The role of introductions
Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of
papers to write. Usually when you sit down to respond to an assignment,
you have at least some sense of what you want to say in the body of your
paper. You might have chosen a few examples you want to use or have an
idea that will help you answer the main question of your assignment:
these sections, therefore, are not as hard to write. But these middle
parts of the paper can’t just come out of thin air; they need to be
introduced and concluded in a way that makes sense to your reader.
Your introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transport your
readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. If your
readers pick up your paper about education in the autobiography of
Frederick Douglass, for example, they need a transition to help them
leave behind the world of Chapel Hill, television, e-mail, and the The
Daily Tar Heel and to help them temporarily enter the world of
nineteenth-century American slavery. By providing an introduction that
helps your readers make a transition between their own world and the
issues you will be writing about, you give your readers the tools they
need to get into your topic and care about what you are saying.
Similarly, once you’ve hooked your reader with the introduction and
offered evidence to prove your thesis, your conclusion can provide a
bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily
lives. (See our handout on
conclusions.)
Why bother writing a good introduction?
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with
their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the
overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled,
off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative
impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written
introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your
analytical skills, your writing, and your paper. This impression is
especially important when the audience you are trying to reach (your
instructor) will be grading your work.
Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper.
Your introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can
let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan
to proceed with your discussion. In most academic disciplines, your
introduction should contain a thesis that will assert your main
argument. It should also, ideally, give the reader a sense of the kinds
of information you will use to make that argument and the general
organization of the paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading
your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in
store when they read the main body of your paper.
Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper.
The introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them
want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, a
fascinating quotation, an interesting question, or a stirring example
can get your readers to see why this topic matters and serve as an
invitation for them to join you for an interesting intellectual
conversation.
