how to write a proper introduction for an essay

Tips on Writing an Essay Introduction

Publication Date: 20 Dec 2017

An introduction of your essay is the first thing that your readers see, so it has a big impact on the success of your entire essay. This is a reason why successful writers pay special attention to the introduction, and spend enough time and effort, writing creative and catchy hooks.

What an essay hook is? It’s a first sentence of your text. It may be an interesting fact, or a quote from a well-known source. You can also tell a joke, which is a great way to get readers’ attention, and make them want to read further. However, your hook depends on a topic of the essay, and on its style. Then you have to provide readers with necessary information that helps them understand the background of your essay. Make sure that you introduced all specific features of your topic, but don’t make the introduction too long. Here you must also introduce your thesis statement , and explain how it answers the question, or how it solves the problem of your topic.

As we mentioned above, you have to clarify the context of your work, in other words, readers must understand your thesis, as well as how your statement is related to the topic, and why it’s provable. You may write some facts that are not included in the body of your essay, in case they illustrate your thesis.

Actually, there are many writing approaches for introductions. Many writers even write this first section only when the whole essay is finished, because then you will perfectly understand the structure of your essay, and what arguments are most important, so you could write the introduction based on it. It’s a good method, and you can try it, but it’s not necessarily to write the whole essay. You can just draw up an outline, which is a useful thing by itself. This blueprint will help you understand what is worth mentioning at the beginning, and what isn’t really important.

Thesis Statement

Don’t forget that your thesis statement is the essence of the entire essay. This is your point, and it must be clear, unique, and persuasive. Your statement must motivate readers to read more, no matter do they agree with you or not. Once you introduced your thesis statement, you have to make a transition to the body part, because the thesis statement is often the last sentence of your introduction. You can follow such an approach or not, but make sure that first sentences of the essay body are logically related to the last words of the introduction. However, going straight from your thesis statement to the first argument will make your thesis look stronger, and you won’t losereaders’ attention.

Your thesis statement not only summarizes your claims, it determines the way how you present information. It is called an “angle”, and good essays always have an expressed writing “angle”. To make your essay good, we suggest you to write your thesis before you start writing the introduction. It will be the best guideline for it. Don’t forget that a thesis isn’t a fact. It’s your point, and readers must be able to discuss it. It must be a thought that needs to be proven with arguments and facts.

Think About Your Audience

You must be able to estimate your audience and take it into account during the entire writing process. Think which facts may be useful for your readers, and what they may not know about your topic. Your main goal is to make your readers get your message clearly, understanding all necessary details.

How To Write a Good Introduction for an Essay: Helpful Tips for Students

If you want to have a strong paper, you must write a good introduction for an essay. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write an introduction that will grab the reader’s attention.

You may have a strong essay, but if you want your reader to keep reading, you must have a good introduction. Even though your introduction paragraph should contain important background information, it also has to grab the reader’s attention. Writing an intro should cover the main points of your paper, but it is also one of the biggest challenges in essay writing.

Before you dive into the body paragraphs, what do you need to include in your essay introduction? Take a look at a few tips for writing a strong first paragraph below.

The Purpose of Your Introduction

The basic steps for writing a good introduction for an essay, tips for writing a strong introduction, examples of strong introductions.

Before you put your thesis statement down at the top of your essay introduction, you need to think about the purpose of your opening paragraph. It is the start of your paper, and it needs to accomplish several tasks. They include:

• Your first paragraph should explain the topics you will cover in your essay to the readers.
• You should provide your readers with background information to appropriately place the essay in an appropriate context.
• You should convince your reader that the essay is important.
• You must grab the attention of your reader to convince them to keep reading.

As long as your introductory paragraph accomplishes these steps, it would help if you had a strong start to your paper.

You need to follow several steps to write a strong introduction for your essay. They include:

1. Determine the Thesis Statement of Your Essay

First, you need to develop a thesis statement for your essay. A thesis statement is a strong closing sentence placed at the end of your introduction. It should state the main aim or point of your essay in a succinct and powerful way.

