When writing an introductory paragraph, you should always include a hook to catch the reader's attention, supporting information about the topic being discussed, and a thesis statement. However, there are many types of introductory paragraphs that you can use for your paper. This article will describe some of the common types of introductory paragraphs.
Step
Method 1 of 7: Anecdotal Introduction
Step 1. Tell a short story
The story can be humorous, serious, or surprising, but regardless of the type, it must directly address or relate to the topic of the paper.
- Anecdotes can be true stories or fiction, they can be personal or about other people.
- Stories should be short enough to be told in a few sentences.
Step 2. Create a bridge to the topic
After telling a story, briefly explain why you are telling it and why the reader should care.
You may end up introducing the main ideas of the essay in this section in the introduction
Step 3. State the thesis
In a single sentence, state a topic-focused thesis and tell readers what they will find in the body of the paper.
- A thesis statement is a single sentence that describes a specific idea or point about the broader topic on which the entire paper is based.
- The relationship between the thesis statement and the anecdote should be clear to the reader. If your thesis statement doesn't match your current introduction, you may need to use more supporting evidence to get to the topic or replace the anecdote.
Method 2 of 7: Historical Review
Step 1. Determine if historical reviews can help
There are many papers that do not require historical context. However, if the historical context can help explain things to the reader, an introduction in the form of a historical review can be very useful.
This introduction is usually used for a paper written on a time period or historical topic, a historical critique of a literary work, or an old problem that people have been trying to deal with for years
Step 2. Provide factual and historical context on the topic
Outline or review some of the key historical facts that offer the reader any information that may be needed to understand the topic of the paper.
This piece of information should not only provide context for the topic, but also indirectly present the topic itself in general terms. By doing this, you will be demonstrating to the reader how the topic relates to the historical facts you presented in the introduction
Step 3. Narrow your thoughts down to a thesis statement
The information provided so far will be fairly general, so you should focus the end of the paragraph on a single thesis that you will use to outline the rest of the paper.
- A thesis statement is a single sentence that describes a specific point or idea about the broader topic on which the entire paper is based.
- With this type of introduction, the thesis statement should cause the reader to look at the historical facts that have just been presented from a new perspective or through a certain lens. In effect, the thesis statement should tell the reader why the facts presented earlier are important.
Method 3 of 7: Literary Summary
Step 1. Briefly summarize the literary work you are discussing
Introduce the key bibliographical facts of the literary work and summarize the main plot or purpose of the work.
When it comes to stories, you don't need to focus on specific details or tell the ending. You just need to introduce the basic and overarching theme of the story and provide information about the conflicts faced by the main character
Step 2. Take the general theme of the work
Most literary works have many themes that can be covered, but for a paper to have common ground, you will need to focus on one theme that is directly related to your thesis.
Connect the summary to the theme in a natural and natural way. For example, if you're writing an essay about a coming-of-age story, you should introduce the theme with something like, "The breakup in friendships and family drama Jimmy has to go through serves as his path to adulthood."
Step 3. Give hints about the main body of the essay
Lead to the thesis by briefly mentioning the main ideas of the essay, which are present to support the thesis.
In other words, you will narrow the broad topic into a more focused and specific thought by slowly presenting ideas that narrow the reader's perspective until the only thing the reader sees about the literary work is the ideas presented in the paper
Step 4. Close with a thesis statement
End the introduction with a focused one-sentence statement about the essay thesis.
- A thesis statement is a single sentence that describes a specific point or idea about the broader topic on which the entire paper is based.
- With this type of introduction, you need to choose a thesis that makes sense in the context of the summary and supporting evidence. If the thesis still seems awkward, review and rewrite the supporting evidence until the connection between the thesis and the summary makes sense.
Method 4 of 7: Thought Trigger Questions
Step 1. Ask questions that relate to the reader
Greet readers directly by asking questions relevant to the topic of the paper. The question should be something that will grab the attention of the most people, so that it presents the topic in terms that the reader can relate to.
When choosing a question, you can ask something universal, surprising, or rhetorical
Step 2. Consider supporting the original question with two other questions
It's not mandatory, but if you want to continue narrowing the topic, you can also provide two questions that "support" the original question and further clarify the issue at hand.
- Additional questions asked should gradually narrow the topic down to something smaller and more specific.
