Rule 208: In the introduction of your essay, you should catch the reader's attention, provide an opening to your topic, and make your argument.

• Your first sentence aims to grab the reader. You might offer a bold thematic statement or pose a question. Start with a bang, or your reader might decide to pursue other forms of entertainment.

• The middle sentences name the author/playwright/poet and novel/play/poem/essay. They start to show what your bold beginning has to do with your specific and focused thesis.

• The last sentence of your introduction poses a thesis. (You can read more about thesis statements in rule 210.)

Resources: UNC-Chapel Hill provides this great resource about how to write introductions.