Consider the type of essay you are writing: are you writing an introduction for a research paper? Or are you writing an introduction for a persuasive essay? This will dictate the format of your thesis statement, and you need to decide what genre your essay falls into before you craft the rest of your introduction. 

2. Place the Background Information on Paper

After developing a strong thesis statement, write the background information for your essay. If the information is not going to be covered in your body paragraphs, but you think the information is still important for the essay’s context, it should be included in your introductory paragraph. You do not necessarily need to figure out how you will order the background information right now, but you need to figure out what you want to include. Once it is down on your paper, you can rearrange it later. 

3. Consider the Rest of Your Supporting Information 

You should place the rest of the supporting information and work that into your introduction. Your introduction is a way to introduce the information contained in the body of your essay, and the topic sentence helps you place the rest of the essay in context. You can figure out how the background information in your introductory paragraph will lead to your topic sentences below. You may even want to reorder your body paragraphs to make sense after your introductory paragraph.

You might also find these writing tips for students helpful .

4. Fine-Tune Your Thesis Statement

Now, with the rest of the information on the paper, it is time to go back to your thesis statement and fine-tune it. You may need to tweak the wording of your thesis statement slightly based on the rest of the information in your introductory paragraph. You probably don’t want to change your thesis statement too much, but you need to change a word here or there to make sense. 

5. Add a Hook to the Introduction

Next, you need to add a hook to your introduction. The hook is important because it will grab the reader’s attention and convince them to check out the rest of the paper. You do not always want to use a hook as your first sentence, but it does need to be somewhere in the introductory paragraph if you want the reader to keep going. There are plenty of ways you can grab the attention of your reader. You may want to use a quote, present a controversial opinion, or present an experience from your life. The idea is to target your reader’s emotions and explain that they should read the rest of your essay.

6. Edit and Proofread the Introduction

Finally, you need to edit and proofread the introduction. Just as with the rest of your essay, you want to present a professional finished product. There is never a second chance to make a first impression, so avoid grammatical, stylistic, and spelling errors. You may even want to have someone else read the introduction to ensure you do not overlook anything.

As long as you keep these key points in mind, it would help if you had a strong introductory paragraph for your essay. Even though it can be a bit of a challenge, it is something you will get better at with practice. 

Even though it can be a challenge to write a strong introduction, a few tips can make the process easier. They include:

1. Envision a Funnel

You may want to treat the introduction to your essay like a funnel. What this means is that you should start with a general idea. Then, get more specific as the introduction goes along. For example, you may want to start a research paper by covering your topic’s relevant academic landscape. Then, you can create more specific ideas that lead to your thesis statement, which should be relatively specific and close to your introductory paragraph. 

2. Use a Template or Formula

You may want to stick to a template or formula when trying to write your introduction. For example, you may want to use a hook statement as the very first sentence of your paragraph. Then, you can present three sentences of background information that fill up the majority of your introductory paragraph. Finally, you can put your thesis statement at the end. As you write different types of papers, you can craft different types of introductory paragraphs, but if you are having a hard time, consider sticking to this formula.

3. State Why the Topic Interests You

If you want your reader to keep reading, you need to show the reader that the topic is important. One of the easiest ways is to explain why the topic interests you. After all, if you are not excited about the topic, you will have difficulty convincing anyone else to be excited. Clearly state why the topic interests you. Why did you decide to write an essay on this topic? Why do you think other people need to be interested in your essay? If you can answer these questions, you will have a strong introduction.

4. Don’t Go On Too Long

Finally, try not to go on too long. One of the most common mistakes people make when writing an introduction is to include all of the most important information in the very beginning. Even though you want to show your reader that the topic is important, you don’t want to show all your cards at the top. Remember that you will have an entire essay to follow the introductory paragraph. Don’t let the introduction go on too long, as you risk boring the reader. Then, they may not read the rest of the paper.

If you keep these tips in mind, you can create a strong introduction for any paper. 

