First impressions are so important. How many times have you heard that?

It is true that the first impressionwhether its a first meeting with a person or the first sentence of a paper sets the stage for a lasting opinion. The introductory paragraph of any paper, long or short, should start with a sentence that piques the interest of your readers. In a typical essay, that first sentence leads into two or three sentences that provide details about your subject or your process. All of these sentences build up to your thesis statement. The thesis statement is the subject of much instruction and training. The entirety of your paper hangs on that sentence. But its function is to be informative and direct. This means its not normally very exciting. Your First Sentence To get your paper off to a great start, you should try to have a first sentence that engages your reader. Think of your first sentence as a hook that draws your reader in. It is your big chance to be so clever that your reader cant stop. As you researched your topic, you probably discovered many interesting anecdotes, quotes, or trivial facts. This is exactly the sort of thing you should use for an engaging introduction. Consider these ideas for creating a strong beginning. Surprising fact: The pentagon has twice as many bathrooms as are necessary. The famous government building was constructed in the 1940s, when segregation laws required that separate bathrooms be installed for people of African descent. This building isnt the only American icon that harkens back to this embarrassing and hurtful time in our history. Across the United States there are many examples of leftover laws and customs that reflect the racism that once permeated American society. Humor: When my older brother substituted fresh eggs for our hard-boiled Easter eggs, he didnt realize our father would take the first crack at hiding them. My brothers holiday ended early that particular day in 1991, but the rest of the family enjoyed the warm April weather, outside on the lawn, until late into the evening. Perhaps it was the warmth of the day and the joy of eating Easter roast while Tommy contemplated his actions that make my memories of Easter so sweet. Whatever the true reason, the fact is that my favorite holiday of the year is Easter Sunday. Quotation: Hillary Rodham Clinton once said that There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard. In 2006, when Nancy Pelosi became the nations first female Speaker of the House, one womans voice rang out clear. With this development, democracy grew to its truest level ever in terms of womens equality. The historical event also paved the way for Senator Clinton as she warmed her own vocal chords in preparation for a presidential race. Finding the Hook

In each example, the first sentence draws the reader in to find out how the interesting fact leads to a point. You can use many methods to capture your readers interest. Curiosity: A ducks quack doesnt echo. Some people might find a deep and mysterious meaning in this fact Definition: A homograph is a word with two or more pronunciations. Produce is one example Anecdote: Yesterday morning I watched as my older sister left for school with a bright white glob of toothpaste gleaming on her chin. I felt no regret at all until she stepped onto the bus End With a Good Beginning Once you complete a first draft of your paper, go back to re-construct your introductory paragraph. Be sure to check your thesis statement to make sure it still holds truethen double check your first sentence to give it some zing.

How to Make an Introduction in a Research Paper

By Elizabeth Stover, eHow Contributor

Effective research paper introductions Your introduction sets the tone for your research paper and provides the reader with a first impression of your writing and your thesis. Follow a few guidelines listed below and find yourself writing effective introductions that convince your readers that your thesis and research are worth their time and attention. Difficulty:

Instructions
1. o

Moderate

Verify that your thesis statement is clear, concise and firm before writing the introduction, because the thesis should conclude your introduction. Write the introduction prior to the research paper, during its writing, or after writing the research paper, as best suits your needs. Unless writing a lengthy dissertation, the introduction should be approximately half a page or one to two paragraphs long.
o Grab the reader's attention with a fact, question, quote, analogy or short, interesting narrative supporting the thesis. This should set the tone for your paper while triggering the reader's interest in the subject. Spend time and effort on this part of the introduction, because it may be the key in convincing the reader to read further. o

Write statements that provide general background information about your thesis in the introduction. Use information that may generally be common knowledge but that clarifies the subject of the thesis. These statements provide a point of reference for the reader to help him understand the thesis.
o Provide statements that become increasingly specific as you write this paragraph leading to the thesis statement at the end of the introduction. The statements should provide information about the points to be made within the body of the paper concerning the thesis. o

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Throughout the introduction, state the main points that your paper will cover regarding the thesis without going into detail. These points provide further framework and organization clues for the reader that help him understand your paper as he reads it. They also provoke questions in the reader's mind, causing him to want to read further. For example, if the thesis statement concerns the advantages of free, public prekindergarten education, then the points that organize the thesis research may include developmental needs, societal needs and available funding sources.
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