Let’s take a look at this heritage essay introduction example:


In writing a self-introduction essay, the writer intends to introduce himself/herself by sharing a few personal information including the basics (e.g. name, age, hometown, etc.), his/her background information (e.g. family background, educational background, etc.), and interesting facts about him/her (e.g. hobbies, interests, etc). A self-introductory essay primarily aims to inform the readers about a few things regarding the writer. You may also see personal essay examples & samples


A self-introduction essay is, in most cases, written using the first-person point of view. As a writer, you simply need to talk about yourself and nothing more to a specific audience. You may also like examples

Do not drop the essay question into the introduction without or surrounding explanation. If you do this, your marker will think you’re just trying to add words to the introduction because you’re not sure of anything interesting to say

A short essay introduction is the opening paragraph that:

Something to keep in mind is that you do not want to appear to be re-stating the essay question simply to take up extra words. We call this ‘padding’. An example of padding is when a student drops the essay question in as a question, word-for-word:

In academic essays, a thesis statement is generally necessary as it provides a clear and concise summary of the main argument or point of the essay. It guides both the writer and the reader by setting a clear direction for the essay. However, in some forms of writing, like narrative or descriptive essays, a thesis statement may not be as explicit or might take the form of a central theme or purpose rather than a direct statement of argument. Nevertheless, even in these cases, it's crucial to have a clear focus or point that the essay is built around.

The transition from the introduction to the body of an essay should be smooth and logical. This is typically achieved through the thesis statement, which serves as a bridge. The thesis should clearly indicate what the essay will discuss or argue, setting the stage for the body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should then start with a topic sentence that directly relates to the thesis, maintaining a clear connection to the introduction. Additionally, the end of the introduction can include a brief overview of the main points that will be covered in the body, guiding the reader on what to expect next.

A self-introduction essay can be easy to write, since all you have to do is to introduce yourself. However, one needs to avoid sounding like a robot or a person speaking in monotone. Of course, you need to make the composition interesting and engaging, instead of making it plain and bland. This is probably the main challenge of writing a self-introduction essay, and the first thing every writer needs to be aware of.


Here is how you can write an essay introduction in different essays:

The length of an introduction generally reflects the overall length and complexity of the essay. A standard rule is that the introduction should be about 10% of the total essay length. For example, in a 2000-word essay, an introduction of approximately 200-250 words would be appropriate. However, this is not a strict rule, and the length can vary based on the subject matter and the amount of background information required. The key is to ensure that the introduction is long enough to set the stage for your thesis and provide necessary context, but not so long that it overwhelms or bores the reader before they reach the main body of the essay.

Below is a perfect example of a persuasive essay introduction.

This introduction provides a clear overview of the topic as well as explains why the issue is important. It provides a good foundation for the essay but could be improved by adding a more engaging hook.

Here is a good essay introduction example for a synthesis essay.

Making an essay introduction engaging involves capturing the reader's interest and motivating them to continue reading. Start with a hook, such as a surprising fact, a provocative question, or an interesting anecdote relevant to your topic. Following the hook, provide some background information to set the context, but keep it brief and relevant. Clearly state your thesis in a way that indicates the significance of the topic and how your essay will address it. Using vivid language and showing your enthusiasm for the topic can also engage the reader. Remember, the goal is to pique the reader's curiosity about what comes next.

Essay Writing 101: How to Write an Essay That Stands Out

A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of (a) an introductory paragraph (b) three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views and (c) a conclusion.

How to Write an Essay Outline | Learn With Examples

Absolutely, essay introductions can span multiple paragraphs, particularly in longer or more complex essays where a single paragraph might not suffice to lay out the necessary background and thesis. In such cases, the initial paragraphs can offer a gradual introduction to the topic, starting from a broader context before narrowing down to the specific issue at hand. This approach allows the writer to thoroughly establish the background, define key terms, and explain the relevance of the topic, ensuring that the reader is well-prepared to understand the thesis statement when it appears. In scholarly essays, where detailed background information is critical, multi-paragraph introductions are common and beneficial for setting a solid foundation for the argument or analysis that follows.