Here are a few examples of introductions:

An Essay on Heart Research

Here is an example introduction from a news article on heart research , which talks about heart attacks:

“Following a heart attack, the human body is incapable of repairing lost tissue due to the heart’s inability to generate new muscle. However, treatment with heart progenitor cells could result in the formation of functional heart cells at injured sites. This new therapeutic approach is introduced by an international team in Nature Cell Biology. The aim is to start clinical studies within the next two years.”

An Essay on Climate Change

Here is a powerful essay on climate change that starts with a quote, a tactic you can use in your own writing:

“The jury has reached a verdict. And it is damning,” declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres after the recent issuance at the UN of the third Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. The report “is a litany of broken climate promises. It is a file of shame, cataloguing the empty pledges that put us firmly on track towards an unlivable world,” he said.

For more help writing your next essay, check out our guide on how to write a lot of words (when you don’t feel like it ).

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How to Write an Academic Essay Introduction

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Academic essay introduction definition
• 3 Academic essay introduction structure
• 4 Writing an introduction
• 5 Academic essay introduction formats
• 6 Academic essay introduction tense
• 7 Academic essay introduction example
• 8 Academic Essay Introduction – In a Nutshell

Academic essay introduction definition

An academic essay introduction is the beginning paragraph of a paper that sets the path and the tone of what the reader should expect throughout the paper. It should capture the reader’s attention by creating an interest in reading the entire paper. The introduction is applicable across all fields, including descriptive, expository, dialectic, thesis , or even argumentative essays.

How long should an academic essay introduction be?

There is no specific rule on the length of an essay introduction. How long your introduction is, is dependent upon the length of the academic essay . The length of your academic essay introduction should be somewhere around 10 % of the word count of the overall academic essay.

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 academic 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. Sometimes, 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 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.

In how many ways can a student write an academic essay introduction?

There are four different ways of writing an introduction to an academic essay. These include; funnel, quotations, dramatic, and the turn-about form. A funnel introduction runs from background information to a more focused thesis. Quotation introductions use quotes to lead the reader to the thesis statement. Dramatic introductions are written as eye-witness accounts, while turn-about introductions start with an opposite perspective before focusing on the main idea.

Tip: Check out our blog article ‘How to Write an Academic Essay’ for some more general hints and tips about structuring and writing an academic essay.

Academic essay introduction structure

There are numerous questions that students raise concerning the structure of an academic essay introduction. This is because how good you are in structuring your academic essay introduction adds to how efficient you will be in your essay writing skills. An introduction to your academic essay 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 an introduction to your academic essay. 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’s opening statement to the thesis statement. These sentences highlight what you will be talking about throughout your academic essay.

Thesis statement

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

Writing an introduction

A good 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 are a few tips on how to write an outstanding introduction to your academic essay.

• Make your introduction brief and direct to the point: Unless you are writing a 40-page academic essay, your introduction should be as short as possible. Highlight the key elements of an academic essay introduction and leave the rest for the body of your academic essay.
• Capture the reader’s attention: Consider using an interesting fact, quotes, anecdotes, or a question to keep the reader engaged and interested in giving the rest of the paper some attention.
• 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.
• Do not forget your thesis statement: Your thesis statement is the backbone of your academic essay introduction, as well as your overall paper.
• Avoid providing too many background details at this point: Only highlight the necessary introductory information here.
• Keep the tone and language formal when writing your academic essay introduction: 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.

Academic essay introduction formats

Depending on the type of academic essay you are writing, an academic essay introduction should capture various elements, including a problem statement, personal opinion and attitude, and the scope of your discussion. Here is how to go about an academic essay introduction for the various academic essay formats:

Argumentative Essay

An introduction to an argumentative essay should be personal, highlighting convincing reasons why our thoughts and opinions are the most accurate and impeccable.

Persuasive Essay

The introduction of a persuasive essay should carry some form of deep conviction, persuading your reader to agree with your viewpoint before getting into the entire paper. Readers might not find your academic essay interesting to read if your introduction does not create a persuasive impression on the subject matter.

