Writing An Introduction

The introduction and conclusion are the most challenging sections of your paper. Because the introduction is a roadmap to the rest of your paper, you may want to write the body of your paper first, and then go back and write an introduction and conclusion.

The introduction of your paper should:

• Attract the reader's attention
• Clearly state the thesis of the paper
• Reveal your plan of organization
• Define any important terms

The introduction of your paper should not:

• Give a synopsis of the book you read or events you are discussing
• Be too long

Here are websites that might assist you in writing an introduction:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center
• Harvard College Writing Center