How to Write an Introduction: Hook, Context, Thesis (With 6 Examples)

An introduction does three jobs in order: it hooks the reader, gives just enough context, and ends with a thesis that states your argument. For a school essay that is four to six sentences; for a research paper or report it is a few short paragraphs. Write it last if you can, and keep it brief in timed exams.

The short answer: hook, context, thesis

An introduction tells the reader what the piece is about, why it matters, and what you will argue. It does that in three moves.

1. Hook: one sentence that earns attention.
2. Context: two or three sentences of background the reader needs to follow your point.
3. Thesis: one sentence that states your position or purpose and, often, how you will support it.

That is the whole formula. Everything else in this guide is about doing each move well, and adjusting the length for the kind of document you are writing.

A useful test: after reading your introduction, could someone tell you what the rest of the piece will argue? If not, the thesis is missing or too vague. For help with that sentence alone, see how to write a thesis statement.

A before and after example

Here is a weak introduction for an essay question: Should schools start later in the morning?

Weak: School is a big part of everyone's life. Many people have different opinions about school start times. In this essay I will talk about whether schools should start later.

The first sentence is a generic truth, the second says nothing, and the third announces the essay instead of making a claim. Now a stronger version.

Stronger: Most teenagers do not wake up at 6:30 a.m. because they want to. Studies of adolescent sleep suggest that teenagers' body clocks run later than children's or adults', yet many secondary schools start before 8:30. Schools should move their start time to at least 9:00, because a later start gives students more sleep without cutting lessons, and the practical problems of timetables and buses can be solved.

What changed:

• The hook is a specific, relatable image, not a statement about "everyone".
• The context names the real tension in two sentences, and does not claim a statistic it cannot source. When you write your own, cite a real study if you give a number.
• The thesis takes a side and previews two reasons.

Step 1: Write a hook that fits the piece

A hook is not a trick. It is the first sentence that tells the reader what kind of piece this is and why to continue. The six types below cover most writing. Each example is invented for illustration.

Pick one, and keep it to one sentence, two at most. Check that it points toward your thesis. A hook that has nothing to do with the argument is decoration. Our guide to writing a hook goes deeper on each type.

Hooks to avoid

• Dictionary definitions: "Webster's defines 'education' as..." The reader knows the word, and the move is tired.
• Unsourced statistics: a number you cannot trace is a risk in any essay.

Step 2: Add context, then stop

Context is the background your reader needs so that the thesis makes sense. It answers who, what, where and when in as few sentences as possible.

Weak context repeats the title or retells everything the reader knows. Strong context narrows. It moves from the general topic to the specific problem your piece addresses, like a funnel.

Weak:

Climate change is a global problem. It affects many countries and many people. There are many causes and effects.

Stronger:

Coastal flooding in low-lying cities has led some councils to consider moving homes away from the shoreline, a policy known as managed retreat. Supporters say it saves money in the long run, while residents fear it breaks up communities.

The second version names a concrete issue, defines a term in passing, and sets up a disagreement that a thesis can take a side on.

Rules of thumb for context:

• Give only what is needed to understand the thesis. Detail belongs in the body.
• Place the topic in time or place when it matters (a period, a country, a text).
• Do not argue yet. Context sets the scene.

Step 3: State the thesis

The thesis is the sentence your introduction exists to deliver. It should be:

• Arguable: a reasonable person could disagree.
• Specific: it names the subject and the point.
• Supported: it hints at how you will prove it.

Weak thesis, then stronger:

Weak: Social media has good and bad effects.

Stronger: Social media helps teenagers keep up friendships across distance, but daily use above a few hours is linked in several studies to poorer sleep, so schools should teach students to set their own limits.

(If you use a claim like the one about studies, name the studies in your essay. Never state one you cannot source.)

For a research paper the thesis may be a research question or a stated aim: "This paper examines whether...". For a business report the equivalent is the purpose and the recommendation.

Weak-to-strong rewrites, line by line

The same three problems show up again and again. Here is how to fix each.

