17 How do I Write an Introductory Paragraph for a Research Paper?

How do you get your audience’s attention? The introductory paragraph is one of the most important parts of your essay. Sometimes, writers describe the techniques we use to catch a reader’s attention as a “hook.” You could think of this as a fish hook, or a sales hook, or even a hook in pop music, like the introduction to Dire Straits’ classic anthem “Money for Nothing.” An effective hook catches the reader’s interest in a specific, concrete way.

Think back to the exploratory research essay we read earlier in this book, “Surviving the Textpocalypse.” Here’s the introductory paragraph, followed by a short statement:

Imagine a world where every story, every song, every piece of writing is algorithmically generated. It would be a world devoid of the human touch, the spark of imagination, and the richness of diversity. While AI and large language models can generate text that is technically proficient, they lack the capacity to truly understand the intricacies of human emotions. They lack the life experiences that shape our perspectives and fuel our creativity. They lack the ability to empathize, to relate, and to genuinely connect on a profound level.

I didn’t write that first paragraph. AI did (Open AI, 2023).

This is an example of a hook that uses a surprising statement. The beginning of the essay reads like a conventional essay introduction, but then the author lets us in on something: The paragraph was written by a bot. This technique effectively introduces the essay’s subject and hints at the author’s research question:

What does the rise of artificial intelligence mean for jobs? For creativity? For humanity?

Let’s consider a few other types of hooks, with examples.

Outrageous/Paradoxical Statement or Exaggeration

An outrageous statement or exaggeration does not necessarily have to be true. Your goal is to shock the reader. Just make sure you clarify your methods and intentions later in the introduction.

• “The world will run out of oxygen by the end of this century.”
  This could introduce an essay on environmental conservation or climate change.
• “There has never been a single person who didn’t make a terrible decision at some point in their life.”
  This hook could open an essay about decision-making, learning from failure, or personal growth.
• “Without coffee, the entire workforce would collapse by noon.”
  This humorous exaggeration could set up an essay about productivity, habits, or workplace culture.
• “If people were meant to fly, they’d have wings—but that hasn’t stopped humans from conquering the skies.”
  This could be used to introduce a discussion about innovation, progress, or human ingenuity.
• “The more we communicate online, the lonelier we seem to become.”
  This is an example of a paradoxical statement that could introduce a research paper on digital communication and social isolation.

Thought-Provoking Question or Hypothetical Situation

You can draw your reader into your topic by asking a question that makes them think. Here are a few examples.

• “What drives someone to leave everything they know behind and venture into the unknown?”
  This hook could introduce an essay about human migration or exploration.
• “Can a single invention revolutionize communication across the globe?”
  This hook might lead into a discussion on the history of the printing press or the internet.
• “Why do people fear what they cannot see?”
  This question could open an essay on fear of the unknown, perhaps in literature or psychology.
• “What if the solution to a major global crisis has been overlooked for centuries?”
  This question could hook the reader into a discussion of an environmental or social issue.
• “Few people can imagine waking up one day to find that every piece of information ever recorded had vanished. How would society function?”
  This might lead into a discussion on information storage or the fragility of digital systems.

Strong Statement/Statistics

A strong statement can impress the importance of your topic on your reader. Just remember to cite a credible source if you include facts! Here are some examples of strong statements and startling statistics.

• “The future of higher education depends on the integration of artificial intelligence in the classroom.”
  This hook could lead into a paper on the role of AI in education.
• “Ninety percent of the world’s data has been created in the last two years.”
  This could introduce an essay on the rise of big data, technology, or the information age.
• “One in four college students suffers from anxiety disorders, yet campuses are still struggling to provide adequate mental health support.”
  This could be the opening for an argument about mental health services in higher education.
• “More people die annually from selfies than shark attacks.”
  This could introduce a discussion on the impact of social media or technology on behavior.
• “The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, yet we continue to rely primarily on written communication.”
  This could be the start of an essay on the power of visual communication or the future of media.

