[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-348930-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-348930-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","introductions-writing-guidance-on-purpose-and-thesis-statements","INTRODUCTIONS - Writing Guidance on Purpose and Thesis Statements","","Provides structured guidance for writing an academic introduction, explaining how it sets context, captures the reader’s attention, defines the topic, and makes the argument and structure clear. Details essential elements such as an initial topic sentence, background, significance, key-term definitions, a thesis statement, and supporting key points. Includes advice on drafting the introduction last, refining the thesis during editing, and creating thesis statements that are argumentative or expository, with tips on using balanced qualifiers and an example introduction.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/paper-templates/","Paper Templates",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/introductions-writing-guidance-on-purpose-and-thesis-statements/348930/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/introductions-writing-guidance-on-purpose-and-thesis-statements/348930.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Blitz","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-13","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",13,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of an introduction in an academic assignment?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It sets the context, captures the reader’s attention, defines the topic, and clarifies the argument and structure. It also signals problems or issues that may arise in the research area.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What key components should be included in a good introduction?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"A topic-opening sentence, background information, the topic’s significance, definitions of key terms when needed, a thesis statement, and the key points that support the argument.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How do argumentative and non-argumentative thesis statements differ?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Argumentative thesis statements state the claim and outline premises that support it, providing essay structure. Non-argumentative thesis statements outline the main focus for discussion and are expository rather than argumentative.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},348930,1790268928,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,119,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":120,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":120,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":22},24464137899374,"https://us-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","INTRODUCTIONS  \nTHE PURPOSE OF AN INTRODUCTION  \nAn introduction sets the context of your assignment. It should capture the reader’s attention and define the topic, giving background information and suggesting problems or issues that may arise within the research area. Most importantly, it should make your argument and structure clear to the reader.  \nAs such, a good introduction begins broadly before narrowing the scope to your specific response to the question. It should include:  \n• An initial sentence which indicates the general topic  \n• Background information to the topic  \n• The significance of the topic (why is it important?)  \n• Definitions of key terms (when necessary)  \n• A thesis statement which states your argument and structure  \n• The key points that will support your argument  \nThis is a general guide and, depending on the length and complexity of your writing, you may need to make small changes. Importantly, remember that an introduction is a map that will guide the reader through your essay. Usually, an introduction should be around 10% of the total length of your assignment.  \nTIP: try writing your introduction last. One of the reasons many students struggle with introductions is they are unsure what to include. You have to know the ending before you can begin: what is your conclusion and how will you demonstrate it? When editing, return to your thesis statement and ensure it represents what the essay goes on to do.  \nTHESIS STATEMENTS  \nA thesis statement is one or two sentences that expresses the main idea of your writing. A good thesis statement tells your reader your position and how you will structure it.  \nARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENTS  \nIn essays, most thesis statements are argumentative. This means they state the claim the essay makes about the issue and outline the premises that will support it. In doing so, they provide the structure of the essay. For example:  \nThe death penalty should not be restored in Australia due to the discriminatory nature of capital punishment, the fallibility of proving guilt in criminal cases and the violation of the most fundamental human right, the right to life.  \nSEE THE GUIDE ON WRITING AN ARGUMENT  \nNON-ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENTS  \nIn other kinds of writing, the thesis statement may be expository rather than argumentative. Expository writing provides a critical explanation or discussion of a topic. Therefore, an expository thesis statement should outline the main focus for discussion in your assignment. For example:  \nThis essay will discuss the history of cattle use and consumption in China, from traditional farming methods through to small-scale firms and modern-day production and examine the socio-ecological issues tied with the modern beef industry.  \nINTRODUCTIONS_20220328  \n© Student Learning  [slss@flinders.edu.au](slss@flinders.edu.au)    \nSupport Service, 2022 [students.flinders.edu.au/slss](students.flinders.edu.au/slss)  \nPage 1 of 2  \nINTRODUCTIONS  \nTIPS FOR WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT  \nThink of your thesis statement as a direct answer to a question. If you have been assigned a question, rephrase it as a statement that includes your specific answer. If you haven’t been given a question, try to turn your instructions into a question first. For example:  \nFor education to be equitable, Australia should embrace a model of single-sex schooling. Discuss this statement in the light of renewed debate concerning separate schooling for boys and girls.  \nRephrasing this as a question:  \nIn the light of renewed debate concerning separate schooling for boys and girls, should Australia embrace a model of single-sex schooling for education to be equitable?  \nThen you can rephrase it with your specific answer:  \nAustralia should not embrace a model of single-sex schooling because overly deterministic differentiations between ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ are problematic on the basis they overlook the sociohistorical, rather than biological, foundations of educational ine","cbCaig8PAl2fOC7Z","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaig8PAl2fOC7Z","pdf",152182,"English","# The Purpose of an Introduction\n## What a Good Introduction Includes\n## Thesis Statements\n### Argumentative Thesis Statements\n### Non-Argumentative Thesis Statements\n# Tips for Writing a Thesis Statement\n## Language: Getting the Right Balance","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of an introduction in an academic assignment?\",\"answer\":\"It sets the context, captures the reader’s attention, defines the topic, and clarifies the argument and structure. It also signals problems or issues that may arise in the research area.\"},{\"question\":\"What key components should be included in a good introduction?\",\"answer\":\"A topic-opening sentence, background information, the topic’s significance, definitions of key terms when needed, a thesis statement, and the key points that support the argument.\"},{\"question\":\"How do argumentative and non-argumentative thesis statements differ?\",\"answer\":\"Argumentative thesis statements state the claim and outline premises that support it, providing essay structure. Non-argumentative thesis statements outline the main focus for discussion and are expository rather than argumentative.\"}]","INTRODUCTIONS - Writing Guidance on Purpose and Thesis Statements | PDF",1790080560]