Two approaches to writing a clear introduction

No matter what kind of piece you're writing, it can benefit from having a clear, precise introduction. A good introduction tells the reader what to expect and hooks them in, so they'll keep reading.

A lot of writers use their introduction to get warmed up or figure out what they're going to write about, end up putting the most important part at the end of it, and then fail to edit this introduction later. This is the worst way to write an introduction! I'm going to talk about two ways of writing an introduction that result in a great start to any document.

The Planned Approach

If you're the kind of writer that plans carefully before typing a single word and does minimal editing once you're finished, this is the approach for you. Once your ideas are clearly formed in your head, or even better, in your outline, you will know exactly what you're going to say. Start your introduction by stating your intention or main point. Then, write sentences describing what each paragraph or section will be about. They should have some sort of logical order.

Now, use each of those subsequent sentences as the topic sentence for each actual paragraph. Focus on each, and use only details that support that statement in its paragraph. Your writing will follow the plan you had for it, and will all add up at the end. With enough discipline, you won't even have to edit your introduction.

The Organic Approach

This approach is for writers who like to start by writing, then whittle their work down to its essentials. It might take a little longer than the planned approach, or it might not, because you write faster and spend time editing, rather than planning each statement.

Go ahead and just start writing, using all the time to lead in or give background information you need. Let your arguments develop as they come to you, and conclude when you think you've said everything you need to.

Now, set the work aside. Read it the next day, or have another writer you trust read it. You'll probably find that the beginning has little to do with your actual point, or that the initial statements can be better placed further on to support other arguments. Look for the single sentence that suddenly clarifies everything that came before it, that says, "This is what I'm talking about." This is your topic sentence. Put it at the very top of your first page.

Next, read each paragraph or section in the same way. Locate the strongest statements, that tell us what each part is about, then copy them into your introduction, after that first sentence. If necessary, reword or rephrase them to make sense together. When you've gone all the way through your text this way, you will have a clear introduction that grew naturally from the logical process of your thoughts. Go ahead and recycle or throw out all that unnecessary lead-in that you originally started with.

Any essay, article, or other text makes more sense and has a greater impact with a clear introduction. If you're going to take the time to write something, you'd better take the time to write an introduction that's going to get someone to read it. Follow one of these approaches, and you won't have a problem at all.