different types of introductions essay

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

Table of Contents

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education: 

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation. 

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education). 

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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6.8: Writing introductions, conclusions, and titles- A key to organizing

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• Alexandra Glynn, Kelli Hallsten-Erickson & Amy Jo Swing
• North Hennepin Community College & Lake Superior College

Orienting the reader: Writing an introduction

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

Does this ring a bell? These are the opening words to every episode in the massive, culture-bending Star Wars franchise.

They shoot the white girl first, but the rest they can take their time.

Sit with that one for a minute. Shocking? Yes. Compelling? Yes. Does it make you want to know what’s going on? Absolutely. You might not recognize this as the first line from Toni Morrison’s novel Paradise , but it is a good first line. It not only sets a scene showing violence and a group of people (probably men) on a murder spree, killing another group of people (at least one white woman; the rest are not white, and we can guess that they’re probably women, too), but it also pulls out any number of emotional reactions. That is an incredible first line.

Now, these examples are pretty extreme. The first is from one of the most popular, if not THE most popular, series of films in American history, and the second is from the seventh novel by one of the greatest American authors alive today. Your introductions don’t need to be as earth-shattering, but they do need to do three things:

• Grab the reader's attention
• Give a sense of the direction of ideas in the essay
• Set up what the writing will be like in the essay (super formal, more informal, etc.)

No big deal, right? Actually, it can feel like a HUGE deal, and writing the introduction can be so scary for some writers that it stops any forward progress. So, here are the first two rules for writing introductions:

Two rules for writing introductions

Rule Number One: If you don’t have ideas for the introduction, skip it!

No, don’t skip it altogether—you need to have one!—but if it’s freaking you out and stopping you from getting going on your essay, start working with your body paragraphs first. Sometimes you need to play with the essay ideas for a while before an idea for the introduction alights on your shoulder and demands your attention.

Of course, sometimes ideas aren’t that cooperative and you need to work at pulling them out. Have you written the rest of the essay and now you are considering the virtues of skipping writing an introduction altogether rather than going through the torture of having to figure it out? First, relax. Don’t take it so seriously.

Rule Number Two: Consider audience!

This brings us to the second rule about introductions. Ask yourself: What will get my audience’s attention? Always consider the audience’s needs, interests and desires. If your audience is similar to you in any way, fabulous. Ask yourself: What would get my attention? Write an introduction that amuses or fascinates you. After all, if you’re genuinely delighted, that could rub off on the reader.

Types of introductions: Thesis statement, anecdote, asking questions, a contradiction, and starting in the middle

It might help if you had some ideas about the types of introductions out there:

• Thesis statement
• Asking questions
• A contraction
• Starting in the middle

Thesis statement introductions are for the traditionalists. They also often work well in professional writing. They are typical in formal essays where it’s important to start broad to help create context for a topic before narrowing it in to land at the specific point of the essay, in the thesis statement, at the end of the introductory paragraph. Sometimes formal academic argument papers even start with the thesis statement, as in this example:

Parents are heroes because they work hard to show their children the difference between right and wrong, they teach their children compassion, and they help them to grow into stable, loving adults. Parents act as guides for their kids while allowing them to make mistakes, listening to them when their kids need to talk, pushing them along when they’re too shy to move on their own, and cheering the loudest when their kids achieve their dreams. It’s no easy task to be the steady, moral compass that kids need, as parents are people too, and people make mistakes. As a species, though, we manage more often than not to raise well-adjusted kids who turn into hardworking adults, giving us hope for the future.

As you can see, it’s a pretty general and generic introduction, but it firmly orients the reader into the topic.

Let’s say you want to stretch your creativity a bit, though. You might try an anecdotal introduction , where you tell a brief but complete story (real or fictional). This is using narration to catch the reader’s attention. Here’s an example of that using the same topic and thesis statement as above:

When my brother was little, he used to get into all sorts of trouble. Because he was just so curious about everything, his desire to check things out often overrode his good sense. This finally got the best of him when he was nine and got stuck in a tree. He climbed up there to look into a bird’s nest, and we found him after he started yelling for us. He was twenty feet up there, and before my mom and I knew what was happening, my dad jumped up and started climbing, which was amazing because my father isn’t too fond of heights. He got up to Jason and then helped him down, showing him where to put his hands and feet. When they were both safely on the ground, my parents scolded Jason while simultaneously hugging him. He was still terrified, and suddenly, I could see how terrified my dad was, too. I never forgot that moment, and I also came to a realization. Parents aren’t just heroes because they will put their lives on the line for their kids. Parents are heroes because they work hard to show their children the difference between right and wrong, they teach their children compassion, and they help them to grow into stable, loving adults.

This is a great strategy to try because it gives a specific example of your topic, and it’s human nature to enjoy hearing stories. The reader won’t be able to help being pulled into your essay when you use narration.

Another strategy writers employ when writing introductions is asking a question or questions to catch the reader’s attention. You might have heard the adage, “There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers.” While that’s often true, when it comes to introductions, you need to be smart about the types of questions you ask, always keeping your audience in mind:

• DON'T ask yes or no questions
• DON’T ask questions that will cause the reader to tune out.
• DO ask questions that get the reader thinking in the direction you’re planning on going in within your essay.

Here’s an example of a question that will stop your reader in his or her tracks:

Have you ever wondered about how Einstein’s String Theory applies to old growth forests?

Why is this a bad question? Simple: what if the reader answers that and says “Uh…no.” You’ve just lost the reader.

Instead, consider your audience: what questions might they actually have about your topic? For example:

When you were a kid, who were your heroes? Was it Luke Skywalker? The President of the United States? An astronaut? A firefighter? Heroes come from all walks of life…

This series of questions begins with an open-ended question that frames the topic (childhood heroes) and gets readers thinking, but not too much—the follow-up questions keep readers from floating off into la-la land with their own ideas.

Another strategy that can work well is considering the contradictions in your topic, playing Devil's Advocate, and bringing them up right away in the introduction. When it comes to your topic, what clichés are out there about it? What misunderstandings do people have? Those ideas can make for a great introduction. For example:

When kids think about heroes, they often think about Superman or Spiderman in all of their comic book glory. These superheroes fight the bad guys, restoring order in the chaos that the villains create in the comics. They always win in the end because they are the good ones and because they have amazing abilities. What kid hasn’t thought about how cool it would be to have super powers? What kids often miss, however, and don’t understand until they’re older, is that their parents are the real superheroes in their lives. The super powers that parents have may not be bionic vision or super strength, but they have powers that are much more important. Parents are heroes because they work hard to show their children the difference between right and wrong, they teach their children compassion, and they help them to grow into stable, loving adults.

Note that in this sample, there’s a contradiction: the cliché idea of heroes as cartoon superheroes, but there’s also a rhetorical question. Often, strategies for writing introductions can be combined to great effect.

Finally, an introductory strategy worth noting is similar to an anecdote, but instead of starting at the beginning of a story, you start in the middle of the action. For example, instead of setting the scene by starting in the cafeteria on a normal school day, you would start like this:

A wad of spaghetti smacked the side of my face, and one of the noodles ricocheted off my cheek and swung into my mouth. I nearly inhaled it, but before I started choking, I managed to fling a handful of fries in Jose’s direction. I saw Amy running over to dump her milkshake on Anthony’s head before I ducked under the table. It was full-on pandemonium in the cafeteria, boys versus girls, a spark of rage finally igniting after weeks of classroom tension.

Starting an essay right in the middle of action immediately piques the reader’s interest and creates a tension that can, admittedly, be difficult to come down from, but it sure makes for an exciting start.

These strategies can serve to enliven your essay topic, not just for the reader, but for you. When you can build an introduction that you can be proud of, it can give you creative ideas for the rest of your piece. Consider trying several different strategies for your introduction and choose what works best. Perhaps even combine a few to customize. It’s also worth noting that, though introductions are traditionally one paragraph with the thesis statement as the last sentence, there’s nothing saying an introduction can’t be more than one paragraph. It’s all about what’s going to work for your topic and for your audience.

Making your mark: Writing a conclusion

Let’s be honest. When you’ve spent so much time working out the ideas of your essay, organizing them, and writing an awesome, eye-catching introduction, by the time you get to the conclusion, you might have run out of steam. It can feel impossible to maintain the creative momentum through the most boring of paragraphs: the conclusion. So what do writers do? Easy: they start by writing, “In conclusion…” and sum up what the reader just got done reading.

If that feels off to you, good. It should. Unless you’ve written a long essay, a summary-style conclusion isn’t appropriate and can even be insulting to the reader: why would you think readers need to be reminded of what they just read? Have more faith in them and in your own writing. If you’ve done your job in the essay, your ideas will be etched in readers’ brains.

You still need to have a conclusion, though. So what’s a conscientious writer to do?

The goal of a conclusion is to leave the reader with the final impression of your take on the topic. You don’t need to try to have the final, be-all, end-all word on the topic, case closed, no more discussion. Readers will reject this. And again, don’t worry about summarizing what you’ve just written.

Think about a boring conclusion being like the end of a class period. Your classmates are putting their books away, packing their bags, glancing at their phones—their minds are already floating away from the topics in the class. An effective teacher will keep student attention until she is ready to dismiss the class, and an effective conclusion will not just keep the reader's attention until the end but will make them want to go back to the beginning and re-read—to see what they might have missed.

Types of conclusions: Mirroring the introduction, predicting the future, humor

The easiest way to write a conclusion, especially after you’ve written a stellar introduction, is to mirror the introduction. So, if you’ve started by setting the scene in the cafeteria mid-food fight, go back to the cafeteria in the conclusion, perhaps just as the fight is over and it’s dawned on all the kids that this was a bad idea. If you spent your introduction bringing up a contradiction and dispelling it, allude to that contradiction again in your conclusion. If you asked a question in the introduction, you’d better be sure to answer it in the conclusion.

Mirroring is the easiest way of thinking about an appropriate concluding strategy. You might also consider looking into the crystal ball and predicting the future. Let’s say you’re arguing for increased sales taxes to help improve your city’s crumbling roads in your essay. In your conclusion, paint a picture of what the future roads would look like (or feel like when driving on them!) if you got your way. This idyllic, concrete scene would remain in readers’ minds, increasing the chances that they’ll remember your point of view.