Compare and Contrast Essay

Students should be able to highlight the two sides of the subject matter in their compare and contrast essay introduction. The backbone of this academic essay type is found in the capacity of your introduction to show similarities and differences between two issues, tendencies, or events.

Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay introduction should creatively capture the reader’s attention by offering a descriptive list or outline of sensory details on the subject matter. It should trigger the reader’s imagination using descriptive statements. You can also add your opinion and thoughts on the topic by being specific to the details.

Academic essay introduction tense

There is no specific restriction on the tense to use while writing an introduction for your academic essay. For example, past tense can be used in reference to past events or historical descriptions. Students can also use either past or present tense when writing a narrative essay . However, whichever tense you choose, it should be applied consistently throughout your introduction.

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Academic essay introduction example

Academic Essay Introduction – In a Nutshell

In summary, an academic essay introduction;

• Is the beginning paragraph of a paper that sets the tone of the entire academic essay.
• Should outline a general overview of what the entire paper is about.
• Should be 10 % of the academic essay’s total word count in length.
• Should contain three key elements, including the attention grabber, connections, and a thesis statement.
• Can be written in any tense depending on the nature of the academic essay, provided the tense is used consistently throughout the introduction of your academic essay.

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How To Write A Proper Introduction For An Essay

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Expert Tips on How to Write an Essay Introduction

You must hear about ” First impression is the last impression.” So the same scenario is with the essay introduction.

Do you want to Engage your reader? It’s obvious! Every writer wants the reader to read their essay completely. For it, you have to make your essay introduction interesting.

The students always look for the best solution to how to write an essay introduction. Because writing an essay is still a long time process for the students. The students always struggle to write the best essay. Do you know what makes your essay more effective?

The introduction of your essay is the most crucial part of your essay that makes it effective. Let me explain it with an example.

Today, we will explain how to write an essay introduction to grab your reader’s attention towards your essay. Before we get started with the steps, we should first look at the introduction of an essay. 

What is an Introduction in an Essay

Table of Contents

As I’ve mentioned earlier, essay introduction is a crucial part of your essay. It is a roadmap for the entire essay. It is the initial paragraph that sets the tone and path for the entire paper that you are going to present to your audience. The best introduction to essay grab your reader’s attention and make them engaged to read the essay from the very start of the essay.

Features of an effective introduction

The features of an excellent introduction to an essay are as follows-

• Grabs the reader’s attention
• Presents topic’s background information
• Describe the basic idea
• Create a thesis statement
• Influence the readers on your point if you are writing a persuasive essay.

If you want to write a good introduction, include the features mentioned above in your essay to make it a remarkable paper.

What is the objective of an introduction?

There are two objectives of an introduction which are as follows-

1. To creates reader interest

It creates an interest of the reader in the topic. Also, it encourages them to read your points.

2. To give a road map-

An introduction works as a road map for the reader. It includes what you will explain, and the reader follows this map to know what the essay is about.

A powerful introduction makes your reader go through the whole essay.

What is the appropriate length of an essay introduction?

It is based on the overall length of your essay. There is no particular rule regarding introduction length. For a two to three-page essay, the proper length of the introduction is one paragraph. For a four to five page essay, two-paragraphs are considered more relevant. A common rule is that introduction must be between five and ten percent of the overall essay length.

How to Write an Essay Introduction- Step by step guidance

The most potent introduction grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them reading the essay until the end. 

Step 1. Sample Essay Hooks & Introductions

A) hooking your reader.

Identify your audience. It is the most crucial step your very first sentence should put the reader into your essay. As a writer, you will always want your reader should read your essay to be fascinated, intrigued, or even outrage. It can’t happen without knowing the likely readers of your essay. There are two ways to do this.

The first one is, most of the time, the students make this mistake. When they write a paper for a class, they automatically assume the instructor as their audience. And the second one is to reverse sense your audience based on the subject you’ve chosen for your essay.

Suppose that your essay topic is about bodybuilding in the men’s study class. Then you will find your targeting audience as you men with the age range that is most affected by the issue.

b) Use the element of surprise.

