How to write an essay introduction

Good hooks are relevant and specific:

• A striking fact: "In 1900, London was the largest city in the world."
• A precise question: "Why did a war expected to end by Christmas last four years?"
• A short quotation: a line from the text you're analysing.
• A bold claim: "Lady Macbeth is the most powerful character in the play, and the most fragile."

Avoid dictionary definitions ("The Oxford Dictionary defines…") and sweeping openings ("Since the dawn of time…").

Give the background the reader needs: the text and author, the period, or the key terms of the question. One or two sentences is usually enough. Don't start your argument here, and don't summarise the whole plot.

End with your answer to the question. It should be arguable and specific, and can preview your main points. See how to write a thesis statement for a formula and examples.

Question: How far was the Treaty of Versailles responsible for the Second World War?

"In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was meant to secure peace in Europe; twenty years later, Europe was at war again. The treaty punished Germany with lost territory, reparations and military limits, and its terms were resented throughout the 1920s and 1930s. However, while the treaty created grievances that Hitler exploited, the war was caused more directly by the failure of appeasement and Hitler's own expansionist aims."

Hook (first sentence), context (second), thesis (third).

Many writers draft the introduction after the body, once they know exactly what they've argued. If you write it first, revisit it at the end and make sure the thesis matches the essay you actually wrote.

• "In this essay I will…" (fine in some subjects, but often weak in English and history).
• Repeating the question word for word.
• Long background that delays the argument.
• Introducing evidence that never appears again.

Our guide to essay structure shows how the introduction fits the whole essay, and how to write a conclusion covers the other end.

• English Literature: name the text and writer, give a line of context relevant to the question, then your argument about how the writer presents the theme or character.
• History: set the period and the issue, then give a judgement for "how far" or "how important" questions.
• Science reports: state the aim, the background theory and your hypothesis.
• Geography: define key terms and say which places or case studies you'll use.

The shape changes, but every introduction tells the reader what you're going to argue or investigate.

• Does the first sentence say something specific?
• Is there just enough context, and no more?
• Does the last sentence answer the question?
• Could a reader predict the main points of the essay from it?

The stronger openings are specific and already point towards an argument.