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An introductory paragraph is essential for everything that you write. Without an introduction, you can leave your reader feeling disoriented and confused, which means that they will, in turn, leave you and your writing in order to go read something else that doesn’t make them feel that way. So what is a good introductory paragraph and what should it do?

A Good Introduction Should:

• Prepare the reader for the information they’ll gain from the article.
• Hook the reader into reading
• Make a statement that summarizes what it is about (some call this a thesis statement).

Why conclude with purpose?

• Gives you an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the reader: This is after all, the last attempt you have at convincing your reader – or lecturer. You therefore must make them understand your perspective.
• Helps you sum up your thoughts: A conclusion gives you a chance at summing up and organizing your thoughts. This can be especially helpful if you argued on several conflicting points. You can use the conclusion section to explain to your reader which one is your stand and why.
• Makes your essay scannable: Many readers will not read through the essay due to a number of factors. Instead, they’ll quickly scan the important areas so as to get an idea of what the essay is about. The introduction and conclusion are therefore the most read sections: The introduction because it introduces the essay and contains the thesis statement, and the conclusion because it summarizes it.