It is the best method to grab your reader’s attention at the friction of second. In this method, we use the shocking statistics that can grab the audience’s attention by immediately teaching something interesting to them something that they are not aware of it.

Start with the informative sentences that are new for the audience; it will also create interest among the students that where will you go next. 

c) Tug at your reader’s heart-strings

In the case of personal or political essays, use your hook to get your reader emotionally involved in the subject matter of your essay story. Let me explain it with an example.

If you are writing an essay that is proposing a change in traffic laws, then you might open the story with how the life of the citizen will be affected by this change. 

d) Offer a relevant example of an anecdote.

Most of the time, we come across cross an entertaining or interesting anecdote while reading and research for the essay. The anecdote may be related to your essay, but most of the time didn’t fit in the body of the essay. But it works great as the hook of your essay.

Let’s understand it with an example. Suppose that you are writing an essay about a celebrity. Then you can use his/her odd personal habit as a hook for your essay. Humorous anecdotes work better as a hook than the other types of anecdotes.

e) Ask a thought-provoking question.

It is the most potent method only If you’re writing a persuasive essay. You can use a relevant question to draw your reader in. It also helps you to get them actively thinking about your essay’s subject.

Let’s understand it with an example: “What would you like to do if you become the president of your country for a day? Most of the leader of tiny islands always want to answer these kinds of questions.

Avoid clichés and generalizations. Generalizations and clichés are not helpful for your essay. Most of the writer uses generalizations and clinches to contrast with their point. It makes your essay unoriginal or appears you as the lazy writer.

Step 2. Creating Your Context

A) relate your hook to a broader topic.

The next step is to make sure that your hook must connect with the rest of your essay. Start with the broader and more general scope to explain your hook’s relevance.

Because if you prove your audience about the relevancy of your hook, then they will read all your essay. The most prominent way to do this, use Use appropriate transitional words or phrases, such as “however” or “similarly,” It helps you to move your anecdote back out to a broader scope. 

b) Provide necessary background information

Everyone wants to keep things still relatively general. Allow your readers to know anything that will be necessary for them to understand your main argument. Also, let them know the points you’re making in your essay. For example, if your essay is related to the first world war. Then your introduction should describe where and when the first world war was committed.

c) Define key terms of the essay.

It would help if you had the art that is used to define for your reader. The introduction is not about repeating the basic dictionary definitions. On the other hand, if you have the key term within your essay, then let the readers know how you’re using that term.

Here is an example: you can’t modify or change the definitions of the scientific topic because the average layperson can’t understand the scientific terminology. 

d) Move from the general to the specific.

You should always think that your introduction as an upside-down pyramid. Your hook should be placed at the top of your essay. Apart from that, your introduction also welcomes the readers to the broader topic that your essay is all about.  

If you’re using 3 or 4 sentences to describe the context of your essay, then you should try to make each one of your sentences a bit more specific. Let’s learn it with an example.

If you’re writing an essay about sup[pose that you’re writing an essay on drunk driving fatalities, then you might start with an anecdote about a particular victim. Then you could provide the national statistics about drunk driving, then narrow down your topic further by giving the statistics of the specific gender or age group. 

Step 3. Presenting Your Essay

A) make your point.

After setting up the context on which you are making an argument. It is time to tell your reader the point of your essay. Use your essay statements to directly communicate the unique point that you will attempt to make through your essay.

Be assertive and confident while writing your essay, and it should be reflected in the essay. Don’t you ever try to use the fluff in your essay, such as “In this essay, I will attempt to show? Always try to make your outline specific, unique, and provable. 

b) Describe how you’re going to prove the point

Also, round out your introduction with the help of providing your readers with the essential roadmap of what you will say in your essay. In most of the cases, the round out should not be more than a sentence.

c) Transition smoothly into the essay body

In most of the cases, you’ll find that you can move straight from the introduction to the first paragraph of the body. Some introductions require a short transitional sentence at the end. It helps to keep the flow naturally into the rest of your essay.

