Make sure the quote is related to your argument. It should lead into what you’re saying in your introduction.
For example, if you’re writing an argumentative essay that is intended to convince school administrator to do away with homework, you could say, “Homework does not contribute to a student’s academic success. ”[4] X Research source
An anecdote can be fictional or real, but you typically phrase it like you would if you’re telling a story to a friend, though you still want to keep it professional. For example, you might write, “Once, long ago, a single branch of animals broke off from a group of predators in the chain of evolution. These animals had sharp teeth, were fierce predators, and soon developed a hypercarnivorous nature. Eventually, this chain led to the purring animal you have sitting in your lap: the domesticated house cat. "
For instance, if you’re writing about cat traits, you could share a short example about a trait you witnessed in one of your cats.
For instance, if you’re writing about domesticated cat traits, don’t start with the evolution of the universe, as that’s a bit broad. You could, however, start with a few sentences about how evolution led to the current traits of cats. You might write, “The domesticated cat, in all its predatory aloofness, has taken thousands of years to evolve into your perfect lap cat. "
For instance, if you’re writing about water quality in your community, you could begin with a question like, “Did you know that drinking water is legally allowed to contain lead?”
For example, if you used a quote, you might say, “That quote, from renowned scientist John Biologist, shows just how far cats have come over the course of evolution. "
For instance, if you started with a story about how cats evolved in an essay on cat traits, you might start narrowing by first discussing what traits they inherited from their ancestors. Then, you can move on to the traits they’ve developed since branching off from other predators.
For example, you might write, “It’s impossible to talk about the characteristics of cats without at least mentioning evolution. However, I will focus primarily on the contemporary genes of domesticated cats. " Here, you’re letting the reader know that your main idea is genes in domestic cats, so you’ve gotten more specific. However, you’re still moving to your main idea sentence, where you’ll specify just what genes you plan to cover.
The introduction helps engage your readers. The trick is finding the right balance between providing enough information to pique their interest, but not giving so much information that you answer every question upfront. For instance, you might talk about how you plan on showing how cats evolved to be the perfect predators, but you don’t necessarily need to tell them how in the introduction.
For instance, if your argument is that domesticated cat traits prove they are direct descendants of larger predators, you might write, “The domesticated cat exhibits characteristics that prove its ancestors were large predators. "
For instance, you could add this to the statement: “With its sharp teeth, carnivorous nature, and stealthy hunting skills, the domesticated cat exhibits characteristics that prove its ancestors were large predators, a fact demonstrated by the characteristics it shares with the larger cats of the world. " This statement establishes that you’re going to focus on those 3 traits and that you plan to show a connection to other members of the feline family. In some cases, you might choose not to introduce your main points in the introduction. As long as you explain them in the body of your paper and they relate back to your thesis, this is fine.
Skip phrases or cliches like “A penny saved is a penny earned,” or “The early bird catches the worm. " The exception is if you can explain how the phrase connects to your topic in a unique way or in a way in which the reader would not expect. Similarly, skip formulaic introductions, such as “This essay is about. . . . , and here is my thesis:. . . "
Additionally, when your rephrase your thesis in your conclusion, you can check to see if your introduction is still relevant to the text. Check the points you mentioned in your introduction that you planned on bringing up in your paper. Did you hit them all?
