How to Write Essay Introductions: Practical Tips

Crafting a compelling introduction paragraph is an art. A good introduction can grab readers’ attention, present all the required background information, and leave a lasting impression. This sounds tedious but the reality is different. You can intrigue and engage readers with your introductions relatively easily by following the tips listed in this article.

What is an introduction?

Introduction is an opening paragraph to an article, blog post, essay, research paper, etc. It is the first piece of text that readers go through, and it plays an important role in creating the initial impression. A proper introductory paragraph introduces readers to the topic of a text and triggers their interest to encourage further reading.

Important things to know about an introduction

Length of an introduction

Students and new writers often think about how long an introduction should be. There is no concrete answer, but an introduction usually takes up to 7–9% of the total word count. A five-paragraph essay requires only one introductory paragraph while a larger text can feature introductions consisting of several paragraphs.

Elements of an introduction

A good opening paragraph has several elements to make it engaging. Below you will find a brief list of these elements:

• A hook sentence to get readers interested in your topic;
• Background information to provide context for your topic;
• Thesis statement to inform readers about the main focus of your writing.

With general information covered, take a look at practical tips to improve your essay introductions.

Tips for writing a great introduction

A compelling hook

You want to open up an introduction with an attention-grabbing statement. A proper hook sentence does half of the job. That is why writers should consider how they want to start their introduction paragraphs.

Here is an example of a mediocre hook section:

“The development of electric vehicles revolutionized the car industry. It reduced pollution and rushed adoption of new technologies.”

You can make this two-sentence hook more enticing with a proper choice of words and accents:

• “Electric vehicles emerged as a new way to look at cars and a solution to the pressing issue of sustainability. These vehicles go beyond means of transportation as the technology can disrupt the car industry and lead to the development of sustainable technologies.”

The hook becomes much more compelling simply through the choice of words and additional information. Yes, the hook section became more wordy but it provides more than enough information about the essay by highlighting the complexity of the issue that is going to be discussed later.

Background information

Introductions require context for easy comprehension. After grabbing the reader’s attention with a hook, you want to contextualize the introduction by adding background information. However, how much information should be included?

There is no definitive answer to the question. Depending on the professor’s instructions and the required length of a paper, the amount of background information can vary drastically. If you are working on a short one-page essay, you’re likely to give this section one or two sentences. If a paper is lengthier and the topic is more complex, background information should be provided appropriately.

Let’s continue the previous hook section by adding a contextual background:

• “Ecology is at the center of global society’s attention, and electric vehicles are a natural answer to the shift towards eco-conscious consumer behavior. The automotive industry feels this change already and more manufacturers are leaning toward the development of their own electric cars. Such disruptive trends always lead to the appearance of new and better technologies.”

As you can see, this section expands upon the hook section, offering insight into the causes for the interest in electric cars and the potential outcome of this trend.

Thesis statement

The final element of an introduction and the most important one. A thesis statement is the central idea of the whole essay. It should inform readers about your main argument and compel them to continue reading beyond the introduction.

A great thesis statement has to be clear, concise, and easy to follow. The structure of your thesis sentence should also reflect the flow of ideas throughout your essay. This means that you want to write a thesis statement to reflect the sections of an essay.

Some larger papers may require more details about their contents. That is why large-scale essays and articles often include outlines to highlight the main points that will be discussed.

Let’s finish the previously mentioned sections of an introduction with a thesis statement:

• “The widespread adoption of electric cars is an indicator of a societal transformation and a shift towards a more conscious mindset that will push the automotive industry towards adoption of sustainable practices.”

This thesis statement clearly highlights that the essay is going to talk about electric cars, their impact on the industry, and a sustainability trend that they indicate.

Things to avoid

The first paragraph is the “face” of an essay, and the following “not-to-do” list will be useful if you want to further improve your academic writing:

• Wordiness — excessively wordy introductions can leave a negative impression on a reader. Try using simple yet understandable language to convey your messages;
• Word choice — vague language can confuse the reader. Avoid professional jargon and empty phrases, if possible;
• Size — do not make introductions longer than necessary. We covered the approximate size of an introduction before. The first paragraph should inform the reader about your essay, so keep details for the main body.

Conclusion

Writing a great introduction is not an easy task for a new writer. You want to captivate and inform readers simultaneously while keeping everything brief. This sounds like a lot of headaches for anyone.

The elements of an introduction allow writers to achieve these goals. A hook grabs readers’ attention, context provides background information, and the thesis statement informs readers about what they can expect in an essay.

This article covers each element of an introduction and explains how to approach them properly. Remember that your introduction is about luring readers to go through an essay. There is no need to show all the cards in the first paragraph!