You could also start your essay with a relevant quote from an authority. Here are two examples:

• “In a 1965 sermon the day after nonviolent resisters faced police brutality in Selma, Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘Deep down in our non-violent creed is the conviction there are some things so dear, some things so precious, some things so eternally true, that they’re worth dying for.’”
  This quote could set the stage for an essay about the importance of human rights or voting rights.
• “‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’ said Nelson Mandela. But what does it mean to truly educate someone?”
  This could introduce an essay on the purpose or philosophy of education.

Anecdote 

Stories are powerful. If you have a personal connection to your topic, sharing this connection can create empathy and curiosity in your reader. You can also use another person’s story, but remember to cite a credible source if you do this! Here are some examples of personal anecdotes:

• “When my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I realized how little I understood about memory loss. Her experience sparked my curiosity: How do different treatments affect cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients?”
  This personal experience frames a research question about Alzheimer’s treatments.
• “After working in a tech startup for a year, I began to wonder why some teams thrived under pressure while others crumbled. This curiosity pushed me to explore: What leadership styles foster resilience in fast-paced work environments?”
  This anecdote could lead into research on leadership dynamics or team performance.
• “As a high school student, I struggled to focus in traditional classrooms but thrived in hands-on learning environments. This made me wonder: How does experiential learning impact student engagement compared to traditional classroom settings?”
  This personal reflection introduces a research question about different learning methodologies.
• “Volunteering at a local food bank exposed me to the reality of food insecurity in my own community. It made me ask: What are the most effective strategies for reducing food insecurity in urban areas?”
  This anecdote could introduce research on urban food programs or social policy.

Metaphor or Visual Imagery

Metaphors and visual imagery capture attention by painting a vivid picture in the reader’s mind, creating a strong emotional or intellectual connection to the topic before diving into the more analytical content.

• “The classroom is a battlefield, with every student armed not with weapons, but with knowledge, curiosity, and the occasional notebook.”
  This metaphor could introduce a discussion about the challenges and dynamics of modern education.
• “Ideas can be like seeds, small and fragile, but when nurtured, they grow into towering trees that reshape landscapes.”
  This imagery could introduce an essay on innovation, creativity, or the power of education.
• “The city at dawn is a symphony of movement, each person a note in a larger composition, unaware of the music they’re creating together.”
  This visual could lead into a piece on urban life, human interaction, or social systems.
• “The brain is a labyrinth, a maze of thoughts and memories, where every turn could lead to a breakthrough or a dead end.”
  This visual imagery could introduce an essay on neuroscience, cognition, or problem-solving.

Some Guidelines

Since the introduction is so important to your essay’s success, it should not be simply the first paragraph that you write. Instead, you should write your introduction only after you have a solid sense of your topic and have concluded your research. Some students even look at the last paragraph in their rough draft, the conclusion, and repurpose the ideas in this paragraph in their introductions. The technique you choose depends on your audience and purpose. In the case of an exploratory research paper, your audience is your teacher and your peers, and your purpose is to inform. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you write your introduction this week:

• Remember that the purpose of your essay is exploratory and the tone should be objective, so some of these techniques may be more appropriate than others.
• Avoid the second person pronoun ”you” in your draft (you may use first and third person pronouns).  This can be especially difficult if you have relied on questions that use “you” for your introductions on past papers.
• Experiment with a multi-paragraph introduction. You may have learned that the introduction should be a single paragraph, but many longer papers have multi-paragraph introductions.
• Your introduction should end with a thesis statement that answers your research question. For an example, see Carolyn Stonehill’s essay, “It’s in Our Genes: The Biological Basis of Human Mating Behavior.” Her thesis statement comes at the end of paragraph two: “While cultural values and messages clearly play a part in the process of mate selection, the genetic and psychological predispositions developed by our ancestors play the biggest role in determining to whom we are attracted” (Stonehill, 4).

If you aren’t sure how to start, try a few different strategies, freewrite, and see what feels best to you.