What Makes A Good First Impression - 1508 Words

An introduction does not need to be long (and should not be), but it is an important part of an essay. A weak introduction can cause readers to lose interest in your essay from the start, whereas a strong introduction will engage your readers and make them want to continue reading. Of course, the introduction is the first part of your essay that your audience will read, and it s important to make a good first impression. This page provides suggestions to help you write strong introductions. Introductions: An Overview In general, an introduction needs to do three things: to spark the interest of readers, to move readers gracefully toward the thesis statement, and to present the thesis statement of the essay. The order of items above is†¦show more content†¦Approaches to Writing Introductions Each of the introductions below presents the same thesis statement: Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime. While the thesis statement is the same for all of the introductions, notice how the various introductions set different tones for the essay and establish slightly different expectations for what will follow in the body of the essay. 1. Begin with Background or Historical Information Example Identity theft is not a new crime. Throughout history, unscrupulous individuals have pretended to be people they are not, often with the goal of political, social, or financial gain. With the right appearance and demeanor, people have falsely presented themselves as kings and bishops. Today, in our information age, identity theft is a far more prevalent problem. With access to names, Social Security numbers, and other personal information, thieves are able to steal identities, leaving the victims struggling to clear their good names. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime. 2. Begin with a Quotation Example In Shakespeare s Othello, Iago claims that he who steals my purse steals trash / . . . But he that filches from me my good name / Robs me of that which not enriches him,