A strong essay opens with a catchy introduction. In it, you provide relevant background information and take a stand. The ideal introduction is short but powerful. The reader is intrigued to read further and has a sense of what your essay is about. The opening sentence, for instance, is quite important. It should immediately grab the reader’s attention. What else should you pay attention to when introducing an essay?
How long should your catchy essay introduction be?
To make your introduction catchy, usually stick to one or at most two paragraphs. In most essays, the introduction is no more than 10-20% of the total text. This leaves enough space for the argument (the most important part of an essay) and the conclusion at the end.
Tips for a catchy introduction
A catchy introduction for your essay should contain several elements: a powerful opening sentence, background information, and your thesis statement. Below are tips on how to properly build your introduction with these elements.
Also, read our tips for writing an essay if you want to know more about it in general.
Powerful opening sentence
An essay is a short text. You get to the point quickly, also by starting your text with a powerful sentence. With the first sentence or the first two sentences, you should immediately make your reader curious about your topic. You can do this, for example, by starting with a question to the reader, a quote, or by referencing a striking statement. You can also use your own statement as a starting sentence, although this is not very common.
Sufficient background information
After that first sentence, you should provide relevant background information on your topic. You can assume that the reader has the necessary general knowledge to understand your topic,so explaining general information is not necessary. Do, however, provide definitions to terms that your reader may be unfamiliar with. Make sure the reader knows just enough about your topic to be able to follow the argument later.
Your point of view
Next, you present your point of view, usually at the end of the introduction. Your point of view is the position you take for the rest of your essay. You will later substantiate that position with arguments for and against it. Your point of view is what the whole essay is about.
Sample introduction essay
What does a powerful introduction look like? The sample essay introduction below can give you a good idea..
'Choose precisely!' and 'A smart girl is prepared for her future'. Those two slogans attracted more students to science studies in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, however, it is language studies that are shy of students. According to experts, this is a worrying development that calls for action and research. Where did things go wrong, and what can be done about it?
A major problem is that the image of language studies leaves much to be desired. After all these years, science studies are still looked up to. Students wrongly label language and cultural studies as 'easy' or see them as less prestigious. This calls for change. More students need to be attracted to language courses to avoid acute shortages. Action is needed, and it is needed now.
Having doubts about your essay?
Not quite confident that your essay is well put together? You can have your essay checked by AthenaCheck. Our editors will check your essay for language, structure and/or common thread. This way, you can hand in your text without concern.