Another option that helps to endear you one more time to the reader is ending with something funny or catchy. When readers feel good because you utilized the strategy of a humorous conclusion , they’ll remember that feeling and your take on the topic. You don’t need to be a comedian to be funny, either. You can utilize jokes made in popular culture to make your reader smile: from the classic “Where’s the beef?” catchphrase the fast-food chain Wendy’s utilized in the 80’s to the more current “double rainbow” YouTube video to the most cutting-edge memes, these jokes can be utilized for an impactful conclusion. The key, however (and warning!), is to consider your audience . Choose something that will amuse your audience, because although you don’t need to be a comedian to write a humorous conclusion, like a comedian, if the joke falls flat, you’ll leave readers with crickets chirping and awkward silence that all comedians face one time or another.

Another great option is one encouraged by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle in his books on Rhetoric: use a maxim, or proverb. These are like folk-wisdom, or quotes by famous people who really know how to turn a phrase.

For example, in writing a paper arguing about nursery rhymes and the gender roles in them, you could end by quoting a portion of the ending nursery rhyme:

Snip, snap, snout,

This tale’s told out.

Of course, this strategy could fail, too, by hitting the wrong note or not being quite on-topic. This is where an extra pair of eyes (or two or three) helps: test your conclusion out on others before you call it your final draft.

Name the game: Writing a gripping title

Some people have no problem coming up with titles for their essays. The struggle is NOT real for them, and they don’t understand why the rest of us have difficulties with this relatively small part of the essay, at least small words-wise. These same people should probably go out and play the lottery because they’re lucky. For the rest of us, however, we need to work at it.

Titles are scary because they’re short, yet they must do a lot of work: they state the topic, a direction for the topic, and grab attention. You might note that these are basically the same tasks of the introduction, but at least with that, you have a whole paragraph. Not so with a title (unless you’re going for something absurd, which your supervisor or writing teacher will likely not appreciate).

Yes, writing a title requires some creativity. In this case, though, there’s a strategy you can use to think about title creation.

Step One: Write down your topic

Hank Aaron, baseball legend

Step Two: Think about the points you’re going to make in the essay about your topic

This is a major research paper, so it’s long. I’m going to write about his baseball life, his early life, and his passions outside of baseball (civil rights)

Step Three: Brainstorm a list of ideas, clichés, and associations dealing with your topic

Baseball, take me out to the ball game, grand slam, double-header, triple play, seventh-inning stretch, peanuts and Cracker Jack, “Juuuust a bit outside,” major league, home run, homers, crack of the bat, Negro League, Milwaukee Brewers, The Hammer (his nickname), swing and miss…

Step Four: Put the ideas together in interesting ways to create title options

Hank Aaron Hammers It Home

Triple Play: The Life, Love, and Career of Hank Aaron

From Mobile to the Majors: Hank Aaron’s Success Story

…and so on.

Note that the second two title options above utilize a colon. These are titles with subtitles, sometimes called a two-part title. The first part, before the colon, is the eye-catcher. The second part gives a direction for the essay. This is an opportunity you can exercise to get more words for your title. Note that each section of this chapter utilizes a title and subtitle! It’s a great strategy to try.

Let's say you're going to write a persuasive essay about the importance of attending class. You can think of different titles based on different strategies:

• For Example: How to be a Successful College Student
• To Attend or Not to Attend?
• Go to Class!
• Attendance: The Key to Acing College
• Be There: Attending Class to Ace College

Introductions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of introductions, offer strategies for creating effective introductions, and provide some examples of less effective introductions to avoid.

The role of introductions

Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write. Usually when you sit down to respond to an assignment, you have at least some sense of what you want to say in the body of your paper. You might have chosen a few examples you want to use or have an idea that will help you answer the main question of your assignment; these sections, therefore, may not be as hard to write. And it’s fine to write them first! But in your final draft, these middle parts of the paper can’t just come out of thin air; they need to be introduced and concluded in a way that makes sense to your reader.

Your introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transport your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. If your readers pick up your paper about education in the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, for example, they need a transition to help them leave behind the world of Chapel Hill, television, e-mail, and The Daily Tar Heel and to help them temporarily enter the world of nineteenth-century American slavery. By providing an introduction that helps your readers make a transition between their own world and the issues you will be writing about, you give your readers the tools they need to get into your topic and care about what you are saying. Similarly, once you’ve hooked your readers with the introduction and offered evidence to prove your thesis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. (See our handout on conclusions .)

Note that what constitutes a good introduction may vary widely based on the kind of paper you are writing and the academic discipline in which you are writing it. If you are uncertain what kind of introduction is expected, ask your instructor.

Why bother writing a good introduction?

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.

Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. In many academic disciplines, your introduction should contain a thesis that will assert your main argument. Your introduction should also give the reader a sense of the kinds of information you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your paper.

Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper. The introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, an interesting question, or a vivid example can get your readers to see why your topic matters and serve as an invitation for them to join you for an engaging intellectual conversation (remember, though, that these strategies may not be suitable for all papers and disciplines).

Strategies for writing an effective introduction

Start by thinking about the question (or questions) you are trying to answer. Your entire essay will be a response to this question, and your introduction is the first step toward that end. Your direct answer to the assigned question will be your thesis, and your thesis will likely be included in your introduction, so it is a good idea to use the question as a jumping off point. Imagine that you are assigned the following question:

Drawing on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , discuss the relationship between education and slavery in 19th-century America. Consider the following: How did white control of education reinforce slavery? How did Douglass and other enslaved African Americans view education while they endured slavery? And what role did education play in the acquisition of freedom? Most importantly, consider the degree to which education was or was not a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

You will probably refer back to your assignment extensively as you prepare your complete essay, and the prompt itself can also give you some clues about how to approach the introduction. Notice that it starts with a broad statement and then narrows to focus on specific questions from the book. One strategy might be to use a similar model in your own introduction—start off with a big picture sentence or two and then focus in on the details of your argument about Douglass. Of course, a different approach could also be very successful, but looking at the way the professor set up the question can sometimes give you some ideas for how you might answer it. (See our handout on understanding assignments for additional information on the hidden clues in assignments.)

Decide how general or broad your opening should be. Keep in mind that even a “big picture” opening needs to be clearly related to your topic; an opening sentence that said “Human beings, more than any other creatures on earth, are capable of learning” would be too broad for our sample assignment about slavery and education. If you have ever used Google Maps or similar programs, that experience can provide a helpful way of thinking about how broad your opening should be. Imagine that you’re researching Chapel Hill. If what you want to find out is whether Chapel Hill is at roughly the same latitude as Rome, it might make sense to hit that little “minus” sign on the online map until it has zoomed all the way out and you can see the whole globe. If you’re trying to figure out how to get from Chapel Hill to Wrightsville Beach, it might make more sense to zoom in to the level where you can see most of North Carolina (but not the rest of the world, or even the rest of the United States). And if you are looking for the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive so that you can find the Writing Center’s main office, you may need to zoom all the way in. The question you are asking determines how “broad” your view should be. In the sample assignment above, the questions are probably at the “state” or “city” level of generality. When writing, you need to place your ideas in context—but that context doesn’t generally have to be as big as the whole galaxy!

Try writing your introduction last. You may think that you have to write your introduction first, but that isn’t necessarily true, and it isn’t always the most effective way to craft a good introduction. You may find that you don’t know precisely what you are going to argue at the beginning of the writing process. It is perfectly fine to start out thinking that you want to argue a particular point but wind up arguing something slightly or even dramatically different by the time you’ve written most of the paper. The writing process can be an important way to organize your ideas, think through complicated issues, refine your thoughts, and develop a sophisticated argument. However, an introduction written at the beginning of that discovery process will not necessarily reflect what you wind up with at the end. You will need to revise your paper to make sure that the introduction, all of the evidence, and the conclusion reflect the argument you intend. Sometimes it’s easiest to just write up all of your evidence first and then write the introduction last—that way you can be sure that the introduction will match the body of the paper.

Don’t be afraid to write a tentative introduction first and then change it later. Some people find that they need to write some kind of introduction in order to get the writing process started. That’s fine, but if you are one of those people, be sure to return to your initial introduction later and rewrite if necessary.

Open with something that will draw readers in. Consider these options (remembering that they may not be suitable for all kinds of papers):

• an intriguing example —for example, Douglass writes about a mistress who initially teaches him but then ceases her instruction as she learns more about slavery.
• a provocative quotation that is closely related to your argument —for example, Douglass writes that “education and slavery were incompatible with each other.” (Quotes from famous people, inspirational quotes, etc. may not work well for an academic paper; in this example, the quote is from the author himself.)
• a puzzling scenario —for example, Frederick Douglass says of slaves that “[N]othing has been left undone to cripple their intellects, darken their minds, debase their moral nature, obliterate all traces of their relationship to mankind; and yet how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of a most frightful bondage, under which they have been groaning for centuries!” Douglass clearly asserts that slave owners went to great lengths to destroy the mental capacities of slaves, yet his own life story proves that these efforts could be unsuccessful.
• a vivid and perhaps unexpected anecdote —for example, “Learning about slavery in the American history course at Frederick Douglass High School, students studied the work slaves did, the impact of slavery on their families, and the rules that governed their lives. We didn’t discuss education, however, until one student, Mary, raised her hand and asked, ‘But when did they go to school?’ That modern high school students could not conceive of an American childhood devoid of formal education speaks volumes about the centrality of education to American youth today and also suggests the significance of the deprivation of education in past generations.”
• a thought-provoking question —for example, given all of the freedoms that were denied enslaved individuals in the American South, why does Frederick Douglass focus his attentions so squarely on education and literacy?

Pay special attention to your first sentence. Start off on the right foot with your readers by making sure that the first sentence actually says something useful and that it does so in an interesting and polished way.

How to evaluate your introduction draft

Ask a friend to read your introduction and then tell you what he or she expects the paper will discuss, what kinds of evidence the paper will use, and what the tone of the paper will be. If your friend is able to predict the rest of your paper accurately, you probably have a good introduction.

