1. How do I begin my paper?
Writing Introductions Workshop
The Writing Studio
Bate 2005

2. Why are introductions important?
 First impressions are lasting impressions!
 If your introduction is poor, your readers
may stop there, or continue on with the
wrong assumptions about your essay.
 If it’s good, even captivating, your readers
will continue enthusiastically.

3. What should an introduction
do?
 4 main things:
 Get your readers’ attention and interest
 Identify the specific topic of the report
 Conceptualize your argument or discussion
 Explain how your paper is organized

4. 1) Get your readers’ interest
 Write about a topic that interests you
 Consider why you chose to write about your topic
or the specific aspect of your topic
 Tell a story or an anecdote that connects to your
discussion
 Begin with an influential and interesting quote
that explains the importance of your topic

5. 2) Identify the specific topic
 Use specific terms
 Purpose
 Specific point-of-view
 Avoid saying “my paper is about…”

6. Thesis statement
 A concise sentence or two that states what
the essay is about
 gives direction to the essay
 conventionally placed at the end of the
introductory paragraph

7. 3) Conceptualize your argument
 Add the definitions or background
necessary for your readers to approach the
first paragraph but…
 Don’t give it all away now!

8. 4) Explain how your paper is organized
 Tell the reader how you are going to talk
about your topic
 Indicate the sections of your essay and
something about the order in which they
will be discussed

9. How long do introductions
have to be?
 Introductions vary in length according to
your purpose, writing style, the
complexity of your topic, and the length of
your essay

10. How long do introductions
have to be?
 Introductions vary in length according to
your purpose, writing style, the
complexity of your topic, and the length of
your essay