Composing and Revising

Strategies for writing an introduction

C-50

A good introduction pulls the reader into the text, helping the reader know what to expect and how to approach the text. In the introduction to academic papers, the writer might begin with a thesis and then provide supporting examples for the thesis. Or the paper might set a context that leads up to the thesis. Whatever your strategy, you want to engage and orient the reader.

An introduction for a brief essay might be a single paragraph. For longer papers, an introduction might be two or three paragraphs.

Here are some suggestions for introducing your text:

Hook the reader with an anecdote, a question, or a vivid example.
Relate your topic to an important book, article, author, study, or event.
Indicate who your readers are and why they might find your ideas valuable.
Establish the importance of your topic or the need for discussion of your topic.
Provide background information (context) that sets up your thesis.
Highlight key issues, findings, and/or recommendations.
Establish the scope and focus of your paper: what you will cover and what you will accomplish.
Clearly state your thesis.

Providing a hook in your introduction

Effective introduction: analysis (Equal Exchange ad)

Effective introduction: research paper (government regulation of food choices)

Effective introduction: argument paper (citizen journalism)