Five kinds of less effective introductions

1. The placeholder introduction. When you don’t have much to say on a given topic, it is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction contains several sentences that are vague and don’t really say much. They exist just to take up the “introduction space” in your paper. If you had something more effective to say, you would probably say it, but in the meantime this paragraph is just a place holder.

Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people.

2. The restated question introduction. Restating the question can sometimes be an effective strategy, but it can be easy to stop at JUST restating the question instead of offering a more specific, interesting introduction to your paper. The professor or teaching assistant wrote your question and will be reading many essays in response to it—he or she does not need to read a whole paragraph that simply restates the question.

Example: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass discusses the relationship between education and slavery in 19th century America, showing how white control of education reinforced slavery and how Douglass and other enslaved African Americans viewed education while they endured. Moreover, the book discusses the role that education played in the acquisition of freedom. Education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

3. The Webster’s Dictionary introduction. This introduction begins by giving the dictionary definition of one or more of the words in the assigned question. Anyone can look a word up in the dictionary and copy down what Webster says. If you want to open with a discussion of an important term, it may be far more interesting for you (and your reader) if you develop your own definition of the term in the specific context of your class and assignment. You may also be able to use a definition from one of the sources you’ve been reading for class. Also recognize that the dictionary is also not a particularly authoritative work—it doesn’t take into account the context of your course and doesn’t offer particularly detailed information. If you feel that you must seek out an authority, try to find one that is very relevant and specific. Perhaps a quotation from a source reading might prove better? Dictionary introductions are also ineffective simply because they are so overused. Instructors may see a great many papers that begin in this way, greatly decreasing the dramatic impact that any one of those papers will have.

Example: Webster’s dictionary defines slavery as “the state of being a slave,” as “the practice of owning slaves,” and as “a condition of hard work and subjection.”

4. The “dawn of man” introduction. This kind of introduction generally makes broad, sweeping statements about the relevance of this topic since the beginning of time, throughout the world, etc. It is usually very general (similar to the placeholder introduction) and fails to connect to the thesis. It may employ cliches—the phrases “the dawn of man” and “throughout human history” are examples, and it’s hard to imagine a time when starting with one of these would work. Instructors often find them extremely annoying.

Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history.

5. The book report introduction. This introduction is what you had to do for your elementary school book reports. It gives the name and author of the book you are writing about, tells what the book is about, and offers other basic facts about the book. You might resort to this sort of introduction when you are trying to fill space because it’s a familiar, comfortable format. It is ineffective because it offers details that your reader probably already knows and that are irrelevant to the thesis.

Example: Frederick Douglass wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave , in the 1840s. It was published in 1986 by Penguin Books. In it, he tells the story of his life.

And now for the conclusion…

Writing an effective introduction can be tough. Try playing around with several different options and choose the one that ends up sounding best to you!

Just as your introduction helps readers make the transition to your topic, your conclusion needs to help them return to their daily lives–but with a lasting sense of how what they have just read is useful or meaningful. Check out our handout on  conclusions for tips on ending your paper as effectively as you began it!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself . New York: Dover.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Jun 17, 2023

How to Write Essay Introductions: Techniques and Tips for Crafting Engaging Openings

Ever wanted to grab your readers' attention from the get-go? Discover the secrets of crafting irresistible essay introductions that leave a lasting impression. Join us on a journey to master the art of captivating openings, as we unveil techniques and insider tips to elevate your writing game. Get ready to intrigue, persuade, and engage your readers like never before.

When it comes to essay writing, the introduction structure is key. The first few sentences of an essay can determine the reader's interest and engagement, making it crucial to use effective writing techniques. Crafting an engaging opening can be challenging, but studying well-written introduction samples can provide essay inspiration and guidance. 

By carefully considering the purpose and audience of your essay, you can choose an introduction structure that will effectively set the tone for the rest of your writing. Whether you're taking a test, applying to college, or simply practicing your essay writing skills, mastering the art of the introduction is essential.

What is an Introduction?

The opening paragraph of an essay is called the introductory paragraph. As a result, it will jump out at the reader as soon as they start reading your article. Why do we need an introductory paragraph, exactly? The best introductions accomplish two goals. Its primary function is to introduce the topic of your paper to the reader; in other words, it should provide a general overview of the subject matter and some context for your central argument. It should also pique the reader's curiosity and encourage them to continue reading.

How long is an appropriate introduction?

There are no hard and fast rules about the length of an introduction paragraph. Essays by experts are usually tailored to the specified word count. For instance, an introductory line should be short enough to fit within the first paragraph of a five-paragraph essay. The opening to a lengthier paper, say 40 pages, may require many paragraphs or even a whole page.

While there are no hard and fast rules, most experts agree that the first paragraph of your essay should make up between 8 and 9 percent of the total words you use.

How to Start an Essay Introduction

A good opening sentence should meet all of the following requirements:

An engaging hook sentence should open an essay's beginning.

Your introduction should have some introductory material about your topic.

This should give the reader an idea of your essay's central claim or claims.

All pertinent details regarding time, place, and action must be included.

Make a succinct observation that will function as your essay's thesis statement at the end of your introduction.

Guide to Writing an Effective Essay Introduction

An essay's beginning should tell the reader everything they need to know to understand its argument or goal. An essay's introduction can be written in a variety of ways. Each has pros and cons, and some types of essays are better suited to one than another. Each of these essay beginnings uses a unique combination of rhetorical strategies to do the same thing: entice the reader to keep reading.

Here are some examples of writing an introduction for an essay:

Create an intriguing opening

When writing an introduction, an attention-grabbing hook can make all the difference in capturing the reader's interest. The purpose of a hook is to draw in the reader and make them want to continue reading your essay. There are many techniques for crafting an engaging introduction, but one of the most effective is using attention-grabbing hooks. 

These hooks can take many forms, from a surprising fact or statistic to a thought-provoking question or quote. By using attention-grabbing hooks, you can make your introduction more compelling and set the stage for a successful essay. However, it is important to remember to use appropriate language and avoid being overly informal, even when using attention-grabbing hooks.

Make a surprising statement: Draw the reader in with a stunning statement or a controversial claim, and then go right into the meat of your argument.

Question the subject: Begin your introduction with a question that gets readers thinking about your topic and draws them in immediately.

Insert a quote: If you can find a quote that is both memorable and relevant to your subject, use it as the first sentence of your introduction.

For Example:

Braille was a fundamental invention. It helped blind people read. (Wrong)

The invention of Braille was a significant turning point in the history of disability. It allowed visually impaired individuals to read and write independently, opening up a world of knowledge and communication that was previously inaccessible. (Correct)

A dry fact is presented in the first sentence, but a fascinating point is made in the second.

After catching the reader's interest with your hook, you should provide background information about the subject. To contextualize your paper's topic, provide some background information. While the hook gives readers a broad overview of your subject, the context sets the stage for a deeper understanding of your argument.

Depending on your instructor's guidelines, the length of your paper, and the complexity of your topic, your introduction may require as few as one phrases or as many as several. To achieve this, explain what problem or question your essay will solve related to your topic. It is a great way to get your readers interested in what you say and the topic.

To what extent, then, does an introductory paragraph's context matter? The context of your essay can be anything from the prevailing opinions and cultural attitudes to the exact circumstance or dispute you are discussing. Issues, questions, or occurrences that prompted you to write an essay on the topic that the reader should be familiar with to grasp your thesis should be included as context.

The message here is that you must provide some background information to explain why and how your issue is relevant. In addition, it prepares you to write the thesis statement, the third component of an introductory paragraph.

In the world of disability and accessibility, one invention that stands out as a game-changer is Braille. The Braille system is a tactile reading and writing system that has allowed visually impaired individuals to read and write independently for nearly two centuries. In the nineteenth century, the invention of Braille by Louis Braille, a Frenchman who himself was blind, was a significant turning point in the history of disability.

Thesis Statement

The third element of a practical introduction is a clear thesis statement. The thesis statement is the central idea of your first paragraph and should be written in whole sentences.

Your essay's thesis statement should inform the reader of the central argument or questions you will answer in your paper. Your thesis statement should be concise, easy to understand, and draw attention to your main argument.

In addition to the thesis, your professor may require an essay map. An essay's "map" is an introduction summarising the paper's main points.

The most crucial element of an introduction is the thesis statement. The point of your essay will be lost on your reader if you do not state it clearly. Moreover, for writing to be effective, it must serve a specific function. Because of its significance, your thesis statement warrants careful consideration as you craft it.

Create an outline for your essay

In longer articles, concluding the opening by briefly outlining the following sections is beneficial. Stay short, but convey the main points of your argument to the reader.

The blind community in nineteenth-century Europe is the initial focus of this article. The subsequent text elaborates on the background of Braille's development and its eventual adoption by the blind education community. The article then delves into how this innovation has altered the social and cultural landscape for people who are blind.

What to Avoid When Writing Essay Introductions

Understanding what not to include in your introduction is just as crucial as knowing how to write an excellent introduction paragraph. This can help you see how you may strengthen your writing.

The success of your essay may depend on your introduction. Therefore, it is essential to avoid being too predictable or wordy. You can cut out unnecessary passages and flesh out your thesis statement by editing your introduction extensively. When revising the first paragraph of your paper, keep the following in mind.

Introductions that drag on for too long or repeat themselves should be avoided. Straightforward to read and comprehend, short sentences are preferred.

Instead of restating the title or prompt for the essay in the introduction, try expanding on it. This aids in establishing the essay's context and keeps the reader interested.

Fluff and filler are words and phrases that are not used in the sentence or paragraph they are a part of. In your introduction, they are a waste of precious real estate, where you should be making an impact with few words.

Some Examples of Introduction for Different Types of Essays

Introduction paragraphs follow a standard format but utilize different words. Academic essays often require four critical introduction samples. Content is analytical, argumentative, personal, and narrative. Since essay purposes vary, introduction paragraphs will contain different amounts of background material. Here we will discuss some example introductions of essay types.

Argumentative Essay:

An argumentative essay is a type of essay that aims to persuade the reader to accept the author's point of view. In this type of essay, the writer presents a clear argument, provides evidence to support it, and refutes any counterarguments. The goal is to convince the reader to see things from the author's perspective.

