Your introduction provides a framework within which your readers can understand and interpret your main point. By calling attention to a specific situation, by asking a particular question, or by conveying a carefully chosen set of details, you can help your readers view your subject in a particular way. Consider, for example, the differences between two introductions to an essay about buying habits among younger Americans.

Introduction 1

In the face of a downturn in the economy, frugality is undergoing a revival in America. Young people are cutting up their credit cards, clipping coupons, and sticking to detailed budgets. In effect, they are adopting the very habits they mocked during the heady days of easy credit and weekend shopping sprees. Secondhand stores and thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army are drawing record numbers of customers, while once stable retail giants like Circuit City and Sharper Image have gone out of business (Wall Street Journal). In fact, retail sales during the Christmas season were down 2.8% last year, the lowest since 1995 (CNNMoney.com). The causes of this sea change in the spending habits of young Americans are complex and varied: high rates of unemployment, fewer jobs for recent graduates, difficulty securing credit, and that elusive factor economists call “consumer confidence.”

Introduction 2

The new frugal spending habits of American consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 are endangering the very people who are trying to save money. Plagued with rising unemployment, widespread hiring freezes, and difficulty securing credit, young Americans are naturally turning to their spending habits as one area they can control. They are cutting down on how much money they spend in restaurants, bars, retail stores, and entertainment. As a result, usually robust Christmas sales were down an alarming 2.8% last year, the lowest since 1995 (CNNMoney.com). Even once stable retail giants like Circuit City and Sharper Image have gone out of business (Wall Street Journal). Although the desire to hold on to their money is logical, all this coupon clipping, budgeting, and thrift-store shopping threatens the key to economic recovery, what economists call “consumer confidence.” If we don’t loosen our grip on our wallets and inject some much-needed cash into the system, we will face far more dire economic consequences in the years to come.

The first introduction frames the subject as an explanation of the causes of changing habits of consumption. The second introduction frames the subject as a warning that these changing habits might be causing more harm than good. Even though each introduction draws on the same basic information about current rates of spending, and even though both do a good job of introducing the essay, they ask readers to focus their attention on different aspects of the subject.

You can frame your discussion by calling attention to specific aspects of a topic, including

Introduction 2

The new frugal spending habits of American consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 are endangering the very people who are trying to save money. Plagued with rising unemployment, widespread hiring freezes, and difficulty securing credit, young Americans are naturally turning to their spending habits as one area they can control. They are cutting down on how much money they spend in restaurants, bars, retail stores, and entertainment. As a result, usually robust Christmas sales were down an alarming 2.8% last year, the lowest since 1995 (CNNMoney.com). Even once stable retail giants like Circuit City and Sharper Image have gone out of business (Wall Street Journal). Although the desire to hold on to their money is logical, all this coupon clipping, budgeting, and thrift-store shopping threatens the key to economic recovery, what economists call “consumer confidence.” If we don’t loosen our grip on our wallets and inject some much-needed cash into the system, we will face far more dire economic consequences in the years to come.