How to write an essay introduction
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Ibrahim Akturk
- March 20, 2023
Essay guidelines
- How to write an essay
- Common essay types
- Argumentative essay
- Autobiography essay
- Biography essay
- Cause and effect essay
- Critical analysis essay
- Compare and contrast essay
- College application essay
- Definition essay
- Descriptive essay
- Evaluation essay
- Explanatory essay
- Expository essay
- First person essay
- Informal essay
- Literary analysis essay
- Narrative essay
- Opinion essay
- Personal statement essay
- Persuasive essay
- Profile essay
- Reflective essay
- Rhetorical analysis essay
- Scholarship essay
- Statement of purpose essay
- Length of an essay
- Outlining an essay
- Essay structures
- Essay topic ideas
- Introduction
- Body paragraphs
- Conclusion
- Citing sources in APA
- Citing sources in MLA
- Avoiding plagiarism
- Essay checklist
- Attract the reader’s interest.
- Give some background information on your subject.
- Present your thesis statement, which is the main point of your paper.
Step 1: Hook sentence
The hook sentence is literally first sentence of your introduction. Hook is where you grab the reader’s attention.
So you should spend some time creating an effective hook, for it sets the pace for the whole essay. The hook should draw the reader into your academic essay by conveying an understanding of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s fascinating.
- Start with something simple, brief, and intriguing to pique the reader’s interest, rather than a lengthy, complex sentence.
- Avoid making general assertions or presenting straightforward facts.
Five types of hooks
There are many types of hooks, so it’s up to you which one seems the best for your introduction.
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A common misconception hook
A common misconception hook example
Introduction
Not all religions teach the existence of a deity or gods in the Western context. For example, there is no creator god in Buddhism or Jainism, and Unitarian Universalism has no creed at all. A common misconception hook example
....(introduction continues)
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Statistics hook
Mathematical statistics can be an excellent hook for persuasive essays and serious subjects involving numerical analysis.
Statistics hook example
Introduction
According to a new survey, people who are happy with their work-life balance work 21% more and are 33% more inclined to keep working with the same company. Statistics hook example
....(introduction continues)
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Personal story hook
Personal stories will sometimes work as a hook, but only if they can be condensed into a few sentences (for example, in narrative essays).
Personal story hook example
Introduction
When I first started working from home, I learned how important it is to have a healthy work-life balance, and I saw firsthand how beneficial it could be. Personal story hook example
....(introduction continues)
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Scenes hook
This sort of hook necessitates the reader to imagine what you’re writing about. When used in descriptive and narrative essays, it works well.
Scenes hook example
Introduction
Try to imagine how working or studying from home could give you as much free time as you want, allowing you to spend more time with your loved ones. Scenes hook example
....(introduction continues)
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Thesis statement hook
Some writers begin by simply stating their thesis statement. The biggest trick here is that there isn’t one at all.
Thesis statement hook example
Introduction
Increased globalization, the loss of industrial jobs, and the Syrian refugee crisis have contributed to the emergence of populism in the 2016 political arena. Thesis statement hook example
....(introduction continues)
Step 2: Background information
Next, provide your reader with the background information because they need to comprehend your subject and argument.
Background information usually comes after the first sentence, which is hook. This section should provide broad information that is specifically focused and important to your argument.
Background/context example with APA reference
Introduction
Cancer due to smoking is undoubtedly one of the most common causes of death. It is now a common sense among people that smoking is extremely harmful for lungs. According to Taylor et al. (2018), the most common root cause of death due to lung cancer is still smoking and extreme exposure to cigarette smoke Background information/context provided
....(introduction continues)
Pro tip
Don’t go through too much detail—you might list things you’ll come back to later but save the facts and analysis for the essay’s main body.Step 3: Thesis statement
Now is the time to center your attention and demonstrate just what you want to say about the subject.
This is your thesis statement, which is a sentence or two that summarizes your main point. It’s usually the last sentence of your introduction.
- The thesis statement of your essay is, without a doubt, the most critical aspect. Since the whole essay revolves around this argument, it must be included in the introduction.