Example Introduction:

The legalization of marijuana has been a hotly debated topic for decades. Supporters argue that it can be used for medicinal purposes and is no more harmful than alcohol, while opponents claim it is a dangerous drug that can lead to addiction and other health issues. In this essay, I will present the case for the legalization of marijuana, citing its potential benefits and addressing common concerns. By the end of this essay, I hope to persuade you that the legalization of marijuana is not only necessary but also beneficial for our society.

Narrative Essay:

A narrative essay is a type of essay that tells a story. It can be personal or fictional, but the goal is to engage the reader and create a vivid picture of the described events.

When I was seven years old, my family took a trip to the beach. It was my first time seeing the ocean, and the experience was both exhilarating and terrifying. The waves seemed enormous, and I was afraid of being pulled under. But as I waded further into the water, I felt a sense of freedom and joy I had never experienced before. This essay will recount that unforgettable day at the beach and how it shaped my view of the world.

Descriptive Essay:

A descriptive essay is a type of essay that uses sensory details to create a vivid picture of a person, place, or thing. The goal is to transport the reader to the essay's subject and make them feel as if they are there.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world. With its towering cliffs, vibrant colors, and winding river, it is a sight that must be seen to be believed. In this essay, I will describe the Grand Canyon in all its glory, from the deep crevices in the rock to the soaring heights of the cliffs. I hope to give you a glimpse of this awe-inspiring place through my words.

Expository Essay:

An expository essay is a type of essay that presents information and explains a topic. The goal is to educate the reader and provide a deeper understanding of the discussed subject.

The human brain is one of the most complex and fascinating organs. It controls everything from our thoughts and emotions to physical movements and sensations. In this essay, I will explore the structure and function of the brain and how it is responsible for the incredible range of abilities that make us who we are. Through a closer look at this incredible organ, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the marvels of the human body.

Persuasive Essay:

A persuasive essay is a type of essay that aims to persuade the reader to take a particular action or adopt a specific viewpoint. The goal is to convince the reader to agree with the author's opinion.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. It is causing devastating consequences for our planet and our future. In this essay, I will argue that we must take immediate action to address climate change and that every individual has a role in making a difference. By the end of this essay, I want to persuade you that we have a moral obligation to act on climate change and that we can create a more sustainable and livable world for ourselves and future generations.

Personal Essay:

A personal essay explores a particular aspect of the writer's life, such as a personal experience or a reflection on a more prominent theme. The goal is to provide a unique and personal perspective on the discussed subject.

Growing up, I always felt like an outsider. As a child of immigrant parents, I struggled to navigate American culture's complexities while staying connected to my family's traditions. In this essay, I will share my experience of navigating between two cultures and how it has shaped my identity and worldview. I hope to shed light on the universal experience of finding one's place in the world through my story.

2 Example of Essays Introduction

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1st Example

"While I've always been fascinated by this natural kinship," Paul Ratsmith says of his interest in the connection between pumpkins and rats, " the link between pumpkins and rats has become the focus of few if any, other studies." Since the early 1990s, Ratsmith has been researching this link, which he calls "pumpkinology." His three years living outdoors among pumpkins and rats are chronicled in his most famous work. The connection has been mentioned in various ancient documents and has been widely understood by the Romans, even though it has received little attention as of late. Pumpkinology has been called "rubbish" (de Vil, 2009), "stupid" (Claw, 2010), and "quite possibly made up" by critics who point to shoddy science and dubious methodology as reasons to discount Ratsmith's findings. Despite these objections, Ratsmith's documentation of countless pumpkin-rat colonies across North America supports the idea that these two plants are "nature's best friends" (2008).

Let us analyze the structure of this practice essay introduction. The first paragraph immediately grabs our attention. The reason for this is that it stimulates our interest. Just what is the deal with these two people? As to why it has not yet been researched, please explain. The second portion then provides background information. In the contentious study of pumpkins, Ratsmith excels. The correlation between pumpkins and rodents is the subject of this research.

The paragraph's climax and conclusion further illustrate why this is a solid example of an essay beginning. The meat of the argument is presented in the third section; scholars avoid studying the connection between pumpkins and rats because they consider Ratsmith's work to be "rubbish," even though this connection has deep historical origins. The argument presented in section four argues that Ratsmith's work is only partially with value.

The components of an introduction to an essay serve as a road map for the body of the paper. The paper will undoubtedly take us on an adventure. This is due to the author's prior experience constructing effective introductions for essays.

2nd Example

“An angry spirit terrorized the Lutz family after they moved into their new home in Amityville, New York. Their once-famous story has since been disproven by researchers and the family themselves. Nevertheless, ghost tales have held the attention of humans for ages (History, 2009). Many scientists, scholars, and thinkers have debated whether or not ghosts are actual physical phenomena. When asked this question, many scientists have said ghosts might be real.

Perhaps the answer lies in the quantum realm, which "just doesn't work the way the world around us works," but Lindley (2017) argues that "we don't have the concepts to deal with it." Although there have been several attempts to prove the presence of ghosts using scientific methods, those attempts stretch back hundreds of years (History, 2009), and technology has come a long way since then. Modern equipment and theories have allowed us to learn more about ghosts than ever before. This essay employs these methods to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that ghosts exist in the quantum world”.

This essay's opening is effective in a different way than the ones we have seen. It opens with a captivating story that is relevant and fascinating to the subject. This intrigues us, and we wonder what happened to the Lutz family. In the following section, we are given some context for the discussion. Some scientists believe in ghosts, but most people do not.

This leads right into the third section, which lays out the essay's primary points and arguments. The conclusion rests on the essay's premise, which states that ghosts are proven to exist in the quantum world. The author successfully incorporates all of the components of an essay introduction.

Final Thoughts

To write an attention-grabbing essay, one must understand the structure and purpose of writing essay introductions. Our essay introduction examples demonstrate the essential parts of an introduction, providing a solid foundation for any writing endeavor. However, a firm conclusion is just as important, providing closure and summarizing key points.

Restating the thesis, summarizing arguments, and providing final insights can leave a lasting impression on readers. By utilizing these tips and examples, writers can create engaging and persuasive essays from start to finish. With practice and an openness to feedback, mastering the art of essay writing is achievable.

If you aspire to craft high-quality essays with ease, look no further than Jenni.ai. This remarkable tool harnesses the power of AI to assist you in creating stellar introductions and even generate strong thesis statements. With its advanced auto-complete features, Jenni.ai saves you valuable time and effort throughout the essay writing process. Sign up for Jenni.ai today and experience the transformative potential of AI in your essay writing journey.

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Introduction Techniques

Introduction Techniques Podcast

Introduction techniques transcript.

Greetings everyone. This is Kurtis Clements with another effective writing podcast. In this episode, I am going to share with you techniques to use when writing an introduction.

Let’s face it: Writing introductions can be tricky. Why? Well, for one, an introduction, for better or worse, is like a first impression. If the introduction is kind of wishy-washy and not that good, then the first impression readers have of the entire essay will likely not be too favorable. Second, writing an introduction can be tricky because many writers try to write the introduction first when the simple truth is it is often difficult—if not impossible—to write a good introduction if one hasn’t even begun writing the paper. How can you properly introduce a subject if you are not sure exactly what you are going to say about the subject to begin with? For me—and I dare say for many writers—starting with some kind of introduction is necessary, but then later in the process the introduction gets revamped so that it properly and effectively introduces its subject to readers. Make sense?

Before I share some techniques, let me remind you that I discussed introductions in an earlier podcast—number 15 to be exact. In that podcast, I provided an overview of the role of an introduction in a composition, so you may want to listen to that podcast in conjunction with this podcast.

The first thing to keep in mind is that introductions set the stage for what is to follow in a piece of writing and are critical in preparing readers for the discussion. Without a proper introduction, readers may not be able to make sense of the content. An effective introduction does three things: It gets the reader interested with an enticing lead or hook, something that pulls the reader into the world of the essay; an introduction provides relevant background information readers need to understand the topic; and the introduction establishes the paper’s focus and purpose, usually via a thesis statement.

Now let me share some strategies for writing introductions. Oftentimes an introduction will have characteristics of more than one approach, so you should treat this list as a compendium of possibilities, not as a prescription of how certain types of beginnings must look. A good approach to writing an introduction is to try out a number of options so that you get a sense of the possibilities. Don’t feel locked into any one strategy and recognize that writing an introduction often requires a process just like the rest of your writing. To this end, don’t feel you have to get the introduction right the first time. The more you work on your introduction and think about what you are trying to say in your paper as a whole, the better able you are going to be to write an effective introduction.

First technique: Establish the Issue. With this type of introduction, your approach is direct and authoritative. You establish the topic, provide relevant background information so the context for your remarks is clear, and place the thesis.

Here’s an example: In the last decade or so, American culture has become increasingly tolerant of teenage sexuality. Many parents, too busy in their lives, are not proactive in educating their teens on issues related to sexuality. Educators are often left with the role of providing basic information about the subject even as more and more sexual education classes are cut from the curriculum. Where does this leave curious teens? Statistics show that 75 percent of teens have had sex by the time they are nineteen years old. The teenage birth rate continues to climb as do reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases (Healy, 2008). Cleary, it is imperative to develop intervention programs that teach adolescents the effective skills in delaying early sexual behaviors. Early education on delaying sexual activity for teens can drastically decrease teenage pregnancies, prevent the spread of STDs, and help teens to make the right choices that can impact the rest of their lives.

Technique number two: Pose One or More Questions. This introduction is a tricky one to pull off, in large part because it is so common. The basic idea is to engage readers by using one or more thoughtful questions at the start. These questions need to move beyond the mundane and predictable so as to pique the audience’s interest. Here’s an example: Did you ever think that your life would change dramatically in a matter of twenty-four hours? One day you have a certain kind of life – a home, nearby schools for your kids, a wonderful neighborhood, good job, friends – and the next day it was all gone, irreversibly changed. As a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, I had always known that a major hurricane could strike, but even knowing this fact could not prepare me for what happened in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the need for residents to evacuate when mandated, for local and state authorities to work more efficiently together, and for the federal government to respond in a timely and responsible manner.

