Strategies for Introductory Paragraphs*
Provide background information on a topic or problem; present an issue in context; give the history of the subject
Open with a brief anecdote or story.
Present the different sides of an issue, along with any particularly well-known or controversial events relevant to the topic.
Define an important concept or term that will recur throughout the paper.
Present provocative questions or opinions that require further discussion.
Start with an extended example related to the topic and main idea.
Quote from an authority or from someone whose opinion leads into the topic or highlights key ideas.
Highlight the importance of a topic or issue by comparing it to another situation, historical period, subject, or issue; offer an intriguing analogy.
Supply facts and statistics that introduce the topic or that help define an important issue or problem.
Present a mysterious or interesting phenomenon worth exploring or explaining.