- For example, start with the question, “Why does the grass always appear greener on the other side?” After that, you might ask, "What's with the human mind seeing things you don't have as more desirable than things you already have?" Your final question could then be, “Is this a social, psychological, or spiritual issue?”
Step 3. Provide answer clues and discuss how your essay will address those answers
You don't need to state your answer in a clear way, but you should use the main points of the paper to guide the reader in a certain direction.
Doing this also gives the reader a hint as to the approach you want to take regarding the question at hand
Step 4. State the thesis in one single sentence
A thesis statement will be the closest thing you can come to providing a direct answer to the original question. The thesis statement should state what, in particular, you are going to cover.
- A thesis statement is a single sentence that describes a specific point or idea about the broader topic on which the entire paper is based.
- You don't need to give the reader clear and definite answers to the questions asked, but if you narrow down the topic using the three-question method, you should consider using terms or ideas from the last question in your thesis.
Method 5 of 7: Words of Wisdom
Step 1. Offer a relevant quote
A quote can be famous, clever, or unexpected, but whatever content or type you choose, it should have direct relevance to the topic.
- Quotes can be famous sayings, words from someone famous, snippets of song lyrics, or short poems.
- Don't include hanging quotes. “Hanging quote” refers to a quote that is not accompanied by an introduction or explanation after it. In other words, a sentence with a quote in it must contain content other than the quote itself.
Step 2. Provide context for the quote while providing a bridge to the topic
Context can be who originally said or wrote the words, what the words refer to, the time period from which the quote came from, or how the quote relates to the topic.
- Note that unless the quote is anonymous, you should always state who is responsible for it.
- This context will also introduce the topic of the paper and go into supporting details that can introduce the thesis.
Step 3. State the thesis
Make a single statement outlining, clearly, what the paper is discussing.
- A thesis statement is a single sentence that describes a specific point or idea about the broader topic on which the entire paper is based.
- A thesis statement for this type of introduction will need to match the citation used. You should not use general quotes that touch on a broad overall topic but don't relate to your thesis specifically.
Method 6 of 7: Corrective Introduction
Step 1. Name something that people mistakenly believe
Sometimes, an essay addresses a topic about which the reader often misunderstands or has inaccurate knowledge. If that happens, you can directly mention the false belief in the first line of the introductory paragraph.
When you state a false belief, be sure to clarify that it is not
Step 2. State your correction
Immediately after expressing a false belief, you need to follow the statement with a sentence about the correct version or truth of the situation.
This sentence should introduce the general topic of the paper and pave the way for a thesis statement
Step 3. Explain a little about the correct version
Provide supporting evidence or facts about your correction to further strengthen the truth in the reader's mind.
These pieces of supporting evidence usually correspond to the main idea that you will discuss in the body paragraph of the paper
Step 4. Close with the relevant thesis statement
Once the general topic has been introduced and supporting evidence provided, you can now make a definitive thesis statement about what will be covered in the paper.
- A thesis statement is a single sentence that describes a specific point or idea about the broader topic on which the entire paper is based.
- In some ways, the thesis statement will be like an outright disclaimer or a mirror image of the misunderstanding you are discussing. The two will be directly connected, but also directly opposite each other.
Method 7 of 7: Declarative Introduction
Step 1. Write down the general topic immediately
With this type of introduction, you start writing about the topic right from the start, without an opening or hook.
- Introduce the topic in the first sentence.
- In the following sentences, explain the topic by introducing a fact or idea that you will use as the main point or part of the essay.
Step 2. Never state directly what is covered in the essay
While this type of introduction requires that you introduce the topic from the start, you should never write a direct statement stating the topic in precise, specific terms.
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Phrases to avoid include:
- “In this essay, I will write about…”
- “This essay will discuss…”
- “In this essay, you will learn about…”
- Stating the topic in such a precise manner leads to a stilted and unnatural flow of words. You should try to create a professional but conversational tone of introduction so that readers can enter your writing more naturally.
Step 3. State the thesis
After introducing the topic as a whole, you should close the introductory paragraph with a single statement that acts as a thesis.
- A thesis statement is a single sentence that describes a specific point or idea about the broader topic on which the entire paper is based.
- The introductory section leading to a thesis will often narrow down the topic gradually until you can naturally introduce a specific thesis.
Step 4. Use this introduction with care
While this introduction can be effective, it can often be tedious and is generally not recommended.
