A well-written introduction allows the reader to know the subject of your writing. In it you expose the scope of your thesis or dissertation, whether you are writing an essay or a blog post. For a good introduction, start hooking the reader with an opening that piques their interest. From there, you will provide some transition phrases to get to the main thesis, moving from a general idea to a more specific one in the process.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Stimulating Interest
Step 1. Start with a quote, to give weight to your thesis
This so-called "hook" works well in both private writing and academic essays, as long as you choose an appropriate quote. For example, avoid using motivational quotes in an academic article, but you can do it in a more personal writing, like a blog post.
Make sure the quote is related to what you are talking about. It should lead to what you are saying in your introduction
Step 2. Choose a catchphrase for a dynamic introduction
A bold statement expresses an opinion in a provocative way. Choose an original or somewhat controversial statement, rather than an opinion shared by all. Make sure you can back up your statement with facts and evidence!
For example, if you are writing an argumentative essay that is meant to persuade the school administrator to stop giving homework, you might say, "Homework does not contribute to a student's academic success."
Step 3. Choose a simple story to illustrate where your argument will go
A short anecdote is a fun way to attract your readers, however it needs to be relevant to your topic or else you'll end up confusing them. Also, it shouldn't be longer than a paragraph, particularly if the essay or text you're writing is short.
- An anecdote can be fictional or real, but typically you should tell it as if you were telling it to a friend, even if you still want to keep it professional.
- For example, you could write: “Once, long ago, a single branch broke off from a group of predators in the chain of evolution of the animal world. These animals had sharp teeth, were ferocious predators, and soon developed a hypercarnivorous nature. Eventually, this evolutionary chain led to the purring animal sitting on our lap: the domestic cat”.
Step 4. Write an example to concretely present your thesis
An example is similar to a story, but usually comes from real life. Try writing it in a more direct style than you would for a story.
If you're writing a cat character text, you might want to share a short example of an event you witnessed
Step 5. Go for a general statement and not a straightforward approach
Choose a broader statement and then lead the reader to a more specific main idea. However, it shouldn't be so general that it confuses the reader.
- For example, if you are describing the characteristics of domestic cats, do not start with the evolution of the universe, as it is a bit too broad a topic. However, you could start with a few phrases about how evolution has led to the current traits of cats.
- You can write: "The domestic cat, in all its detachment as a predator, took thousands of years to evolve into the cat you keep in your womb."
Step 6. Ask a question that makes the reader think
Choose a thought-provoking question that catches the reader's interest and causes them to reflect on the topic. Avoid repeating a question posed by the topic of your writing and don't use something obvious.
For example, if you are writing a text about water quality in your neighborhood, you might start with a question like, "Did you know that drinking water can by law contain lead?"
Step 7. Avoid starting with a definition unless it is truly relevant
This technique has been used so much that it has now become commonplace. Therefore, unless you really need that definition to introduce your topic, it's best to avoid it.
Part 2 of 4: Go to the Main Topic
Step 1. Provide context to make your “hook” meaningful
This part of the introduction takes you and the reader off the "hook" to the main idea of the article or text. Provide some basic information about the hook you just used or illustrate how it relates to the topic.
For example, if you used a quote, you might say, "That quote, from the famous scientist John Biologist, shows how far cats have come in the course of evolution."
Step 2. Narrow your ideas from general to more specific to focus your introduction
Often the hook is a bit wider than the main idea, which is fine. In this transition area, you can use phrases that gradually narrow your arguments down to the specific idea you want to discuss.
For example, if you started with a story about how cats evolved in an essay on the characteristics of these felines, you might begin to narrow it down by first discussing the traits they inherited from their ancestors, then you can move on to the ones they inherited from their ancestors. they have developed since their evolution broke away from that of other predators
Step 3. Introduce some details to give substance to the topic
In these transitional phrases, start adding details to give the reader an idea of where you are going. Use these specific points to get to the main topic.
- For example, you could write: "It is impossible to talk about the characteristics of cats without at least mentioning their evolution. However, I will mainly focus on the contemporary genes of domestic cats."
- In this example you are letting the reader know that your main idea is the genes of domestic cats, so you have become more specific. However, you are still in the transition phase to your main idea, in which you will specify exactly which genes you intend to treat.
Step 4. Provide enough information to get people to read your text
Offer enough information for the reader to be interested in reading the article and able to follow what you are saying. However, do not give your whole argument or the reader will have no incentive to continue reading the text.
- The introduction helps to engage the readers. The trick is to find the right balance between providing enough information to pique their interest and not providing so much to answer every question in advance.
- For example, you could state that you intend to demonstrate how cats evolved to be the perfect predators, but in the introduction you don't necessarily have to say how you will do it.
Part 3 of 4: Expose the Main Idea
Step 1. Establish your main thesis using a clear and concise sentence
This statement represents the main idea of your text. Usually a single sentence is written to establish the main idea or ideas and this is the most specific part of the introduction. This sentence should be at the end of the introductory paragraph.
For example, if your thesis is that the traits of the house cat show that this animal is directly descended from larger predators, you could write: "The house cat exhibits characteristics that prove that its ancestors were large predators."
Step 2. Include the main points of your argument to guide your readers
Part of defining your topic is giving your readers a preview of what they will read. Establish guidelines, which are specific phrases that tell the reader exactly what you intend to cover in your text. That way, the reader will be able to find those topics while reading your article.
- For example, you could add this sentence to your introduction: "With its sharp teeth, carnivorous nature, and abilities to stealthily hunt, the domestic cat exhibits characteristics that show that its ancestors were large predators, a fact proven by the peculiarities it shares. with the biggest cats of the animal world ".
- This statement states that you will focus on these 3 traits and intend to show a connection with other members of the cat family.
- In some cases, you may choose not to anticipate the main points in the introduction. If you explain them in the body of the text and they relate to your thesis, that's fine.
Step 3. Put the main theses at the end of the introduction
By convention, the statement of the main ideas provides the transition between the introduction and the rest of the text, so it should be placed immediately before starting the main body of the text. However, if you find it necessary, you can include a transition sentence to help the reader understand that you are moving forward.
Part 4 of 4: Creating a More Effective Introduction
Step 1. Use original sentences to make the introduction more interesting
It is often tempting to use clichés or abused expressions within an introduction, especially if you don't know what to say. However, doing so risks starting the essay by boring the reader, which is not a great place to start.
- Avoid phrases or clichés such as "The neighbour's grass is always greener" or "The morning has gold in its mouth".
- There may be an exception if you are able to explain how the sentence relates to your topic in a unique or unexpected way.
- Likewise, skip formal introductions like "This essay is about…, and here's my thesis:…".
Step 2. Make sure your introduction is appropriate for the style of the text
An overly informal introduction is generally not suitable for an academic essay, particularly in the scientific field. On the other hand, a stiff and formal introduction usually doesn't work well in a blog post. As you write your introduction, think about whether the style is appropriate for the context.
Step 3. Reread the introduction after you have finished writing the text to check if it is adequate
It is perfectly normal to write the introduction before the rest of the text, however your argument may change as you write. For this reason you should give her a read to make sure she still introduces the text well.
- Also, when you rephrase the thesis in the essay conclusion, you can check if the introduction is still relevant to the text.
- Check the points you listed in the introduction that you intended to mention in the article. Have you faced them all?
Step 4. Write the introduction after the body of the text to facilitate composition
Sometimes, when you start writing, you may not have already thought about all the points you want to highlight exactly. It is also very common to find the introduction the most difficult part to write. If this is the case, going back to it later can help you proceed with the rest of the text.
