J.J. Robinson

To Foster A Sense of Understanding and Connection

Writing articles or essays can be a daunting task — but it doesn’t have to be. Both aforementioned writing pieces can come in all shapes and sizes so one formula doesn’t always work. However, one component of either, thankfully, shares a common base structure — the introduction. An introduction explains the topic of your piece and sets the stage for everything that follows. Because of this, it is considered by many to be the most important part of the piece. So how the heck do we write one?

Let’s dive into what exactly an introduction is and how to ensure you write a great one every single time.

Before we go further, it is important to keep in mind that every author has a specific writing voice and style so what may be appropriate in one piece it may not be in another. For example, in a light-hearted article a joke within the introduction may be perfectly acceptable. However, in an article about the realities of mental health or another serious topic a joke may not exactly fit. It is important to outline the type of piece you’re writing before going much further in writing your introduction.

That being said, each introduction regardless will share a few key characteristics.

Writing a hook for many is the hardest part of an introduction. Readers are mysterious and unique. What I may find to be a gripping question may not be the case for someone else — and vice versa. A few key guidelines, though, can help to develop a hook that should work well.

A hook can come in many forms. It is important to peak the interest of the reader, but delay providing the necessary information to answer their questions. This can be done a few ways.

With whichever method you go with to create a hook, it is important to realize that people are distracted easily. Wrapping up your hook within a few sentences provides the best chance to not lose them.

There are two ways to look at the background information you’d include in your introduction.

One way is providing basic knowledge the reader needs in a succinct manner. This doesn’t mean you need to teach them all about the history of the topic at hand (that could take a while, eh?), but just enough that they aren’t totally lost reading your piece or are able to pinpoint where exactly they need to begin their own research to get caught up. Kind of like a prerequisites outline. For example, if you were writing about Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, you may want to identify their most popular creations and how long they have been presenting for to set out their experience in the field.

The other way to look at background information is through the lens of “what may the reader encounter that could potentially be a mystery?”. Not every story requires background information such as a historical event or a scientific theory, but some may just need that extra sentence to inform them of uncommon knowledge — like the definition of a term or phrase.

Alas, it is important to not over share. Introductions are designed to be short and sweet. Information contained in your introduction should not support your main paint — only the reader. If needed, dedicate a few paragraphs directly following your introduction for more information to set the reader up for success for the rest of your piece.

Every great introduction needs a sentence or two that clearly identifies the whole piece. Think of it as the peak of a mountain for your work. Everything beneath is the foundation. What I mean by this, is that the main point of your introduction is a summary of your entire piece. It explains to the reader exactly what they will learn about in a concise manner.

Keep in mind that while the main point of your introduction explains the piece, leave the nitty-gritty details for later.

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Now that we have covered what makes an introduction, let’s look at the steps it takes to write one.

More often than not, what you are writing will determine the style of your piece. There is not usually a one-size fits all in how you choose the style you take, but general guidelines to help you decide are available. More formal works such as a university essay will generally warrant a more serious and direct style than a weekend newspaper column.

Nonetheless, it is wise to write in a style that you feel comfortable in. By doing so, you will find that your writing voice will sneak out and allow you to better connect with your readers.

If you ask anyone, the consensus will usually be that the thesis statement of your piece should be figured out well before you even begin planning your outline.

All this entails is just one sentence. The most important sentence one could say, but just a sentence. Your thesis statement should be clearly defined and anchor your reader’s understanding of your piece to help them freely flow through the remaining details, evidence, and opinions that they may read in the body of your piece.

It is simply an overview of what you will write.

Often we can become blinded by what comes natural to us. Whether it is a natural affinity to a certain topic or years of experience, we can tend to look past the basics when discussing topics we are experts in.

When writing an introduction, try to look at the topic of your piece through the lens of a beginner or someone learning the topic from scratch. Write down what you wish you knew when learning the topic for the first time.

Information like this can set the scene and help the reader feel like they can see the whole picture and foster a sense of understanding.

Last but not least, your hook. Perhaps the most difficult part of an introduction to write, but have fun with it! A hook can be a fun fact, a joke (if that is your thing), or just posing a question to the reader to get their brain thinking.

Just be mindful that the goal with a hook is to create a connection with your reader. Whether that is intellectual, emotional, or humorous — it is up to you.