Learn How to Write an Essay Introduction with Examples

What is a Good Essay Introduction?

An introduction is good if it gives a clear idea of what an essay is about. It tells the reader what to expect from the type of academic writing you are presenting.

However, it should strike a balance between being informative and engaging, avoiding excessive detail that may lead to confusion.

A strong introduction is engaging, attractive, and also informative. It’s important to note that an essay introduction paragraph should not be too short or too long.

Remember, the introduction starts the essay and sets the stage for the body of your essay. So, keep it concise and focused while hinting at the critical elements you'll explore in more depth later.

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How to Write an Essay Introduction?

Crafting an effective essay introduction is essential for capturing your reader's attention and setting the tone for your entire piece of writing. To ensure your introduction is engaging and impactful, you can follow an introduction format.

Here is the essay introduction format that will help you write an introduction for your essay easily.

1. Hook Sentence

A hook sentence is a must for the introductory part of an essay. It helps to keep the reader engaged in your content and seek the reader’s attention.

It is an attention-grabbing sentence that develops the interest of the reader. It develops the anxiousness of reading the complete essay.

You can use the following as the hook sentence in your essay introduction:

A verse
A famous quotation
A question
An interesting fact
An anecdote

All of the above are attention-grabbing things that prove to be perfect for a hook sentence.

Expert Tip

Not sure how to create an attention-grabbing hook statement? Check out these hook statement examples to get a better idea!

2. Background Information

Once you have provided an interesting hook sentence, it's time that you provide a little background information related to your essay topic.

The background information should comprise two or three sentences. The information should include the reason why you chose the topic and what is the expected scope of the topic.

Also, clarify the theme and nature of your essay.

3. Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a significant element of not just the introduction but also the whole essay. It is a statement that gives an overview of your complete essay.

It should be written in such a way that the reader can have an idea about the whole purpose of your essay.

Before you write a thesis statement for your essay, try looking into some thesis statement examples. It will help you write a meaningful statement for your essay.

A thesis statement is mentioned after the background information and before the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. The last sentence of the introduction is a transitional sentence.

Expert Tip

Need more information on crafting an impactful thesis statement? Read this insightful guide on writing a thesis statement to get started!

4. Transition Sentence

To end the introduction paragraph in a good way, a transition sentence is used. This sentence helps to relate the introduction to the rest of the essay.

In such a sentence, we mention a hint about the elements that we will be discussing next.

Expert Tip

Check out this list of transition words to write a good transition sentence.

Essay Introduction Template

Essay Introduction Template

Essay Introduction Starters

The introduction of your essay plays a crucial role in captivating your readers and setting the tone for the rest of your paper.

To help you craft an impressive introduction, here are some effective essay introduction phrases that you can use:

"In today's society, [topic] has become an increasingly significant issue."
"From [historical event] to [current trend], [topic] has shaped our world in numerous ways."
"Imagine a world where [scenario]. This is the reality that [topic] addresses."
"Have you ever wondered about [question]? In this essay, we will explore the answers and delve into [topic]."
"Throughout history, humanity has grappled with the complexities of [topic]."

Here are some more words to start an introduction paragraph with:

"Throughout"
"In today's"
"With the advent of"
"In recent years"
"From ancient times"

Remember, these words are just tools to help you begin your introduction. Choose the words that best fit your essay topic and the tone you want to set.

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Essay Introduction Examples

To help you get started, here are some examples of different essay types:

Argumentative Essay Introduction Examples

In an argumentative essay, we introduce an argument and support the side that we think is more accurate. Here is a short example of the introduction of a short argumentative essay.

“Could you imagine how different our world would be without the creation of the Internet?

The invention of the Internet has helped interconnect the world as nothing else has ever seen before.

Alongside global connectivity, the Internet and IT has helped create over 10 million jobs worldwide. Internet technology has given a significant and stable income to the world’s population.”

Reflective Essay Introduction Examples

A writer writes a reflective essay to share a personal real-life experience. It is a very interesting essay type as it allows you to be yourself and speak your heart out.

Here is a well-written example of a reflective essay introduction.

“Fieldwork experiences can often be a daunting way of conducting research, but they can also be fulfilling. I have had first-hand experience conducting fieldwork for my master’s degree. I learned some valuable lessons as a result of this. During my fieldwork in Rwanda, I realized that it was important to incorporate primary research data into my study, but because of a lack of data on my topic, I made use of other sources of qualitative data to validate my findings.

This strategy, according to Denzin (1970), is known as methodological triangulation, and it allows researchers to make use of various data gathering methods to ensure internal validity. Based on the use of methodological triangulation, I specifically designed interviews targeted at both elite groups and slum dwellers in Rwanda to investigate the thinking behind the urban policies designed by political elites, and how it impacts marginalized slum dwellers.”

Controversial Essay Introduction Examples

A controversial essay is a type of expository essay. It is written to discuss a topic that has controversy in it.

Below is a sample abortion essay introduction

“Abortion is the most controversial issue having no grounds of agreement among two polar aspects. The argument is life and death though the uncertainty of complication makes it difficult. I don’t believe in abortion because it’s murder; we are not the ones that can decide whether the person that a woman gives birth to should live or die.

Abortion is a life or death matter, having equal supporters on both sides. Yet, those supporters have one goal in common: decreasing the number of abortions and making abortion safer.

Abortion is defined as the “removal of the embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy” (Dictionary.com).

Abortion is surrounded by many questions, such as: Does the Constitution defend a right to abortion? Does this include confidentiality? Is a developing fetus a being? Should the law allow abortions for rape or incest?”

Here are some more examples:

Essay introduction body and conclusion

Heritage Day essay introduction

Covid-19 essay introduction body conclusion

Tips for Writing an Essay Introduction

The following are some tips for what you should and should not do to write a good and meaningful essay introduction.

Do's:

Do grab the reader's attention with a captivating opening sentence.
Do provide a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the main argument of your essay.
Do give a brief overview of the key points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.
Do use relevant and engaging examples or anecdotes to support your introduction.
Do consider the tone and style that best suits your essay topic and audience.
Do revise and edit your introduction to ensure it flows smoothly with the rest of your essay.

Don'ts:

Don't use clichés or overused phrases as your opening line.
Don't make your introduction overly lengthy or complex.
Don't include unnecessary background information that doesn't contribute to the main idea.
Don't introduce new information or arguments in the introduction that will be discussed later in the body paragraphs.
Don't use informal language or slang unless it aligns with the essay's purpose and audience.
Don't forget to proofread your introduction for grammar and spelling errors before finalizing it.

Remember to follow the do's and avoid the don'ts to create an impactful opening that hooks your readers from the start.

Now you know the steps and have the tips and tools to get started on creating your essay’s introduction. However, if you are a beginner, it can be difficult for you to do this task on your own.

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WRITTEN BY

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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