How to Write an Effective Introduction for a College Research Paper
Sometimes I wonder if students think 'the more words they put into an introduction, the better their grade will be;' sort of the 'throw in the kitchen sink' approach. That's not the way to write an introduction. An introduction to a paper is arguably the most essential part of the whole work. It provides the reader (the professor who is grading the paper) with direction and structure. The introduction also convinces readers to read further, which is a lot of responsibility for generally the shortest part of the paper. With that in mind, following the steps presented here will help students write effective introductions.
Instructions
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Keep it short. The greater the length of an introduction, the more likely a reader will become confused as to what the main idea/theme/purpose of the paper is. Keep intros to between 4-5 sentences. Too short? Not at all.
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Present thesis statement in one sentence. Admittedly, thesis statements have been spread over two sentences and have been clear/effective. Twenty years of tutoring students in writing research papers has shown me that such a feat is rare. A one sentence long thesis will keep the reader focused. How do you gauge how effective your thesis is? If treating your thesis as the only sentence in the intro, a reader should be able to know the purpose of the paper and the general layout of the entire paper from the thesis alone. If your thesis accomplishes that, you're well on your way to an effective presentation.
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Put thesis statement as last sentence in intro. Yes, I've seen thesis statements presented as the very first sentence in an introduction AND it was an effective thesis. Once again, rarely has this worked from my experience. Readers are greatly impacted and guided by the last sentence in an introduction. Consequently, using that sentence to provide substance, the thesis, increases the likelihood that a writer will effectively present his or her argument/ideas.
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Tips & Warnings
Free-write when facing writer's block
Don't procrastinate
