The introduction is your essay's opening paragraph. It engages the reader, provides context, and presents your thesis statement.
The Introduction Funnel
Move from general to specific:
- Hook — grab attention with a surprising fact, question, or anecdote
- Background — provide context readers need
- Thesis — state your main argument
Hook Types
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Statistic | "Every 11 minutes, a teenager attempts suicide..." |
| Question | "What if the tools designed to connect us are driving us apart?" |
| Anecdote | "Sarah checks her phone 150 times per day..." |
| Quote | "As experts warn, 'We face a mental health crisis...'" |
Common Mistakes
- Too broad — "Throughout history, humans have always communicated"
- Dictionary definition — "According to Webster's..."
- Announcing — "In this essay, I will prove..."
- Weak thesis placement — burying your thesis in the middle
Keep your introduction to about 10% of your total essay length.
Quick Tips
- Write your introduction last (after you know your argument)
- End with your thesis as the culminating statement
- Make readers want to continue reading