You can tell a brief story or anecdote to begin an essay, but the challenge for the writer with this kind of introduction is to make sure the narrative is clearly related to the focus of the essay—that is, the story has a purpose.

Example: It was a dark and stormy night. The wind whipped through the trees while lightening flashed and thunder boomed. Up ahead on a hill, a rickety old house stood. In an upstairs window, a single, solitary light shone, casting an eerie shadow across the yard. I was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on business, and was driving to the outskirts of the city to visit my aunt, an old woman I hadn’t seen in nearly twenty years. According to my directions, that rickety old house was my aunt’s house, but I didn’t know if I had the nerve to knock on the door. In fact, I couldn’t remember a time I had been more scared. Everyone experiences fear just as everyone experiences happiness or sadness. Fear is a natural human emotion to the unknown and is characterized by physical changes to the body, an innate need to escape, and acute awareness of one’s surroundings.

Next technique: Use an Attention-Grabbing Statement. This type of introduction presents an opening sentence that hooks readers immediately. The statement is provocative in some way and readers want to continue reading to understand better the initial sentence.

Some children cannot sit still. They fidget and do not listen. They appear distracted by every little thing and do not seem to learn from their mistakes. These children disregard rules, even when they are punished repeatedly. Many people see such kids and conclude that their parents must not know how to control them. However, the truth is that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is misunderstood. In fact, ADHD is a growing problem that requires more research to understand, better intervention programs to help afflicted children, and improved training and support programs to help parents and educators.

An introduction can include an extended example or series of brief examples. With this approach, you provide one or more examples that illustrate perfectly an important aspect of your topic. You will want to be careful not to use content that is too sensationalistic, yet at the same time, the examples should be vivid and memorable.

According to the Federal Highway and Transportation Agency, the majority of Americans, some 57%, do not regularly wear seat belts (2008). Teddy Biro didn’t wear one when the car he was driving skidded on an icy road and hit a utility pole; Biro was catapulted through his front windshield and died of blood loss from a severed jugular vein. The coroner reported he had no other injuries besides minor abrasions. Bob Nettleblatt wasn’t wearing a seatbelt when a car rear- ended him at a stop sign. Nettleblatt slammed his head into his front windshield and required 137 stitches to close up the laceration; investigators at the scene said if he had been wearing a seatbelt, he would have been virtually unhurt from the 2 mph rear end collision (Fischer, 2007). Despite what is known about the safety of wearing seatbelts, too many Americans still do not buckle up, resulting in enormous emergency medical costs and fatalities that could be avoided. Despite what some people think, wearing a seatbelt is not a choice nor does it violate one’s personal rights. Wearing a seatbelt is the law and more needs to be done to enforce the law, punish those who break it, and educate young drivers to the dangers of not buckling up.

Here are some more good introductory approaches:

In some papers, the topic will be specialized enough that one or more terms may need to be defined so that readers can make sense of the discussion that follows. When defining a term, you should make sure the term is essential to the discussion and warrants a direct definition. In addition, you should define a term in your own words, not by consulting a dictionary. While referring to a dictionary may seem the logical approach, such definitions are predictable and usually boring. Offer a unique definition for any term that is important enough to require such attention. In the following example, note how the writer defines the term “criminal” in a way that is far more interesting than offering a dictionary definition.

Gun control legislation is ineffective because of the nature of criminals. A criminal is someone who disobeys the law and does not respect the rules of society. It is against the law to rob banks and murder people, but there are people in society who rob banks and murder people. Criminals do not obey the law regardless of the consequences. With this understanding of the basic nature of a criminal, it seems obvious that gun control would not work at reducing crime because a criminal will not follow the law. Consider the Virginia Tech shootings in April of 2007. Seung-Hui Cho’s murderous rampage took place in a gun-free zone (Brady, 2007), but as a criminal, he did not follow the law. If he respected the laws of this country, then this crime would never have occurred. It wouldn’t have happened, not because of a gun-free zone, but because he understood murder was against the law. However, criminals do not obey laws—this is what makes them criminals.

Beginning in the middle of a scene with action underway is a terrific way to hook readers. The scene needs to be thoughtfully portrayed and compact so that it is appropriate for an academic essay, but this kind of opening can be very effective for some topics.

4 AM, March 28, 1979 and the floor of the control room at Three Mile Island nuclear power station jumps to life. The two control room operators are jolted from their mid-shift doldrums as alarms begin to sound and the pounding in the auxiliary room is deafening. What those at the station did not know was that the “worst crisis yet experienced by the nation’s nuclear power industry” (Reuter, 2000, p. 31) had just begun, and its impact wouldn’t be realized for years to come, if ever. Indeed, within seconds of the first alarm, a chain of events would commence to destroy the nuclear reactor and with it, the future of the nuclear power industry in this country.

As with the posing questions technique, using a quote to start can be effective, but it is also a familiar approach, so it does not come without risk. To this end, you will want to use a quote, whether direct or indirect, that is a zinger and worthy of the space and attention you give it.

An observer once said that New Orleanians are either having a party, recuperating from a party, or planning a party. The biggest and best party of all and the city’s most famous celebration is Mardi Gras, the greatest free show on earth. Despite the image the popular media displays to outsiders, Mardi Gras is not the wild party shown on TV; in fact, Mardi Gras is a yearly celebration that is much tamer than most realize, brings family and friends together, and promotes unity among diverse groups of people.

Use a Shocking Statement or Shocking Statistic(s). This approach presents information that stops readers in their tracks. While the content is startling, it is also appropriate to the topic and provides an interesting context for the essay.

McDonald’s has sold over 100 billion burgers. One hundred billion burgers with bun, stacked on top of one another would extend over 2.9 million miles into space—twelve times as far as the moon (Grimes, 2007). What is the secret of McDonald’s incredible success? To use the words of Ray Kroc, McDonald’s founder, the secret to McDonald’s success is that the fast-food giant produces “consistently mediocre food” (Thomas, 2001, p. 67). The McDonald’s corporation has become a model of success due to its understanding of its market niche, its ability to redefine its image over time, and its ability to remain stable and produce a profit even in difficult economic times.

Let these techniques serve as possible approaches to use when it comes time to write your own introductions. Don’t feel locked into using any one strategy as you can combine techniques if that’s what it takes to make the introduction work. The best advice I can offer is to experiment with these approaches—that is, try out multiple techniques until you find one that really seems to do the job. And don’t be afraid to write your introduction later in the writing process or revise the one you started with to something new. Make your essay’s first impression count!

Thanks everyone for listening. Good luck with your introductions! Happy writing!

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How To Write An Academic Essay Introduction

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In the realm of academic writing , introductions serve as the gateway to a world of knowledge, insight, and critical analysis. They are the first impression a reader encounters, setting the stage for the entire essay that follows. Academic essay introductions are not only preliminary paragraphs; they play a crucial role in engaging the audience, representing your thesis, and outlining the essay’s structure .

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Academic essay introduction – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: Academic essay introduction
• 3 How to write an academic essay introduction
• 4 Types of academic essay introductions

Academic essay introduction – In a Nutshell

There are numerous questions that students raise concerning the structure of an academic essay introduction. It serves as the starting point of your essay and plays a crucial role in setting the stage for the readers. The introduction identifies and indicates the main theme or focus of the essay. It aims to grab the reader’s attention, connect the content, and represents the statement of your thesis.

Definition: Academic essay introduction

An academic essay introduction is the initial section of an academic essay. It provides preliminary information, sets the context and tone , captures the reader’s attention, and presents a clear and concise thesis statement to outline the main argument or focus of the essay. Its purpose is to orient the reader and offer a roadmap for the discussion that follows. A well-crafted introduction can capture the reader’s attention and make them want to read further and consists of three essential elements, including an attention grabber, a connection to the academic essay’s content, and a thesis statement .

Attention grabber

This is the first sentence of your academic essay introduction. The purpose of the attention grabber is to capture the attention of the reader. It should be in the form of a quote, anecdote, dialogue, or an interesting fact about the topic of discussion.

Connections

These are a few sentences that lead the reader from the academic essay introduction to the thesis statement. These sentences highlight what you will be talking about throughout your academic essay and give background on your topic.

Thesis statement

This is the statement that comes towards the end of your academic essay introduction. It provides a concise summary of the essay’s main idea, and it’s usually expressed in a single sentence. This is the most important part of your introduction.

How to write an academic essay introduction

Writing an effective academic essay introduction is crucial for any piece of writing, whether it’s an essay, research paper, article, or even a speech. An introduction serves as the reader’s first impression and should grab their attention, provide context, and present the main thesis or purpose of your work. A strong introduction provides an overview of what the entire paper is about and should be convincing to the reader that reading the rest of the academic essay is worth their time.

Here’s a guide outlining best practices and pitfalls to avoid:

• Hook your reader : Begin your introduction with an engaging hook that captures the reader’s attention. Use a compelling fact, quote, question, or anecdote to draw the reader in.
• Provide context : Offer background information or context related to your topic. Explain the key terms, concepts, or historical background that are essential for understanding your subject.
• Brief and concise : Academic introductions should be concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details or lengthy explanations. Aim for clarity and brevity.
• Avoid clichés : Some styles of writing academic essay introductions may have been successfully used before but sound too obvious and usual today. An example of a cliché ideology in writing an introduction to your academic essay is starting the introduction with a definition.
• Thesis statement : Present your statement in a clear and concise manner. Your thesis should be specific, arguable, and provide a roadmap for the rest of your paper.
• Outline structure : Briefly outline the structure of your academic paper by mentioning the main points or arguments you will discuss in the body paragraphs. This helps the reader understand the organization of your essay.
• Revise and proofread: After writing your academic essay introduction, revise and proofread it carefully. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes, as well as clarity and coherence.
• Informal language : Academic essay writing comes with some form of strictness when it comes to tone and language, and your introduction is not an exception. Only be informal when required to by your lecturer or tutor.
• Too many details : Only highlight the necessary introductory information here. Save the in-depth discussion for the body of your paper. An introduction should be a brief overview of your topic.
• Irrelevant information : Stay focused on the essay topic. Don’t include information that is not directly related to your thesis or the purpose of your academic essay introduction.
• Overusing quotations & definitions : While quotations and definitions can be effective, don’t overuse them in your academic essay introduction. Avoid using too many quotations and dictionary definitions.
• Unsupported claims : Don’t make claims or statements in your introduction that you cannot support with evidence in the body of your paper. Be cautious about making unsubstantiated assertions.
• New ideas : Your academic essay introduction should not introduce new ideas or arguments that you do not intend to explore in your paper. Stick to what you will discuss in the body.
• Being vague : Avoid vague or general statements in your introduction. Your thesis should be specific, and the introduction should provide a clear sense of what your paper will address.

