How To Set Up A Introduction Paragraph

How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on Feb 4, 2022 past Shona McCombes. Revised on December vi, 2022.

A good introduction paragraph is an essential role of whatever academic essay. It sets upwards your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The chief goals of an introduction are to:

Take hold of your reader'southward attention.
Give background on your topic.
Present your thesis—the central point of your essay.

This introduction instance is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.

Essay introduction example

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of inability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century French republic. In a lodge that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant bulwark to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, merely existing methods based on sighted systems were hard to acquire and utilise. As the first writing system designed for blind people'due south needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, simply as well helped change the cultural status of incomprehension. This essay begins past discussing the state of affairs of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It so describes the invention of Braille and the gradual procedure of its acceptance within blind educational activity. Subsequently, it explores the broad-ranging effects of this invention on blind people'south social and cultural lives.

Step i: Claw your reader

Your first judgement sets the tone for the whole essay, and so spend some time on writing an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—get-go with something articulate, concise and catchy that will spark your reader's curiosity.

The hook should atomic number 82 the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you're writing well-nigh and why it's interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or evidently statements of fact.

Examples: Writing a good claw

Have a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to ameliorate them.

Braille was an extremely of import invention.
The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

The first sentence is a dry fact; the second judgement is more interesting, making a assuming claim about exactlywhy the topic is of import.

The internet is divers as "a global reckoner network providing a multifariousness of information and communication facilities."
The spread of the cyberspace has had a world-changing result, not least on the globe of education.

Avoid using a dictionary definition equally your hook, especially if it's an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but information technology gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.

Mary Shelley'sFrankenstein is a famous volume from the nineteenth century.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement.

Instead of merely stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us nearly the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a unlike interpretation.

Stride 2: Give background information

Side by side, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the field of study of your essay, this might include:

Historical, geographical, or social context
An outline of the debate y'all're addressing
A summary of relevant theories or research near the topic
Definitions of key terms

The information here should be broad only conspicuously focused and relevant to your argument.
Don't give likewise much detail—you can mention points that you will return to after, but salvage your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much infinite yous need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille case, nosotros have a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:

Example: Background information

The writing organization of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The thought of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use.

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Step 3: Nowadays your thesis statement

Now it's time to narrow your focus and testify exactly what you want to say almost the topic. This is your thesis argument—a judgement or two that sums up your overall argument.

This is the most important part of your introduction. A proficient thesis isn't just a argument of fact, but a claim that requires testify and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your ain position in a debate or your key betoken about a topic.

Example: Thesis statement

Equally the first writing system designed for blind people'south needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It non only provided practical benefits, but besides helped change the cultural status of incomprehension.

Step 4: Map your essay'southward structure

Peculiarly in longer essays, it's helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will exist covered in each part. Go along information technology concise and requite your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.

Example: Signposting

This essay begins past discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It and then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual procedure of its acceptance within bullheaded educational activity. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people's social and cultural lives.

Stride five: Check and revise

As y'all inquiry and write, your argument might alter focus or management equally yous learn more.

For this reason, information technology's often a skillful thought to wait until later in the writing procedure before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very final thing you write.

When you lot've finished writing the essay trunk and determination, yous should return to the introduction and check that information technology matches the content of the essay.

It's particularly important to make certain your thesis statement accurately represents what you practise in the essay. If your statement has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to friction match what you actually say.

You can utilise the checklist below to make certain your introduction does everything it's supposed to.

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.
I have introduced the topic with necessary groundwork data.
I have defined any important terms.
My thesis argument clearly presents my main point or argument.
Everything in the introduction is relevant to the primary trunk of the essay.

More examples of essay introductions

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets upwards the debate about the internet and didactics, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

Belligerent essay introduction

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing issue, not least on the earth of pedagogy. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rising, and its function in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not abound upward with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed past its disquisitional benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible data source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay volition explain (the effect of this invention on European society).

Expository essay introduction

In many ways, the invention of the press press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the boilerplate person had very limited admission to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the press press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of data in Europe, paving the style for the Reformation.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay, about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, starts past describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and so states how the author will give a more than complex analysis of the text's literary devices.

Literary analysis essay introduction

Mary Shelley'due south Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot tin exist read equally a warning nearly the dangers of scientific advocacy unrestrained by upstanding considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the graphic symbol every bit a "mad scientist", Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, big-headed ambition of mod science. All the same, far from providing a stable prototype of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative low-cal as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature'due south narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—fifty-fifty in his own telling—the thoughtlessly savage figure the creature represents him as.

Ofttimes asked questions about the essay introduction

What is a hook?: The "claw" is the first sentence of your essay introduction. It should atomic number 82 the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why information technology'due south interesting.

To write a skillful hook, avert overly wide statements or long, dense sentences. Try to showtime with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader's curiosity.