Summarize the topic. What is the essay about? What are the topics or subtopics that will be discussed in the body of the essay? Write only what is relevant to the topic. For instance, in an essay about comparison buying for cars, don’t include detailed information about how and where specific automobiles are made.
Include information or facts that will offer an interesting insight to the topic. For instance, in an essay about the way television producers get their programs produced, you might include information about the number of television pilots made each year and the difficulty of getting these pilots on air.
Write a strong thesis statement. Though a thesis statement doesn’t necessarily have to be included in the introduction, most readers, especially teachers, tend to look for them in the introduction. Make certain that the thesis statement strongly sums up the argument of the essay and that it is a strong statement, not a question, about the topic.
Write to the audience. Determine who the audience is and tailor the essay to fit its needs. For instance, a humor magazine will want essays that are funny and informally written. However a formal style will be more suitable for research papers or for academic journals.
Write clearly. A muddled introduction will lead to a muddled essay. Organize your thoughts clearly and present them in a way that will draw readers immediately into the topic of the essay.