Composing an Introduction to an Essay: Use an Example


An introductory paragraph is very important because it draws the readers in. It creates the first impression and can ruin the audience’s perception of your work, regardless of the actual quality of the research presented in the paper. This is why you should do your best to create an introduction that is clear, concise, and catchy.

Here are a few tips that will help you:


  • Look into some examples.
  • Studying some real examples of good introductions will help you more than reading a dozen guidelines. This will give you an opportunity to see what you should aim for, and can provide you with some interesting ideas.

  • Make it clear that you know what you are talking about.
  • It’s imperative that you avoid using any phrases like “in my humble opinion” or “I’m not perfectly sure about this, however”. This gives off an impression that you doubt the information presented in the essay and apologize to the readers for this.

  • Do not be too obvious.
  • You shouldn’t use phrases that directly state your intentions. It will be better to be impersonal in the introduction and fit in the purpose of the paper into the thesis statement. This approach will make the essay look more professional.

  • Try not to bore your readers with dictionary definitions.
  • You may need to use a few definitions later in the paper, but they should never be included in the introduction. They will only make the paper look overtly bookish or give the readers an impression that you don’t know the subject.

  • Be precise and concise.
  • Every word of the introduction should serve the purpose of engaging the readers and provide them with essential information about the paper. Edit the introduction and cut out every piece that isn’t strictly necessary. Avoid generalizations and vague phrases.

  • Catch the reader’s interest.
  • There are several ways to do this. You should choose the approach based on the type of paper and your personal preferences. Adding a bit of humor usually works the best, because this allows a lighter mood and improves the readers’ disposition. Using a controversial topic and incorporating it into a strong thesis statement is another effective way to draw in the audience.

  • Do not try to please everyone.
  • It is impossible to write an introduction that everyone will love, and trying to do so will definitely result in a poor piece. You should determine your target audience and aim the paper at them. Try to find out the readers’ opinions about what they might be interested in through polls and questionnaires.