7 Practical Tips to Write a Compelling Introduction

By Nicole May 23, 2020

After the title is an introductory paragraph. Like spice in a meal, the opening paragraph gives your readers a taste of what is to come. You should start your essay on a positive note.

Your introductory paragraph should be interesting to hook your readers' attention. It also presents your position on the topic (using a thesis statement) and introduces your topic. Some of the popular hooks include famous quotes, statistics, facts or a thesis statement.

When is the right time to write your introduction?

Like writing the title, you can write your introductory paragraph after you have written all the other parts of your paper. Our essay writers use this approach since they want to see the contents of the essay. It a time-efficient and easy approach if you find yourself struggling with the opening. Always start with the most straightforward parts.

Your initial draft may not have the best opening. But as you continue writing, your ideas and thoughts will become more evident. Take note of those ideas and improve your introduction as you proofread your work.

Strategies of Writing a Compelling Introduction

There is a lot of information and advice out there on how to write a catchy opening. But the easiest is learning by looking at an essay example.

Here are 7 ways to start your essay effectively:

1. Start broad but not too extensive.

For instance, avoid paragraphs that give irrelevant details about Obama's childhood, his presidency and then American's history. This introduction is confusing. Your introduction should give your readers a sense of what to expect in your essay.

2. Avoid clichés.

Some introductions are striking but have been used so many times until they have become clichéd. You can start with a definition but it is now boring.

3. Just outline the relevant background information

It is okay to provide some essay information in the introduction, but the real argument should be found in the body. A perfect way to see if the information should be located in the introductory paragraph or body is asking yourself questions. Is this giving evidence? Does this provide evidence to your argument?

4. Mention your thesis briefly.

Usually, the main argument or thesis is located at the end of the introduction. Well, it can sometimes be weird to put your thesis in one specific place especially if it does not fit.

Be sure to avoid making a bald announcement like ‘'This paper is about…". The beauty of this approach is that you get right to the point. Besides most readers love this approach.

You may also want to summarize your point of view by outlining points made by other writers on the topic. There are many ways this can be realized. One of the most popular methods is using a quote.

5. Pose a question related to your topic and then give the answers. You could also invite your audience to answer it.

6. Describe the place that is the primary setting of your article

7. Delay in identifying your subject long enough to make your audience curious without frustrating them.

Final thoughts

A compelling introduction should your audience with an overview of your essay and explains your thesis. It should be engaging, compelling and does not rely on irrelevant information. Be concise and precise.

To learn more about essay writing, read our essay writing guide