Here, we explain everything you need to know to write the best introduction, such as what to include and a step-by-step process, with some introduction paragraph examples.
A good introduction should identify your topic, provide essential context, and indicate your particular focus in the essay. It also needs to engage your readers’ interest.
What is a Good Introduction? A good introduction is more than just a few lines of text; it’s an invitation, a promise, and an initial impression. This crucial element sets the context for your piece and establishes the theme you intend to explore.
This handout will explain the functions of introductions, offer strategies for creating effective introductions, and provide some examples of less effective introductions to avoid. Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write.
An effective introduction is concise, engaging, and clearly establishes the purpose and scope of your writing. It should include a compelling hook, sufficient background information, and a strong thesis statement that guides the reader.
The introduction to an academic essay will generally present an analytical question or problem and then offer an answer to that question (the thesis). Your introduction is also your opportunity to explain to your readers what your essay is about and why they should be interested in reading it.
The tips and examples below show how to write an introduction paragraph with just the right details to pull readers in and to set up a strong foundation for the body of your essay.