You can do this by figuring out that by reading the introduction and the first paragraph aloud. If you feel that you’re pausing between the paragraphs, then work on the transitions needed to make a move smoother. 

Step 4. Bringing It All Together

A) read essays of other writers in your discipline..

Good introduction totally depends on the subject matter. The suitable introduction may work well in one academic discipline may not work well in another.

Keep these things in your mind, if you’re writing a class assignment essay, then you should ask your instructor to provide you the well-written essay example.

You can take advantage of that example by note down the point of conventions that are commonly used by the writers in your discipline. Apart from that also make a brief outline of your essay based on the information presented in the introduction. 

b) Keep your introduction short and simple.

Keep in mind that you should keep your essay introduction short and simple. Your introduction should be between 6 and 10 percent of the overall essay length.

Suppose that you’re writing a 20-page paper, then your introduction should be approximately two pages long. For shorter essay likewise, 1000 words essay, the introduction should be between 100 to 200 words. You can also take the help of your instructor for the essay length.

c) Write your introduction after you write your essay

Always try to write the body of the essay first, then write the introduction. You should write the introduction at the finishing stage of essay writing. It would help you to present a summary of your essay efficiently. You can do that by jot down the things to include it in your introduction. You can also mention the most important term of your essay on your introduction.

Always revise your introduction. The writer likes to write an introduction at the initial stage of the essay. If you’ve done the same, then go back and make sure your introduction provides and check that your introduction is complimenting your completed paper.

In this stage, you have to delete any unnecessary language and jargon. Try to keep the sentences short and easy to understand by the users. 

d) Structure your introduction effectively.

Most of the essay introduction has the same essential elements regardless of the subject or academic discipline. It should be short and also convey a lot of information to the users. Keep these things into your mind while structuring your introduction effectively.

The hook is the crucial elements that will help you to engage your readers. Therefore you should use the hook within your first sentence. After creating the hook, the next few sentences should be works as a bridge between your hook and the rest of your essay. 

All these steps help you in knowing how to write an essay introduction. Follow them while writing an introduction.

Another important learning in this blog of how to write an essay introduction is about things that you should avoid and take care of while writing an introduction part.

Things to avoid-

• Do not divide this paragraph into different parts as it contains three different subparts, but all should be in a single paragraph.
• Do not explain points related to your topic in this paragraph (just give basic information of upcoming discussion).
• Avoid making too complex and long sentences as it can lead to an explanation.
• Avoid using more additive connectors such as furthermore, moreover, what’s more, because these are the connectors that we often prefer while explaining and discussing ideas in depth in body paragraphs.

Whereas, there are also many things that you need to do to make your introduction part more impressive for the reader.

Things to do-

• Try to mention basic information about your upcoming ideas to make your reader keep reading your content interestingly.
• Write simple, concise, and informative sentences.
• Follow the universal format of writing an essay intro. It will save your time and energy to create something new. Also, this format is recommended by most academicians.
• Keep your intro paragraph under the given word limit.

“Stay tuned with calltutors blogs for more knowledge.”

Let’s wrap up

Writing an essay introduction is an art. We hope from the above discussion you get the answer to your question about how to write an essay introduction.

If you are going to follow these tips then you will definitely master this art. But if you’re still finding it difficult to write an essay introduction. Then we are here to provide you the best essay writing help at nominal charges. We provide the best assignment help in Melbourne .

1. Why is introduction important?

An introduction part is important to- 1. Capture the reader’s attention and interest. 2. Mention basic ideas of your essay. 3. Tell the purpose of your essay topic.

2. What is an introduction?

An introduction is the first part of your essay that illustrates key information regarding your topic and related issues.

3. What is a thesis statement?

It is a sentence that concludes the main point of your essay. Every point you write must correlate to this fundamental idea.

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Essay Writing Guide

Writing An Essay Introduction

A Complete Essay Introduction Writing Guide With Examples

13 min read

Published on: Feb 24, 2023

Last updated on: Feb 23, 2023

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Writing an essay introduction can be a daunting task, especially if you don't know where to start. 

