Tutorial 3 - Writing the Background Information

TUTORIAL 3 - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

After the hook and before the thesis statement, you will need to provide some background information on the topic you are writing on so that your reader can understand it.

There are 3 ways to write the background information:

1. Historical background

If you are writing about the causes of global warming, you may want to inform your reader of the changes that occurred in earth's temperature over time. You may also want to provide a brief account on the effects of global warming.

2. Personal background

If you are writing an essay on how to lose weight, you may want to give an account of the time when you were fat and had great difficulty losing weight. Or you could write about someone you know or you've heard about who is or was obese.

3. Information about the current situation

If you are writing to persuade your readers that homework should be abolished, you may want to give your readers a glimpse into the problem that homework causes. For instance, in Korea, many students don't get enough sleep and have little social life because of the amount of homework they have to complete on a daily basis.


HOMEWORK 3A

Write the introductory paragraph for the following topics:


1. What are the causes of poverty?

Hook:

Background Information:

Thesis Statement:

2. Should smoking be banned?

Hook:

Background Information:

Thesis Statement:

3. What do you look for in a future husband/wife?

Hook:

Background Information:

Thesis Statement:


NB: After writing the three parts of the introductory paragraph, read them through to make sure that they 'flow' ie. the hook connects with the background information and the background information connects with the thesis statement. If not, you will need to revise and edit your paragraph.