How to Write a Good Essay Introduction

An introduction can also be called the core of the essay. A good and strong introduction does not only create a first impression, but also gives your audience the context of it and the topic which they are going to be acquainted with.

The introduction shows the focus of your essay. The role of the introduction is to engage the audience’s attention.

How to write a good essay introduction?

Somestudents cannot write an essay until they start if off; i.e. writing an introduction. If you are one of those students, do not spend too much time on your introduction and make sure to revise and shorten it if necessary. The general rule states that an introduction is effective when it takes about half to three quarters of the first page of the essay. Of course every essay is strictly individual as its word count. If you decide to make your introduction longer than one paragraph, then make sure it corresponds to the whole length of the essay. The most important thing about your introduction is to make it strong and clear and get to the discussed topic as fast as possible. The best would be if you could get to the point in the first or second sentence of the introduction. Avoid being too broad on your subject and get straight to the point. Try not to use generalizations. Stay focused and sharp on the topic.

Useful tips on writing a good essay introduction

As always, there are a few strategies that can help you write a good and strong essay introduction.

• Once you have picked and researched a topic and are getting ready to write an introduction, do not repeat the given assignment, avoid in-depth and detailed explanations; they are more suitable for the body paragraph of the essay, but not the introduction.
• Do not give definitions that the readers already know. In general, try not to get your audience bored. Keep it sharp and clear. It would be great if you could quote an expert or use statistics that proves your topic. A nice joke would be very helpful; you could also try with a little anecdote. If necessary, provide some background information in the introduction of your essay.
• You can also give some personal experience or reflection. Depending on the subject of the essay you can focus on different angles; if it is a science essay, always clarify key concepts and use relevant scientific literature; if it is a more technical essay, clarify the terms that can be unfamiliar to your readers but essential in understanding what you are writing about. Essay writing is not fiction writing, nothing must come to as a surprise for the audience. The story of the essay is outlined and mapped in the introduction and later it is examined in details in the body of it. A strong and logical introduction is what makes a good essay introduction.
• Background information in the introduction is important but it has to be relevant and brief. Find the hook and make a point. For example, you have decided to write an essay on good nutrition. Start with a quote like “I am what I eat. So what I want to be and what I have been today and tomorrow”. And after that you can elaborate with one sentence that bad nutrition harms your health, physical and even mental condition. You can also quote some statistics on people who drink or eat products like Coca Cola and fast food on a daily basis and what research shows as a negative result of that. And here you have your first impression and thesis.

At the end check your introduction carefully, shorten it if necessary, remove grammar and spelling mistakes and make sure it has a clear and well stated thesis that captures the audience’s attention.