Essay introductions are the first impression that your reader will have of your paper. So, it's important to make sure they're well written and engaging. You want to draw in your readers with an interesting opening that sets the tone for the rest of your work. 

If you're having difficulty crafting your essay introduction, let MyPerfectWords.com lend a hand!

We offer expert advice on how to write an effective essay introduction that will grab your reader’s attention from the very beginning and keep them engaged throughout. 

With our tips and examples, you can create an incredible essay introduction that will set the tone for a well-written, powerful paper. 

Without further ado, let's begin!

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The Definition of an Essay Introduction

An essay introduction is the first part of your paper that introduces the main points and presents your stance on the topic. 

It should provide a brief overview of what readers can expect from the body of your paper, as well as any relevant background information. It should also be concise and direct, as too much fluff can quickly detract from your overall argument.

Purpose of the Essay Introduction

  The purpose of an essay introduction is to provide the reader with a brief overview of your paper and its main points. 

It should also set the tone for the rest of the paper by summing up your argument or presenting any pertinent background information. Essay introductions should be written in such a way as to capture the reader’s attention and keep them interested in reading the rest of your paper.

How To Write An Essay Introduction

The beginning of the essay sets the tone for the reader. It is essential to write an essay introduction that picks your reader’s interest and encourages them to read further.

There is no one way of starting an essay. Some people prefer getting started with the essay and write the introduction at the end of the writing process.

Whenever you decide to write the introduction, always focus on the tone and purpose of your essay.

Here is a quick guide on how to write an introduction paragraph for an essay.

Step 1: Start With a Hook

Start your essay introduction with an interesting hook statement that should pull the readers in. This is usually the first sentence that sets the tone of your essay. Start with something interesting, clear, and concise to grab the reader’s attention.

Here are some expert suggestions on how to create a hook:

• Start with an interesting fact
• Share an anecdote
• Write about a common misconception about your essay topic
• Start with a rhetorical question

You can also refer to other catchy hook examples for writing a captivating start of the essay introduction. 

Step 2: Background Information

Give the background of your essay topic first, and then identify the themes.

The introduction always begins with an orientation. It contains statements that show how the topic relates to bigger issues addressed in the next part of the essay.

The information you present here should be focused and must relate to the main argument of your essay. You can mention points that you will discuss in the body section. But do not give much information in this section.

Here's an example of it:

Step 3: State the Limitations of Your Essay or Discussion

Since you cannot discuss everything that is present about the given topic, it is important that you limit your discussion. Narrow down your focus and inform the readers how and why you have chosen the given topic or subject.

Here's a demonstration of it.

Step 4: Write the Thesis Statement

The last part of the introduction is the thesis statement. The  thesis statement is a brief overview of the entire essay. It demonstrates the fundamental idea and approach of the writer toward the essay topic.

The thesis statement is written at the end of the introductory paragraph.

Step 5:  Conclude the Essay Introduction

Finally, you must conclude your essay introduction by summarising the points mentioned in it. This should be done in such a way that readers are encouraged to read further and start exploring the rest of your paper. 

Your conclusion should also include a call-to-action that encourages readers to engage in further discussion.

Here's an example of a well-crafted introduction:

The Essay Introduction Structure

An essay introduction serves as the first impression for your reader. It sets the tone for the rest of your paper and tells the reader what to expect from your work. The structure of an essay introduction should include a hook, contextual information, and a thesis statement. 

A hook is used to grab readers' attention and draw them in. It can be a quote, an anecdote, or an interesting fact. The goal of the hook is to make your reader interested in reading your essay and keep them engaged until the end. 

Contextual Information 

Contextual information gives the reader background on the subject you are writing about. This can include facts, definitions, and historical information. By providing this information, your reader will be better equipped to understand the rest of your essay.

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Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the main point of your paper and should be stated clearly in one sentence. It should briefly explain what you plan to discuss in the body of your paper. A good thesis statement should be specific and narrow in focus so that the reader can easily understand your argument.