How introductions differ by type of writing

School essay (GCSE, A-level, high school)

Keep it short and direct. Four to six sentences is common: a hook, two sentences of context, and a thesis that previews your main points. Teachers and mark schemes generally reward a clear line of argument over decoration. Check your own task wording and any rubric, because requirements vary by school and exam board.

University essay and research paper

Expect a longer opening. In an essay of a few thousand words the introduction is often a paragraph or two, and in a research paper it may be several paragraphs covering:

1. The topic and why it matters.
2. A gap, problem or question in existing work.
3. Your aim, thesis or research question.
4. A short roadmap of the structure.

Citations start in the introduction. Use the style your department requires; our guides on APA 7 and Harvard referencing cover the common ones, and the Citation Generator can format a reference once you give it the details.

Business report or proposal

Business readers want the point at once. Lead with the purpose and the recommendation, then the background.

Purpose: This report recommends that the Leeds office move to a four-day booking system for meeting rooms from 1 January. It compares current usage, costs and staff feedback, and sets out a three-month trial.

Skip the hook. A reader who opens a report is already interested, and delay costs them time. A short executive summary often does the job of an introduction.

Exam angle: GCSE, A-level and SAT-style timed essays

In a timed essay the introduction should take minutes, not half the time. A long opening leaves too little time for the evidence that earns the marks.

A rule of thumb (ours, not an exam board's): spend about a tenth of the time on the introduction, a tenth to plan, and keep the rest for the body and conclusion. In a 45-minute essay that is roughly four or five minutes to plan and as long to write the opening.

For exams:

• Plan first. A thesis cannot be written until you know your argument.
• Skip the creative hook if you are short on time. A clear first sentence that answers the question works fine.
• Restate the question in your own words as part of the thesis, so the marker sees you are on task.

For GCSE and A-level English, History and similar subjects, check the mark scheme for your specific board and paper, since the weight on introductions and argument differs. The College Board stopped offering the optional SAT Essay in 2021, but timed argument writing still appears in other tests, in AP courses and in university entrance tasks, and the same time discipline applies.

Example exam opening for "How far was the Industrial Revolution responsible for urban growth in Britain?"

The Industrial Revolution was the main driver of urban growth in Britain between 1750 and 1850, but not the only one: rising population and agricultural change pushed people toward towns just as factories pulled them there. This essay argues that industry explains the speed of growth in cities such as Manchester, while other causes explain its scale.

Two sentences, a clear line of argument, and a roadmap. That is enough.

Write it last, or rewrite it last

Many writers draft the introduction first to get started, then rewrite it once the argument is clear. That works well, because the first draft often describes the essay you planned, not the one you wrote. When the body is finished, return and check that the thesis matches what you actually argued.

If you are stuck on a blank page, write a rough working thesis, draft the body, then come back. Our guide to writing an essay outline shows how to plan the argument before you draft. For the other end of the piece, see how to write a conclusion.

Using AdeptWrite while you write

These tools help with drafting and polishing. They do not replace your own argument, and you are responsible for the final text.

• The Outline Generator builds an article, essay, thesis or presentation outline from a topic, which helps you decide your thesis before you write.
• The Paragraph Generator has an Introduction mode that produces one introductory paragraph from your main idea. Treat it as raw material and rewrite it with your own thesis and facts.
• After drafting, check the text with the Grammar Checker and the Spell Checker, set to the English variant your school or journal uses.
• If a sentence is clumsy, the Sentence Rewriter offers alternatives to compare.

Free runs take up to 6,000 characters, enough for any introduction. Follow your school's or journal's rules on AI help.

Introduction checklist

Before you move on, check each point.

1. Does the first sentence say something specific, not a general truth?
2. Does the hook connect to the thesis?
3. Is the context limited to what the reader needs?
4. Is the thesis a clear, arguable sentence, ideally the last one?
5. Does the introduction match the length of the whole piece (four to six sentences for a short essay)?
6. Does it avoid "In this essay I will" and dictionary definitions?
7. Are numbers and quotations real, exact and sourced?
8. Does the body actually deliver what the introduction promises?

If you can answer yes to all eight, the introduction is ready.

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