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Writing Introductions

Purpose of an introduction

An introduction transports your readers from “their” world into “your” world of complex thinking, ideas, and analysis. A good introduction should, therefore, announce your topic, provide essential context, indicate the essay's focus, and engage readers’ interest.

Basic Components of an Introduction

Your introduction must include the following:

1) Hook: Anything interesting that grabs readers’ attention and pulls them into your text.

2) Transition: A sentence that connects the hook with your thesis.

3) Thesis: A sentence about the argument or main point of your text.

When to Write an Introduction

When should you write your introduction?

There is no right or wrong answer to this. You can work on your introduction in the middle of the drafting process or at the very end when you are in a better position to see the bigger picture of your work. Don’t think your introduction should be written first.