENGTH]: e.g. "120 words", "one paragraph", "3 to 5 sentences".
Example result
- Topic
- Four-day school weeks · persuasive essay · readers: a high school teacher · thesis: four-day weeks help rural schools hire teachers but leave working families with a fifth day to cover
- Version 1: scene hook (118 words)
- At 7:15 on a Friday morning in a small farming town, the school parking lot is empty, but the diner across the street is full of parents trying to work out who is watching the kids today. Hundreds of rural districts in the United States have moved to a four-day school week, mostly to save money and attract teachers who can earn more elsewhere. The change often works for schools. For families, the results are mixed. While a four-day week can help rural districts hire and keep teachers, it shifts a full day of childcare onto working parents, a cost that schools rarely count when they make the switch.
- Version 2: fact hook
- *(opens with a sourced figure about how many districts use a four-day week, with a link to the source for you to check)*...
- Version 3: belief to challenge
- "A shorter week means less learning." That is the first worry most parents have, and it is not quite the right one...
- Recommended: Version 1
- Your teacher reads many essays on this topic. A specific scene stands out and leads naturally to your childcare point, which is your strongest argument.
- Structure used in each
- 1. Hook: one or two sentences that make the reader curious
- 2. Context: what a four-day week is and why schools adopt it
- 3. Thesis: your claim, last, previewing your points in order (hiring, then childcare)
- Avoid
- • Starting with a definition ("Webster's defines...")
- • Huge openers ("Throughout history, education has...")
- • Announcing the essay ("In this essay I will discuss...")
How to do it with todo.is
- Fill in your topic, thesis, main points, readers and length.
- Send the to-do in todo.is or on WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord.
- Choose a version and rewrite it in your own words, checking any fact against its source link.
- Once your body paragraphs are done, ask for a matching conclusion.
Tips for a better result
- Write the introduction after the body, or revise it at the end. Your argument often changes while you write.
- Put the thesis last in the introduction, where readers expect it.
- A fact hook only works if it is true and recent. Open the source link before you use it.
- Match the hook to the reader: a scene for general readers, a striking finding for academic readers.
introduction paragraph generator: FAQ
- What are the parts of an introduction paragraph? A hook to get attention, background or context the reader needs, and a thesis statement that gives your main claim and often previews your points.
- How long should an introduction paragraph be? Usually 3 to 5 sentences, or about 10% of a short essay. Longer research papers can have a multi-paragraph introduction.
- What is a good hook for an essay? A specific scene, a surprising and accurate fact, a short anecdote, or a common belief you are going to challenge. Avoid definitions and clichés.
- Is it OK to use an AI-written introduction for school? Use the drafts as models and write your own version. Many schools have rules about AI, so check yours.
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