1. Introductions MENU EXIT
An introduction should capture a reader’s interest and tell what the writing will be about.
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2. Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
An introduction should capture a reader’s interest and tell what the writing will be about.
Why is the second introduction more successful than the first? Click on the i-icons to find out.
The Mormon pioneers walked half way across the country, pulling handcarts the whole way. They trudged through searing heat, thick mud, and deep snow. They crossed wide and sometimes dangerous rivers. All the while, they pulled their handcarts, which were basically wheelbarrows with big wheels, carrying loads of up to 500 pounds or more.
Between 1856 and 1860, Mormon pioneers migrated to the West. They pulled handcarts, which were like wheelbarrows. They carried all their supplies in the handcarts. . i i
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3. Introductions MENU EXIT
An introduction should capture a reader’s interest and tell what the writing will be about.
Why is the second introduction more successful than the first? Click on the i-icons to find out. i
Between 1856 and 1860, Mormon pioneers migrated to the West. They pulled handcarts, which were like wheelbarrows. They carried all their supplies in the handcarts.
The Mormon pioneers walked half way across the country, pulling handcarts the whole way. They trudged through searing heat, thick mud, and deep snow. They crossed wide and sometimes dangerous rivers. All the while, they pulled their handcarts, which were basically wheelbarrows with big wheels, carrying loads of up to 500 pounds or more. i i
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This introduction paints a picture of a courageous, determined people who accomplished something remarkable. The details make readers want to continue reading. i

4. Introductions MENU EXIT
An introduction should capture a reader’s interest and tell what the writing will be about.
Why is the second introduction more successful than the first? Click on the i-icons to find out. i i
Between 1856 and 1860, Mormon pioneers migrated to the West. They pulled handcarts, which were like wheelbarrows. They carried all their supplies in the handcarts.
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This introduction is flat and uninteresting. It gives the basic facts, but doesn’t help readers see what these people actually accomplished. It doesn’t give readers a reason to care. i
The Mormon pioneers walked half way across the country, pulling handcarts the whole way. They trudged through searing heat, thick mud, and deep snow. They crossed wide and sometimes dangerous rivers. All the while, they pulled their handcarts, which were basically wheelbarrows with big wheels, carrying loads of up to 500 pounds or more.

5. Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT A successful introduction
captures the reader’s interest
communicates the topic and purpose
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6. Introductions MENU EXIT
You can use a variety of strategies to catch your reader’s attention. Click on the strategy you want to explore.
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Lively Description
Surprising Statements
Quotations
Questions
Direct Address
Strong Opinions
Anecdote

7. Lively Description Introductions MENU EXIT
Sensory details and figurative language can add energy and interest to an introduction. Description can engage readers by painting a picture and establishing a mood.
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8. Lively Descriptions Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
How could description be used to improve this introduction?
One August afternoon, we decide to go fishing. We dig up worms, check our hooks and leaders, grab our poles, and jump in the pickup. We head down to the trout stream over a back road.
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9. Lively Descriptions Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
The writer paints a vivid picture of the sights and sounds of getting ready for a fishing trip. It creates a mood of anticipation that invites readers to keep reading.
On a cloudy August afternoon, the cry goes up for a fishing party. We dig for worms, rustle through the barn for a net, check the hooks and leaders, grab a few poles, and soon we’re off in the old red pickup, headed down to the trout stream through a narrow back road that is closed in winter.
—Christopher Kimball, “A Fisher of Children”
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10. Surprising Statements
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Introductions
Surprising Statements
Grab a reader’s attention by beginning with a surprising statement or a startling fact.
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11. Surprising Statements
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Introductions
Surprising Statements
Grab a reader’s attention by beginning with a surprising statement or a startling fact.
Here are some examples:
Americans have celebrated Independence Day on July 4th since 1777, yet it didn’t become a legal holiday until 1941.
In French, caterpillar means “hair cat.”
Did you know that carrots didn’t turn orange until the 1700s? Before that, they were purple and yellow!
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12. Surprising Statements
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Introductions
Surprising Statements
A surprising statement or a startling fact can make your reader want to keep reading.
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13. Surprising Statements
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Introductions
Surprising Statements
A surprising statement or a startling fact can make your reader want to keep reading.
Why does the opening statement seem surprising?
It’s strange that Nature isn’t nicer. It sure deals in a lot of death. The animals around our summer place don’t have much of a life and what they do have doesn’t last long. The flowers don’t have it much better, with either too much or too little rain, too much or too little sun and always a killer weed after them.
—Andrew A. Rooney, Not That You Asked…
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14. Surprising Statements
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Introductions
Surprising Statements
A surprising statement or a startling fact can make your reader want to keep reading.
How do the first sentences grab your attention? i
It’s strange that Nature isn’t nicer. It sure deals in a lot of death. The animals around our summer place don’t have much of a life and what they do have doesn’t last long. The flowers don’t have it much better, with either too much or too little rain, too much or too little sun and always a killer weed after them.
—Andrew A. Rooney, Not That You Asked…
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15. Surprising Statements
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Introductions
Surprising Statements
A surprising statement or a startling fact can make your reader want to keep reading.
How does the first sentence grab your attention? i i
It’s strange that Nature isn’t nicer. It sure deals in a lot of death. The animals around our summer place don’t have much of a life and what they do have doesn’t last long. The flowers don’t have it much better, with either too much or too little rain, too much or too little sun and always a killer weed after them.
—Andrew A. Rooney, Not That You Asked…
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The sentences are surprising because one usually associates Nature with life.