Essay Introduction Outline

Essay Introduction Sample

Essay Introduction Examples

Here are some interesting introduction examples for different types of essays  for you to go through and take help from.

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example

A good argumentative essay introduction is like an opening statement of the court. It involves presenting the facts at hand and the main argumentative approach in a rational and intellectual manner.

Here is an example for you to understand how to write an argumentative essay introduction.

Persuasive Essay Introduction Example

Writing a persuasive essay introduction is a tricky one. One of the reasons persuasive essay introductions are difficult to write is because it is difficult to persuade readers. As an author, you need to apply a subtle approach to your introduction.

Below is a perfect example of a persuasive essay introduction. 

Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction Example

The compare and contrast essay introduction analyzes the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. They are often assigned to enhance the student’s critical abilities, analytical reasoning, and academic writing skills. A compare and contrast essay introduction is different in many ways; for instance, it introduces two elements within its first paragraph.

The following is a great introduction for a compare and contrast essay that you can refer to.

Descriptive Essay Introduction Example

Writing a descriptive essay introduction is easy when you know how to pen down your ideas. A descriptive essay provides a clear image of the topic and conveys a comprehensive understanding of the topic to the reader. 

Here is an outstanding descriptive essay introduction example for your help. 

Covid - 19 Essay Introduction Example

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on life in many countries. But it has also shown how resilient people can be in the face of adversity. Writing an essay on this topic requires careful analysis of the current situation and its effects. 

The following is a great example of an introduction to a Covid-19 Essay.

Abortion Essay Introduction Example

The abortion debate remains one of the most controversial topics in modern society. 

Pro-choice and pro-life advocates have been debating this issue for decades, with no end in sight. Writing an essay on this topic requires thoughtful research and a clear understanding of both sides.

Here's an example of how to write an abortion essay introduction.

Heritage Day Essay Introduction

Heritage Day is an important holiday that celebrates the multicultural heritage of South Africa. 

It's a day to remember and appreciate the nation’s diverse culture, while also reflecting on our shared history. Writing an essay on this topic requires careful consideration of its history and purpose.

Here is an example of a great Heritage Essay Introduction: 

Essay Introduction: Mistakes to Avoid

For a good introduction, here are some mistakes that you should avoid writing in your introductory paragraph. 

• Try to avoid writing a vague introduction of irrelevant details about the topic.
• Do not provide too much information and facts in the introduction. Simply present the topic with sufficient information for the reader’s understanding.
• Avoid using informal language or slang terms in the introduction. Essay introductions should be written in formal and academic language.
• Do not make assumptions about the reader’s knowledge of the topic. Provide only basic background information to fill any gaps in understanding.
• Finally, do not introduce any new information in the introduction. The introduction should only provide an overview of what will be discussed in the essay, not dive into details. 

By avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure that your essay introduction is clear and concise. It will help readers easily understand the topic and follow your argument throughout the paper. 

Essay Introduction Writing Tips

The following are some expert essay writing tips that you can follow for an interesting introduction. 

• The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and inculcate a sense of curiosity amongst them to read the whole essay. 
• Provide background information. The background gives context to your essay. But the claims, arguments, and information should always be present within the body of the essay.
• Don’t forget to provide a thesis that is the main argument of the essay.
• Always leave out irrelevant information and use appropriate language that adds precise information.

  Remember, an essay introduction is very important as it is the first element of an essay outline . However, it is not an easy task to accomplish.

Watch this video to learn the steps required for crafting a compelling essay.

Lastly, keep in mind that there are many ways you can be creative with your essay introduction. Well-composed opening lines will help you grab the reader’s attention. 

Hopefully, the guidelines in this blog helped you in coming up with a strategy to engage your readers from the start. 

If you are struggling to make your essay introduction engaging, look no further. We are a professional online essay writing service that guarantees top-quality essays.

MyPerfectWords.com will provide the perfect "hook" for an introductory paragraph and write a compelling story from start to finish! 

Hire our top essay writer service today!

Nova A. (Literature, Marketing)

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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