- A successful thesis statement is, on average, short (one sentence), factual, precise, descriptive, and concentrated.
Thesis statement examples
Thesis statement example
Introduction
....(introduction starts)
....(introduction continues)
....(introduction continues)
Magazines have made strides in the past years to include a more diverse group of models, but there is also a long way to go in terms of collectively promoting a positive body image for women. Thesis statement, which is usually the last sentence of your introduction
Thesis statement example 2
Introduction
....(introduction starts)
....(introduction continues)
....(introduction continues)
Euthanasia should be legalized, and doctors should be able to provide their patients with the end-of-life treatment they need. Thesis statement, which is usually the last sentence of your introduction
Thesis statement example 3
Introduction
....(introduction starts)
....(introduction continues)
....(introduction continues)
In an office environment, having a diverse community of people leads to more rich ideas, more teamwork, and more understanding between people of different skin colors or backgrounds. Thesis statement, which is usually the last sentence of your introduction
Step 4: Essay Introduction examples
Narrative essay introduction example
My father helped me prepare for school one day when I was thirteen. In the kitchen, we had breakfast together. Hook: Personal story as a hook. He inquired as to if I had brushed my teeth. He took me to the bus stop and wished me a nice day. Context: Background information. It was an ordinary morning, which is what bothers me the most because I never saw him again. Thesis Statement: State your central argument and position
Analytical essay introduction example
According to the meta-analysis statistic, mobile phones are one of the most commonly used gadgets. Hook: Statistics as a hook. The question of whether mobile phones are unsafe has sparked a debate. Some scholars favor, while others oppose, the use of mobile phones in daily practices because of the advantages they provide, especially in today’s environment. Context: Background information. Mobile phones, in my experience, are risky, and there have been studies and incidents identified as a result of cell phone use that include distracted driving, social isolation, and health issues. Thesis Statement: State your central argument and position
Persuasive essay introduction example
I’ve never been one to exercise in the past. Hook: A personal story as a hook. To be honest, I didn’t care for it, but many of my friends insisted on telling me how great it was every day. I wanted to go to the gym because the social pressure was getting to me Context: Background information. It wasn’t until then that I realized what people meant when they said fitness helps them get organized and maintain a stable physical and mental state. Thesis Statement: State your central argument and position
Key takeaways
Let’s quickly go through the main takeaways of what you should and shouldn’t do while writing your introduction now that you know how to start a decent introduction and have examined some simple introduction examples.
How long should my introduction be?
In general, there are no strict guidelines when it comes to the length of an introduction paragraph. The lengths of introductions are normally formed with the average length of the essay in mind by experienced essay writers.
- Suppose you’re writing a traditional five-paragraph essay, for example. In that case, you’ll want to keep your introduction paragraph brief to fit into a single paragraph.
- When writing longer essays (or research papers), such as a 30-page paper, the introduction might take up several paragraphs, if not several pages.
Important
While there are no clear rules, skilled writers recommend that your introductory paragraph(s) account for 8% or 9% of your essay’s overall word count.What are the requirements of a good introduction?
When writing a strong introductory paragraph, you need to:
- Write a hook at the start of the introduction to catch the reader’s attention.
- ️ Provide some background on your subject.
- Give readers an understanding of the key points and arguments that your essay will explore.
- ️ Include all required details such as time periods, characters, context, and so on.
- Thesis statement and a simple conclusion point at the end of your introduction that represents the core concept of your essay.
Introduction best practices
- Keep in mind the aim of your academic essay, and make sure your introduction sets that course.
- Make your point by ensuring that your readers fully comprehend your position.
- Demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about.
Things to avoid in introduction
- Don’t write an excessively long introduction (unless you are writing something like a 30-page paper).
- Don’t give all the details in the introduction. Keep some details concealed to keep your reader(s) interested, then show them later.
- Don’t use overcomplicated language and vocabulary. Even if the essay is for a professional publication, write in a concise, reasonable tone.
Contents
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