16. Quotations Introductions MENU EXIT
Beginning with a quotation can lend impact and authority to an introduction.
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17. Quotations Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Beginning with a quotation can lend impact and authority to an introduction.
How would a quotation make this idea more forceful?
They said wearing snowshoes was just like walking. But with my face two inches above the snow, my feet twisted above my head, and my body wedged between two willows in minus 20°F weather on an island in the frozen Yukon River, it did not seem all that easy.
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18. Quotations Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Beginning with a quotation can lend impact and authority to an introduction.
The quotation makes it easier to imagine the writer’s situation and feelings.
“It’s easy,” they said. “Nothing to it. Wearing snowshoes is just like walking,” they said. But with my face two inches above the snow, my feet twisted above my head, and my body wedged between two willows in minus 20°F weather on an island in the frozen Yukon River, it did not seem all that easy.
—Brad Reynolds, National Geographic
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19. Questions Introductions MENU EXIT
Starting with an engaging question involves the reader immediately by requiring at least a mental answer.
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20. Questions Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Starting with an engaging question involves the reader immediately by requiring at least a mental answer.
Here are some examples:
What if a giant meteor was on a crash-course with earth? Are we prepared to stop it ?
Do we really need the penny ?
Would we be better off without cell phones ?
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21. Questions Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
How does this question make you want to keep reading?
Have you ever seen a flying horse? Many soldiers in medieval times did. Attackers would sometimes catapult the rotting corpse of a horse over the castle wall in hopes of spreading disease among the enemy.
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22. Questions Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
In this case, the question contains an element of surprise. Horses don’t fly. We’re curious to learn the explanation for this oddity.
Have you ever seen a flying horse? Many soldiers in medieval times did. Attackers would sometimes catapult the rotting corpse of a horse over the castle wall in hopes of spreading disease among the enemy.
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23. Direct Address Introductions MENU EXIT
Address readers directly to immediately involve them in what you have written.
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24. Direct Address Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Address readers directly to immediately involve them in what you have written.
How does this introduction involve readers?
Imagine what it’s like standing at the open door of a plane. You look down and see cars the size of ants crawling slowly along a distant highway. Your instructor pats you on the back, and you look back hesitantly toward your father, who gives you a thumbs up. You take a deep breath and jump into the emptiness of the sky, praying that your parachute will open.
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25. Direct Address Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Address readers directly to immediately involve them in what you have written.
Using “you” and “your” helps readers identify with the writer. It helps them imagine themselves jumping from an airplane.
Imagine what it’s like standing at the open door of a plane. You look down and see cars the size of ants crawling slowly along a distant highway. Your instructor pats you on the back, and you look back hesitantly toward your father, who gives you a thumbs up. You take a deep breath and jump into the emptiness of the sky, praying that your parachute will open.
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26. Strong Opinions Introductions MENU EXIT
Beginning with a strong opinion is likely to get your readers’ attention because it might challenge their beliefs.
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27. Strong Opinions Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Beginning with a strong opinion is likely to get your readers’ attention because it might challenge their beliefs.
How could this introduction to a persuasive essay be made more compelling?
The town council has decided to close the dog park at Lakeview Green. Now our dogs won’t have a place to run and play where they can be off leash.
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28. Strong Opinions Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Beginning with a strong opinion is likely to get your readers’ attention because it might challenge their beliefs.
In this revised introduction, the writer starts with a strong statement of opinion and then elaborates on the experience.
The town council should not close the dog park at Lakeview Green. There was an unfortunate incident there last Sunday. Two dogs got in a fight, and a boy was bitten when he tried to separate them. It’s not fair to close the dog park because this happened. Our dogs need a place to run and play where they can be off leash.
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29. Anecdote Introductions MENU EXIT
An anecdote is an interesting or amusing brief story, often about a person.
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30. Anecdote Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
An anecdote is an interesting or amusing brief story, often about a person.
What kind of anecdote could make this introduction more interesting?
Fires happen in houses and apartment buildings all the time. I’m glad that we have firefighters who are there to protect us.
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31. Anecdote Introductions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
An anecdote is an interesting or amusing brief story, often about a person.
This detailed recollection of a fire provides proof that the writer knows about the topic. It shows that her opinion is worth listening to.
A red light began blinking. A siren started up slowly but built to a screeching pitch. Twenty-five sleepy faces appeared a few at a time in the hallway. As I recall, each of us looked to the left and right almost in unison, thankful to see each other and that help was on the way. I still think about that day, and I’m glad that we have firefighters who are there to protect us.
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