Types of academic essay introductions

Academic essay introductions come in various types, each with its own purpose, structure, and style. The type of essay you write will depend on the specific requirements of your assignment and the academic discipline. Here are some common types of academic essays:

Argumentative Essay

Comparative essay, descriptive essay, expository essay, narrative essay, persuasive essay.

An argumentative essay is a type of academic writing that presents a clear argument or position on a specific topic. The primary purpose of an argumentative essay is to persuade the reader to accept or agree with the writer’s viewpoint on a controversial or debatable issue. They are commonly assigned in academic settings, including high school and college, as they help students develop critical thinking, research, and persuasive communication skills. They also encourage students to engage with complex issues and develop their ability to construct and defend informed opinions.

A compare and contrast essay involves examining and analyzing two or more subjects or items to identify their similarities and differences. The primary goal of this essay is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subjects being compared and contrasted, allowing readers to gain insights into their relationships, distinctions, or significance.

A descriptive essay aims to paint a vivid picture of a person, place, object, event, or experience through the use of detailed sensory observations and language. The primary purpose of a descriptive essay is to engage the reader’s senses and emotions, allowing them to visualize and experience what the writer is describing. The goal of a descriptive essay is not to persuade or argue, but rather to create a sensory and emotional connection with the subject.

Expository essays are commonly assigned in academic settings, including schools and universities, as they help students develop research, analytical, and communication skills. These essays also serve as a valuable format for explaining complex topics or conveying information to a broad audience in a clear and understandable way.

A narrative essay is a type of essay in which the author tells a story or recounts a personal experience. The primary purpose of a narrative essay is to engage the reader by creating a vivid and memorable narrative that conveys a message or lesson. Unlike other types of essays that may focus on presenting information or arguing a point, a narrative essay is centered around storytelling.

A persuasive essay is a form of academic writing where the writer presents their argument and seeks to persuade or convince the reader to adopt their perspective on a specific topic or issue. The writer provides evidence and reasons to support their argument, aiming to influence the reader’s beliefs, or actions. The primary goal of a persuasive essay is to present a compelling case for the writer’s position on a controversial or debatable subject.

How long should an academic essay introduction be?

The length of an academic essay introduction can vary depending on several factors, including the overall length of the essay, the complexity of the topic, and the specific requirements set by your instructor or academic institution. However, academic essay introductions are typically concise and to the point, typically ranging from about 5% to 10% of the total essay length.

What makes a good academic essay introduction?

A good academic essay introduction should highlight the critical context of the topic in question, indicating your specific focus in the essay. It should be able to capture the reader’s attention by giving them an overview of the academic essay structure and what the entire paper is about. It’s also important that the introduction begins with a strong opening sentence to catch the reader’s attention.

How do you start an academic essay introduction?

Starting an academic essay introduction can be tricky. Every so often, you literally just don’t know where to start! However, with the following tips, you should be able to get onto the right track:

• Read about transition words and sentence starters
• Repeat your topic or subject description using different words
• Point out some interesting facts about the topic
• Consider starting with a rhetorical question

How do you write an introduction paragraph for an academic essay?

Your academic essay introduction paragraph should begin with a one or two sentence opening statement created to capture the attention of the reader. This should be followed by a couple of sentences that connect the opening statement with the thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the key impression of what the academic essay is all about and should be towards the end of the introduction.

Can I use quotations in academic essay introductions?

Yes, this is not only possible but can be a very effective way to start an essay, paper, or speech. Using a relevant quote can capture the reader’s attention, provide context on the topic, or establish the tone and theme of your work. Remember that the use of quotations in academic essay introductions should serve a purpose and enhance the overall quality of your work. Use them strategically to engage your audience and set the stage for the content that follows.

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Types of Introductions in Essays

26 sep 2017.

All essays need an introduction, a way to inform the reader about the topic and show the writer's perspective on the subject. The way you choose to write your introduction will depend on the type of essay you are writing and the topic itself. Knowing some of the options you have for introductions will help you write an effective opening that engages your readers and makes them want to keep reading.

Explore this article

• Set the Scene
• Give an Overview
• Quote an Expert
• Ask a Question

1 Set the Scene

Scene setting works well for essays that tell a story. You might also use this style if you want to draw your readers into your topic, creating a scenario that they may identify with. Giving the sights, sounds, tastes and feel of a scene makes readers want to know more.

2 Give an Overview

You can use the introduction to give an overview or the historical background of your topic. This grounds readers in the facts and provides the information they need to understand your subject matter. In this style, you might also compare and contrast ideas to show how your topic relates to others. Your goal is to provide readers with enough information that they can focus on the points you present in the body of your essay.

3 Quote an Expert

Introducing your essay with a quote from an expert in the subject matter will help establish the credibility of your research and your viewpoint. The right quote will also give readers information about the topic and establish your viewpoint, helping to create a solid foundation for your argument.

4 Ask a Question

You might pose one or more questions to your readers in the introduction. This style can help you bring readers closer to your topic, increasing their awareness of how they feel or react to your subject matter. When you pose a question in your introduction, you need address the answer throughout your essay. You should not ask questions that do not relate directly to the topic itself. For example, you might ask, “How would you get back on your feet if you lost your job and your home?” With this question in mind, the main part of your essay might state facts on the subject of homelessness or give ideas on how to help people faced with this situation.

• 1 Long Beach City College: Writing Introductory Paragraphs for Essays
• 2 Valencia College: Writing Effective Introductions

About the Author

Kate Beck started writing for online publications in 2005. She worked as a certified ophthalmic technician for 10 years before returning to school to earn a Masters of Fine Arts degree in writing. Beck is currently putting the finishing touches on a novel.

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Do you want to know how to write an effective essay introduction? Are you unsure of where to start? Don’t worry; we are here to help! We will explore what makes a good introduction, how to structure your introduction and what to include in it. We will also consider what not to include when writing one, so you know how to improve your work and avoid common mistakes.

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Introduction meaning

A definition of an essay introduction is

An opening paragraph that states the purpose and outlines the main objectives of your essay. This is followed by the main body of your essay and then a conclusion .

Think of an introduction as the starting line.

Types of Introduction in an essay

There are different types of essay introductions, depending on what you are writing about and the goal of your essay. Some examples of different introduction purposes include:

- Explaining why your chosen topic is interesting or important.

- Explaining how your essay will change misconceptions about your topic.

- Explaining the elements of your topic that may be unusual to the reader.

Essay Introduction structure

It is important to note that there are many different ways to write an essay introduction. This is simply a suggested structure for your paragraph. Your introduction may closely follow this structure, or it could differ from it. The choice is up to you - it depends on what you feel is the best way to present your writing to the reader.

So what could you include in an introduction paragraph?

An example of an introduction paragraph structure contains the following aspects:

2. Background information

3. Introduction of essay brief and outline of your argument's main goal.

Let’s take a look at these in more detail.

This is a memorable opening line that draws the reader in and intrigues them. It is important to catch the reader's attention from the beginning, as this sets the tone for the rest of the essay to follow. A hook could be written in a variety of ways, such as:

A statement can be used to make a declaration that will either support your argument or go against it.

For example:

‘Comprehensible input is considered one of the most effective ways to learn a language.’

A question is an excellent way to interest the reader and suggests that the reader will find out the answer to the question if they keep reading. This will keep them engaged throughout your essay.

‘How does the language used in the media affect the way we communicate daily?’

A quotation provides the reader with information from a source that relates to your brief

‘According to linguist David Crystal (2010), "most people entering their teens have a vocabulary of at least 20,000 words."'

A fact/statistic could immediately impress the reader as it shows knowledge of the topic and provides them with real evidence from the start. You should ensure that the quote is from a reliable source and is relevant to your thesis statement and argument.

'Worldwide, around 1.35 billion people speak English.’

Background information

Background information provides the reader with context , so they gather more of an understanding of the topic you are exploring. This could be done in a variety of ways, for example:

Explaining a term - e.g. providing a definition.

Providing information about important events or dates - e.g historical context, social context etc.

Research about the topic - e.g. introducing a key theory and theorists.

Outline and set the context of past work - e.g. previous studies on your essay topic .

Essay brief and main goal of argument

An essay brief refers to the main idea of your essay. When introducing your essay brief, think of the following questions:

What is my essay about?

What is the purpose of this essay?

Outlining the main goal of your argument will let the reader know what to expect in the body of the essay and will give your essay a structure to follow. When doing this, think of the following questions:

Am I arguing for or against something?

What am I trying to prove to the reader?

What are the key points that I can further expand on in the body of my essay?

Which theories am I going to be discussing/analysing?

It is important to remember that this part of your introduction provides a summary of the essay by outlining the main points that you will develop in the main body of your essay. For example, stating something like this:

This essay will discuss the positives and negatives of deductive learning. It will critically analyse Sinclair and Coulthard's IRF model and provide some future recommendations.

What not to do in an Introduction paragraph

Although it is helpful to know examples of effective introduction paragraphs, it is also important to be aware of what not to include in your introduction. This will give you a clearer idea of how to improve your writing.

Don't make your introduction too long.

Your introduction should be brief and concise . If you go into too much detail straight away, this leaves you no opportunity for you to expand on ideas and develop your argument further in the body of your essay.

Don't be too vague

You want to make it clear to the reader that you know what you are talking about and are sure of your argument. If you don't make your intentions clear from the beginning, it may confuse the reader or imply that you are unsure of the direction of your essay.

How long should an Introduction paragraph be?

