Start with an attention-grabbing sentence or sentences that introduce your topic on a general level. “Sirens, nymphs, mermaids—half-human, half-fish creatures have lived in collective mythology for thousands of years, in forms that range from monstrous to sweet to dangerously enchanting.” “Plastic is an indelible part of our day-to-day lives. It’s used to make bicycle helmets and cell phones, to insulate homes, and to package food and water.” In your next 2-3 sentences, expand upon or start to complicate your first topic. Begin narrowing the topic down to your paper’s particular focus. “The mermaids of today’s pop culture, exemplified in Ariel, of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, tend to be beautiful and charming, a sanitized version of the merfolk from classic folklore. In legends from all over the world, these creatures are nearly always shown as dark, bloodthirsty, and beguiling, and in considering this tendency, it seems no surprise that mermaids, rather than mermen, have proven more well-known and more deeply fascinating.” “Yet, as many now know, our dependence on this flexible, versatile product is not without its costs. Studies are released every year warning of the toll that plastic, which can take up to 1000 years to decompose, is taking on the earth. The oceans are particularly at risk; every minute, about a truckload of new plastic enters the ocean.” At the end of the paragraph, take 1-2 sentences to clearly state the topic you’re exploring and the position you’re taking on it. This will serve as your thesis statement. “In deconstructing ancient folklore and modern-day fantasies alike, we can trace the evolution of the mermaid as a seductive femme fatale and sometime-children’s fable, drawing surprising conclusions about society’s views on women and the vast unknown of the seas.” “Though the problem is massive, it’s worth taking note of the things that many individuals, groups, and companies are doing to lessen the impact and maintain a balance between human and environmental needs.”