College Term Paper Introductions
Writing a Thesis Statement, Attention Step, & Other Parts of a Intro
Here's how to begin your papers with introductions that effectively orient readers to the topic and grab their attention.
First impressions are important, and this applies to term papers. With a strong paper introduction, you can get your professor's attention. You can also demonstrate your writing skills and professionalism. Here are the elements you need to include in most college paper introductions.
Attention Step
At the beginning of your paper, include something that makes your reader want to continue. Your attention step should not be cheesy, but should be effective enough to interest the reader enough to continue along. Remember, keep this section short. There are many creative ways to start the paper, but here are a few common, effective attention steps:
- A meaningful quote
- A humorous but relevant joke
- A brief personal anecdote from your life that reflects the topic of the paper
- A brief discussion of a current event and how it relates to the topic of the paper
- A shocking statistic or set of statistics
- A sad, funny, or inspiring anecdote about a real or fictitious individual that "personifies" this issue
Thesis Statement
Students often have trouble with thesis statements, but this is a skill that's absolutely essential to master. A well-written thesis statement makes the paper much easier to understand, which is a mark of good writing.
The purpose of a thesis statement is to preview the paper--so use it as such. List the main points of the paper very clearly in the thesis. Then discuss the points in the order they were introduced in the thesis.
Thesis statements should be short. Unless you are writing a long document, such as a dissertation, they probably should only be one sentence long. As much as possible, keep them simple. The following are a few very simple thesis statements that preview a paper effectively:
- This paper discusses the economic growth of three Canadian provinces: Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta.
- Public opinion about the celebration of Christmas in the public schools falls into three categories: arguments firmly against, arguments firmly in favor, and arguments that seek to find a middle ground.
Statement of Relevancy
Why should the reader care about this topic? Justify clearly why this paper is important. If you can, relate the topic to current events of issues in some way. This section of the introduction typically is about a paragraph long.
Essential Background Information
An introduction is short and should not contain a detailed description of anything. However, the paper should briefly define and explain any basic information that is necessary to understand the rest of the paper. It's a good idea to assume the reader does not know much about this topic and explain the topic clearly with that assumption. For example, if you are writing about proposed piece of legislation, briefly discuss what this legislation will do. If you are discussing an historic event, give a quick background synopsis of the event.
Introductions... In Conclusion
In some ways, introductions are the most important section of a paper. They serve to orient the reader through a thesis statement and important background info. They also get the reader's attention through an attention step and a statement of relevancy. Always take the time to write a solid introduction that contains all four of these elements.