Depending on how long your essay is, your introduction could vary in length. In relation to the other parts of your essay (main body and conclusion paragraphs), it should be roughly the same length as your conclusion . It is suggested that your introduction (and conclusion ) should each be around ten percent of the total word count. For example, if you write 1000 words, your introduction and conclusion should be around 100 words each. Of course, this may vary depending on how detailed your essay is and what you are writing about.

Essay Introduction example

Below is an example of an essay introduction. It has been colour coded in the following way:

Blue = Hook

Pink = Background information

Green = Essay brief and goal of argument

Essay question example: Explore the ways in which the English language has either positively or negatively impacted the world.

Worldwide, around 1.35 billion people speak English. The use of the English language is becoming increasingly prominent, particularly within political and economic communication around the world. Due to its global influence, English is now regarded as a lingua franca (global language). But how and why has English become so powerful? Through the analysis of language globalisation, this study will explore the positive effect English has on both global communication and language learning. It will also consider the ways in which English could be used in the future to further develop learning potential.

Introduction - Key Takeaways

• An introduction is an opening paragraph that states the purpose and outlines the main objectives of your essay.
• An introduction is followed by the main body of the essay and the conclusion.
• A structure of an essay introduction can include: a hook, background information, and a thesis statement/outline of your argument's main goal.
• An introduction shouldn't be too long, or too vague.

An introduction should be around 10% of your whole word count.

Frequently Asked Questions about Introduction

--> what is an introduction.

An opening paragraph that states the purpose and outlines the main objectives of your writing.

--> How to write an introduction?

To write an introduction, you could include the following elements:

• A memorable hook
• Relevant background information
• Essay brief and argument's main goal 

--> How to write a hook for an essay?

A hook can be written in multiple ways, e.g. a statement, a question, a quotation, a fact/statistic. It should be memorable for the reader and relevant to the topic of your essay!

--> What comes after an introduction in an essay?

An introduction is followed by the main body of the essay, which expands on the points made in the introduction and develops your argument.

--> How long should an introduction be?

What is an introduction?

An opening paragraph that states the purpose and outlines the main objectives of your work.

What is an introduction followed by?

Main body and conclusion

What is a hook?

 A memorable opening line that draws the reader in and intrigues them.

A hook can be written in a variety of ways. What are they?

Statement, question, quotation, fact/statistic

What does background information do?

Provide the reader with context.

Fill in the blanks:

Background information allows the reader to gain more of an ________ of the _____ you are exploring.

understanding

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• Writing Tips

Four Examples of Introductory Paragraph for Your Essay or Paper

3-minute read

• 30th October 2023

Writing an academic paper comes with many challenges, not the least of which is fleshing out an introductory paragraph . Knowing where to start can often be tricky.

But fear not! In today’s post, we provide four examples of introductory paragraphs for different types of essays . We hope these examples will give you some inspiration to start writing.

1. Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay clearly defines the author’s stance on a topic or debate, often providing evidence and looking at both sides of an issue.

Example Introduction

Why the paragraph works.

It engages with current issues: By referencing the current interconnected nature of society, the introduction places the essay in a contemporary context and makes the topic relatable to the reader.

It clearly states the debate: The writer presents two opposing views on online privacy in a clear, simple, and succinct way.

It sets expectations: The essay makes the reader aware that it will explore both sides of the debate.

2. Descriptive Essay

In descriptive essays , you describe something, such as a place or an experience, in vivid detail. These essays often employ imagery and descriptive language.

It provides vivid imagery: The descriptions of the sunset and the waves instantly create a picture in the reader’s mind.

It evokes emotion: The mention of an escape from daily life elicits a sense of calm, peace, and longing.

It maintains concision: The introduction is short but powerful in setting the mood; it shows rather than telling .

3. Compare and Contrast Essay

In a compare and contrast essay , you discuss two subjects by looking at their similarities and differences.

It presents the subjects: The introduction clearly identifies the two works being compared.

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It highlights the main differences: The primary contrasts between the two works are introduced up front.

It sets the course: The reader knows that the essay will delve deeper into how each author conveys their message.

4. Personal Narrative Essay

A personal narrative essay tells a story about a personal experience you’ve had.

It provides a personal touch: The introduction gives a hint of personal significance and the transformative power of the experience.

It sets an intriguing scene: The opening line paints a picture, placing the reader at the scene and sparking curiosity about how it impacted the writer’s life.

It resonates emotionally: By mentioning self-discovery and life-changing moments, the introduction connects with readers on an emotional level.

Feeling inspired? We hope this post helped you to come up with some ideas for the introductory paragraph of your essay or paper. And once you have a first draft, make sure you send it our way for editing and a final proofread.

We’ll check your work for grammar, spelling, word choice, readability, formatting, consistency, referencing, and more! We’ll even proofread your first 500 words for free .

What makes an introductory paragraph effective?

An introductory paragraph should introduce the topic clearly, intrigue the reader, and set accurate expectations for what the rest of the essay will cover.

What are the different types of essays?

Some common types of student essays are narrative, descriptive, compare and contrast, persuasive, argumentative, expository, and process.

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Types of Essay Introductions

An introduction is an integral part of essays of any kind. A good introduction must familiarize the audience with the topic of an essay and provide the writer’s perspective. You should choose different types of introduction, depending on your topic and the type of essay. Fortunately, there are a few options that always work well, making your audience want to read more. Learn more about different types of introduction with college-writers.com blog.

Scene Setting

This is a great approach if you want to tell a story. However, you can use such introductions not only in narrative essays. For example, you can set the scene to describe a scenario that your readers can identify with. Describe sounds, tastes, sites, and feel of a scene so that your readers can picture themselves in the situation.

Your introduction may also provide an overview of your topic or its historical background. This way, you will give your readers information that will help them better understand the subject. An overview also allows you to compare and contrast different ideas so that your audience can see the connection between your topic and others. The main goal of such an introduction is to help the audience focus on the main points described in the body of the essay.

Your introduction may also provide a quote from an expert in your subject to prove the credibility of your opinion and your research. A properly chosen quote will help you establish your viewpoint, while also providing your readers with some useful information and supporting your argument.

In the introduction, you may ask one or more questions related to the subject matter. It will help make your readers more involved in the topic so that they can formulate their own opinion. Keep in mind that, if your introduction contains a question, you should answer it in the essay. Don’t answer questions that are unrelated to the topic. The question must prepare your readers for the body of the essay.

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• Aug 29, 2022

Types of Essay Introductions

Updated: Apr 27, 2023

Today, we're going to learn about different types of essay introductions. I'm going to provide you with examples and I will show you how to do it, and we are going to talk about the best type of introduction for a given essay.

Traditional

The first type of introduction I want to talk about is the traditional approach. For this, we are going to use 3 parts. We're going to have a hook, a transition (sometimes called a bridge), and a thesis statement.

We want to start with something interesting related to our topic. Then, we have a smooth transition or bridge to the thesis statement, and we state our case or our main idea clearly and specifically.

The Funnel introduction starts with a broad opening and then becomes more specific. The most specific part is the thesis statement.

Let's look at this example below. You can see that we start off broad with the idea that diet and exercise are two areas that we can control when it comes to our health. Then we get more specific in the thesis statement.

The Overview Introduction provides a survey often involving research about a topic. For that reason, they are commonly used in research essays. At the university level, you might have something more in-depth like a literature review.

In the example below, note that before we get to the thesis statement, we are showing the trend within the research for this particular topic.

Personal anecdotes could not be more different than an Overview. Whereas Overviews are academic, personal anecdotes are best suited to personal essays where you are communicating your own experience. This is often used for college application essays because a university or college wants to know about you, they want to know about your experience, and who you are.

Let's take a look at the example below. As you can see, anecdotes draw on rich imagery to engage the reader's senses.

The final introduction type that we're looking at today is the contrast introduction. Here we might begin with an objection to our argument. Then we use a transition word like 'however', and then we shift to our thesis statement, which states the opposite.

Here is an example:

We begin the paragraph above with the idea that the particular malaria eradication program that was used in the United States was effective. Then we use our connection word "however" to shift to a perspective about this that says that this is not something that can be generalized or may not work in some regions.

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Are your essays falling flat with a disinterested audience? Do you find it challenging to keep readers engaged from start to finish?

The truth is, if you don't capture your reader's attention right away, they might just click away or, worse, never even start reading your essay.

But how can we make sure that does not happen? 

An essay hook is what you need to meet this challenge. It is an attention grabber that hooks your reader’s interest.

Here, we will discuss several catchy hook examples to make your piece of writing more engaging. You can also read the types of hooks and tips to write effective hook statements for your essay. 

So, let’s start with the blog!

• 1. What is an Essay Hook?
• 2. Examples of Different Types of Hook
• 3. Hook Examples for Types of Essays
• 4. How to Choose a Good Hook?
• 5. How to Write a Good Essay Hook?

What is an Essay Hook?

An essay hook, often found at the beginning of an essay introduction , serves as an opening sentence that immediately grabs the reader's attention. These hooks are a common feature in high school, college, and various academic assignments.

It's vital to understand that hooks are distinct from introductions; they complement introductions rather than replacing them. A well-crafted hook should be self-contained, avoiding the pitfalls of being dull or predictable.

Purpose of Hook in Writing

An effective hook serves two primary purposes. 

• Firstly, it sets the tone for the essay by providing the reader with a glimpse of the topic's essence. 
• Secondly, it constructs a compelling introduction that tempts the reader to dive deeper into the essay's content.

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Examples of Different Types of Hook

In this section, we will explore different types of essay hooks and hook sentence examples. We will look into how these hooks can be used for writing different academic papers.

Question Hook

You can grab the reader’s attention by asking them an intriguing question that they would want to know the answer to. When posing a question, think about the interest of the reader and the things they would want to learn more about.

Avoid making your question generalized or simple Yes or No questions. For instance, asking a general question such as “Do you watch television?” won’t grab their attention and make them think it over. 

Using rhetorical questions to engage the reader is always a good idea!

Question Hook Example

Here are 10 hook question examples:

An anecdote can be a personal story or a product of your imagination. Provided that the story is relevant to your focus topic.

Typically, an anecdote is a funny statement, written to make the reader laugh and want to continue reading further.

