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.
Activity 4-1: Making the introduction interesting
Work alone or form a group. Discuss what writing devices you can offer to make the introduction more interesting to read.
My advice:
(1) _______________________________________
(3) _______________________________________
(2) _______________________________________
Activity 4-2: FAQs about the introduction
The following questions are listed as the most frequently asked questions about how to write an introduction. Please try to answer the question first by yourself, and then discuss your answers in the class.
Q1: How long should the introduction be?
A: __________________________________________________________________
Q2: When should I write the introduction part?
A: __________________________________________________________________
Q3: Can I write a tentative introduction first and then change it later?
A: __________________________________________________________________
What You should Know
The introduction is important as the first part of your essay; it sets the tone for the reader, gives some ideas of the content and the writer’s position, and suggests how the piece of work is organized. An introduction should do the following:
To alert a reader’s interest,
To indicate the scope and direction of the paper, and act as a navigation guide to its reading,
To show the reader how you are interpreting and approaching the question,
To provide a context for the main issue,