Opening Your Essay
The introduction does three jobs: it grabs the reader’s attention, gives just enough background to understand the issue, and ends with a clear thesis statement. Getting the start right makes the rest of the essay easier to write.
1. Open with a hook
The first sentence should make the reader want to continue. A strong hook can be a striking statistic, a pointed question or a short, relevant example — but it must connect directly to your topic, not just sound dramatic.
- Statistic: The average teenager checks a phone dozens of times during a school day.
- Question: Should a device designed to connect us be allowed to divide our attention in class?
2. Provide background
After the hook, give the context the reader needs to understand the debate. Keep it brief — one or two sentences are usually enough — and avoid diving into the evidence you will present later.
3. State your thesis
End the introduction with a specific, debatable thesis that states your position and previews your reasoning. This is the sentence the rest of the essay must support. See our argumentative essay thesis guide for help crafting it.
A sample introduction
“The average teenager checks a phone dozens of times during a school day, often while a lesson is underway. Schools have responded in different ways, from outright bans to permissive policies that leave phones on desks. Schools should limit phone use during class because it improves focus, reduces distraction and encourages students to engage with the lesson.”
Common opening mistakes
- Starting with a vague statement like “Throughout history” that says nothing specific.
- Making the introduction too long and burying the thesis.
- Introducing claims or evidence that belong in the body paragraphs.
Once the introduction is solid, build the argument itself — see how to write an argumentative essay and how to handle a counterargument.