Our lives are full of stories. Every day something interesting, funny, or strange happens. So, why don’t you use such stories to attract the reader’s attention?

Anecdote Hook Example

An anecdotal hook should be directly related to the central theme of the paper, demonstrating its relevance and connection to the main idea.

A "quote hook" is a type of hook used in writing that involves opening an essay with a quotation from a notable person, a famous author, or a respected source. The purpose of a quote hook is to immediately capture the reader's attention and establish the relevance of the topic by providing an authoritative statement.

A well-chosen quote can add credibility to your writing, evoke emotion, or introduce a key theme or idea that you intend to explore in your essay. It can also set the tone for the piece, whether it's persuasive, informative, or narrative.

Quotation Hook Example

The following is a quotation hook example that you can consider for your essay. 

Statistical Facts 

Fact or statistic hook is a type of hook used in writing that involves opening an essay or piece of content with a numerical fact or data point. The purpose of a statistical facts hook is to immediately engage the reader's interest by presenting them with a surprising, statistic related to the essay's topic.

This type of hook is particularly effective when writing an informative essay or persuasive essays that rely on data and evidence to support the main argument. 

Statistical Hook Example

Below is an interesting statistical hook example:

Personal Story

Starting a piece of writing with a personal short story is a good idea when writing narrative essays or a college application essay .

It doesn’t have to be an experience that you faced firsthand; it could be something that happened with a friend or a relative.

Personal Story Hook Example

Here is a great hook example for a personal story essay that you can consider. 

Description Hook

This hook is a vivid description of a scene or event to draw readers' attention to your writing. A well-written descriptive hook will make your readers want to know more about what is in the rest of your paper. 

Descriptive hooks are most commonly used in narrative essays but can be used in any type of writing. 

Description Hook Essay Example

The following is an interesting example of a description hook that you can read for your better understanding. 

Metaphor/Simile Hook

The metaphor/simile hook is used to help readers think about a particular topic in a different way. Your readers will think about the meaning and the context in which the topic is being addressed. 

A metaphor directly compares two things that are not related to each other. 

Metaphor/Simile Hook Example

Literary quotes.

When writing book reviews, it is often a good idea to use literary quotes. However, it is important to keep in mind that these quotes may not be appropriate for use in persuasive or expository essays .

We remember visual information more efficiently than words. When we see something, our brains quickly turn it into a picture. Scenes are often used in descriptive or narrative essays.

Scene Hook Example

Hook examples for types of essays.

There are different types of essays according to their structure and purpose. For instance, an argumentative essay is a serious essay written to persuade the reader on an argument. Whereas a narrative essay could be a light-hearted narration of an event. 

You can not use a funny question to start an argumentative essay. Similarly, you can not use a serious fact to start a funny narrative essay. 

The table shows hook examples for essays:

Let’s explore in detail some interesting hook examples according to different types of essays.

Expository Essay Hook Example

Hook: "Did you know that bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of the world's crops?"

Explanation: This hook explains the surprising and essential role that bees play in our food production, setting the stage for an expository essay that will explore this topic in detail.

Argumentative Essay Hook Example

Hook: "Is the use of technology making us more connected or driving us further apart as a society?"

Explanation: This hook presents a thought-provoking question about the impact of technology on human relationships, signaling that the argumentative essay will analyze and argue different perspectives on this issue.

Descriptive Essay Hook Example

A hook example sentence for a descriptive essay is as follows: 

Hook: "Imagine standing on a pristine white beach, the turquoise waves gently caressing your toes, and the scent of saltwater filling the air."

Explanation: This hook invites the reader to visualize a tranquil scene, creating anticipation for a descriptive essay that will provide vivid details and sensory experiences of this beautiful location.

Persuasive Essay Hook Example 

A hook example sentence for a persuasive essay is as follows:

Hook: "What if I told you that a simple change in diet could extend your lifespan by years?"

Explanation: This hook raises a compelling question about the potential health benefits of dietary choices, hinting at the persuasive argument that will follow in the essay.

Narrative Essay Hook Example

A hook example for narration is as follows: Hook: “I am really not sure if it is a real memory or just something that became more solid over time. But I am not sure that my neighbor once tried to murder me.”

Explanation: This hook introduces doubt about the authenticity of a memory involving the neighbor's alleged murder attempt.

Compare and Contrast Essay Hook Example 

Hook: "Apples and oranges—two fruits that couldn't be more different in taste, texture, and appearance." Explanation: This hook highlights the contrast between apples and oranges, signaling that the compare and contrast essay will explore the differences and similarities between these two fruits.

Process Essay Hook Example

A hook example sentence for a process analysis essay is as follows:

Hook: "Have you ever wondered how your favorite chocolate chip cookies are made?"

Explanation: This hook engages the reader's curiosity about the process of making chocolate chip cookies, setting the stage for a process essay that will provide step-by-step instructions.

Cause and Effect Essay Hook Example 

A hook example sentence for a cause and effect essay is as follows:

Hook: "In the realm of environmental science, the butterfly effect is real."

Explanation: This hook introduces the concept of the butterfly effect and its relevance to environmental science, foreshadowing a cause and effect essay that will explore the ripple effects of small actions on the environment.

Analytical Essay Hook Example

A hook example sentence for a analytical essay is as follows:

Hook: "Unlocking the hidden layers of Shakespearean sonnets is like deciphering a cryptic code."

Explanation: This hook uses a metaphor to describe the complexity of analyzing Shakespearean sonnets, indicating that the analytical essay will delve into the intricate language and themes within these works.

Hook Examples In Speeches

Hook: “In the United States, people are still fighting to be free. Many are fighting for free access to resources, free speech, and even the right to marry.”

Hook: “Getting revenge can easily become an obsession for many people. Some really crave for that kind of thing when they are being wronged.”

How to Choose a Good Hook?

Choosing a good hook involves engaging your audience, creating interest, and setting the stage for your content. Here is how to choose a good hook: 

• Know Your Audience: Understand the interests and preferences of your target audience.
• Relevance is Key: Ensure your hook directly relates to your content's topic.
• Shock or Surprise: Use shocking facts, surprising statistics, or intriguing anecdotes.
• Tell a Story: Engage emotionally with personal stories or narratives.
• Pose a Question: Ask thought-provoking questions that make readers curious.
• Quotations: Share powerful quotes from relevant authorities.
• Visual Imagery: Use descriptive language to create vivid mental images.
• Conciseness: Keep your hook brief and to the point.
• Test and Refine: Experiment with different hooks and refine based on audience response.

Now that you have learned various techniques for crafting effective hooks, you're well-prepared to start writing one.

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How to Write a Good Essay Hook?

Here are the points that you need to keep in mind to write a hook for your essay. 

Step#1 Know the Kind of Literary Work 

First, it is important to have a clear vision in mind of the literary work you have selected for your paper. Here you need to describe what a certain essay type demands and what types of techniques you require to support your arguments in your essay. 

Step#2 Create an Outline

Always create an essay outline to see how the information can be organized better and which points need to be highlighted. Try to find an attention grabber that adds to the significance of that point. 

Step#3 Who are You Writing for?

Know your target audience and choose a way in which you want to develop your work. Your hook statement should be according to it. If you are writing for children, write in simple language. If you are writing for professionals, take the specific language into account. 

Step#4 Know the Purpose of Writing Your Essay

Choose hooks that fit your paper. Know the type of essay you are writing and its purpose. You can go for funny hooks if you are writing a paper on a light topic. If you are writing a conference paper, then you should be more formal. 

To Sum it Up!

Now you know the different ways to start your essay or research paper. You are the one to decide which hook is better and more effective to use according to the type of paper. Don’t forget to take into account the preparatory steps and figure out what type of hook is best to use.

You know that starting with a hook can make or break your academic essay. However, it is not always easy to come up with the perfect anecdote or statement for an opening line. 

Luckily, you can get help from  MyPerfectWords.com . Our team of professional writers is ready to craft impeccable essays tailored to your needs, ensuring academic success without the stress.

Why struggle with complex assignments when you can ask us to " write my essay online " and experience the difference firsthand? 

Order your essay now and unlock a world of academic excellence!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good hook sentence.

A good hook sentence is a sentence that grabs the reader’s attention or compels them to read your essay further. It is supposed to make your essay more interesting and engaging for them.

A great technique to use is starting out by making an assertive claim about your topic. This will help in grabbing the reader’s attention the moment they begin reading your essay.

What comes first, thesis or hook?

The hook of your essay is the first line of your introductory paragraph or can be more than one also. But the essay hook is written first.

A thesis statement follows it. It is included as a mini-outline of the essay and tells the readers about the essay’s content. Further on, the transitional hook sentence is added at the end of the paragraph.

What is the purpose of a hook?

The main and foremost purpose of a hook is to grab the attention of readers and hook them to your work. It creates an interesting and enticing start to an essay or any other assignment and connects the readers to your work.

What is a hook statement?

The hook is the first sentence of your introduction, and it should be interesting. A great way to start your introduction is by writing an engaging, concise, and clear hook. This will spark curiosity in the reader, which leads them through all that you have written about.

How long is a hook in an essay?

The hook is 1-2 sentences of your essay are important because they help capture the reader's attention. They will continue reading if they are interested in what you have to say.

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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6 Common Leadership Styles — and How to Decide Which to Use When

• Rebecca Knight

Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances call for different approaches.

Research suggests that the most effective leaders adapt their style to different circumstances — be it a change in setting, a shift in organizational dynamics, or a turn in the business cycle. But what if you feel like you’re not equipped to take on a new and different leadership style — let alone more than one? In this article, the author outlines the six leadership styles Daniel Goleman first introduced in his 2000 HBR article, “Leadership That Gets Results,” and explains when to use each one. The good news is that personality is not destiny. Even if you’re naturally introverted or you tend to be driven by data and analysis rather than emotion, you can still learn how to adapt different leadership styles to organize, motivate, and direct your team.

Much has been written about common leadership styles and how to identify the right style for you, whether it’s transactional or transformational, bureaucratic or laissez-faire. But according to Daniel Goleman, a psychologist best known for his work on emotional intelligence, “Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances may call for different approaches.”

• RK Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.

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