An Important Introduction
Tips and Tools to Writing an Introduction to an Essay
You’re sitting in front of the computer. You know what you’re supposed to write about. Your outline rests undisturbed on the desk next to you. Now what? You try writing the first sentence three times, delete them all, and then finish by pounding your head on the desk.
However difficult it may be to get it going, your introduction is probably one of the most important parts of your whole paper. So, if it is so important, let’s learn how to write it right!
Your introduction should do three main things:
1) Your introduction should Be General
The point of your introduction is to provide a general background from which you can discuss details later on. Don’t try to cram all the details of a topic into the first paragraph. For example: If you are going to discuss the history of Thanksgiving, don’t jump right in and talk about Squanto and how the Pilgrims learned to plant corn. Instead, maybe give some general information about Thanksgiving traditions in America, or give the background of the history before the Pilgrims came to America. Try to stay away from jumping in with too many small details that will confuse your readers or take away from your details later on.
2) Your introduction should Tell Your Readers What You Are Going to Talk About
You need to provide your readers with a “roadmap” of where you will be taking them. Most importantly, make sure your introduction talks about what the rest of your paper will talk about. Don’t provide random information (even if it is related to your topic), it will only confuse your readers. Your introduction should be general, yes. But, it should also end with a specific statement of what your paper will discuss. This will usually be in the last couple sentences of your introduction. The last sentence of your introduction should be a general overview of your entire paper. For example: If you will discuss three main points in your paper, make sure that you state the three main points clearly in your introduction. Tip: Try to avoid using “I” or “me” in your papers. For example: Try not to say “I will be discussing the three main reasons that the Pilgrims left England.” Instead, you could say: “Although there were many reasons that the Pilgrims left England, most left to pursue adventure, gain land, and have religious freedom.” See the difference?
3) Your introduction should Grab Your Reader’s Attention.
People usually decide within the first few sentences whether or not they will continue to read the rest of an article or paper, and whether or not they will enjoy it. Your first few sentences should be interesting enough to encourage your audience to read on. You can do this in several different ways. (A) You can provide an interesting or little known fact (B) You can open with an attention-grabbing story (C) You can use a creative style to describe something ordinary.
However difficult it may be to get it going, your introduction is probably one of the most important parts of your whole paper. So, if it is so important, let’s learn how to write it right!
Your introduction should do three main things:
1) Your introduction should Be General
The point of your introduction is to provide a general background from which you can discuss details later on. Don’t try to cram all the details of a topic into the first paragraph. For example: If you are going to discuss the history of Thanksgiving, don’t jump right in and talk about Squanto and how the Pilgrims learned to plant corn. Instead, maybe give some general information about Thanksgiving traditions in America, or give the background of the history before the Pilgrims came to America. Try to stay away from jumping in with too many small details that will confuse your readers or take away from your details later on.
2) Your introduction should Tell Your Readers What You Are Going to Talk About
You need to provide your readers with a “roadmap” of where you will be taking them. Most importantly, make sure your introduction talks about what the rest of your paper will talk about. Don’t provide random information (even if it is related to your topic), it will only confuse your readers. Your introduction should be general, yes. But, it should also end with a specific statement of what your paper will discuss. This will usually be in the last couple sentences of your introduction. The last sentence of your introduction should be a general overview of your entire paper. For example: If you will discuss three main points in your paper, make sure that you state the three main points clearly in your introduction. Tip: Try to avoid using “I” or “me” in your papers. For example: Try not to say “I will be discussing the three main reasons that the Pilgrims left England.” Instead, you could say: “Although there were many reasons that the Pilgrims left England, most left to pursue adventure, gain land, and have religious freedom.” See the difference?
3) Your introduction should Grab Your Reader’s Attention.
People usually decide within the first few sentences whether or not they will continue to read the rest of an article or paper, and whether or not they will enjoy it. Your first few sentences should be interesting enough to encourage your audience to read on. You can do this in several different ways. (A) You can provide an interesting or little known fact (B) You can open with an attention-grabbing story (C) You can use a creative style to describe something ordinary.
Let's Practice!
The Up-Side-Down Triangle: Start General; End Specific!
GRAB YOUR READER’S ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your Introduction should start very general, but don’t be so general that
you’re off topic. Through your introduction, you should gradually
narrow your discussion until you are discussing your
specific topic. The last sentence of your
introduction should be a one-sentence
summary of what you will be
discussing in your entire
paper, in the same
order that
you will
discuss
it.
GRAB YOUR READER’S ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your Introduction should start very general, but don’t be so general that
you’re off topic. Through your introduction, you should gradually
narrow your discussion until you are discussing your
specific topic. The last sentence of your
introduction should be a one-sentence
summary of what you will be
discussing in your entire
paper, in the same
order that
you will
discuss
it.
Example: Topic: Daily life in the Colonies. Our three main topics are: (A) Education (B) Work (C) Play.
Months on the raging sea, harsh winters, frostbite, starvation, thin and worn clothing, natural hazards,
dangerous animals. These are all things that may come to mind when we
think of the first years the Colonists spent in America, the New World.
While life in the Colonies was generally hard, and the Colonists did face
these and other difficult trials, life in the early colonies was not
completely bad. After the Colonists survived the first couple
winters and established a their own society, they were able
to settle into life in the New World and create
a life of both work and play. There are many
different characteristics of Colonial society,
but the three that define Colonial
life best are their education,
their work and their
play.
Months on the raging sea, harsh winters, frostbite, starvation, thin and worn clothing, natural hazards,
dangerous animals. These are all things that may come to mind when we
think of the first years the Colonists spent in America, the New World.
While life in the Colonies was generally hard, and the Colonists did face
these and other difficult trials, life in the early colonies was not
completely bad. After the Colonists survived the first couple
winters and established a their own society, they were able
to settle into life in the New World and create
a life of both work and play. There are many
different characteristics of Colonial society,
but the three that define Colonial
life best are their education,
their work and their
play.
***Notice the order of the three main topics! (1) education (2) work (3) play. This means that the whole paper must be in this order also!
***Notice the Attention Grabber!!!
***Notice the Attention Grabber!!!