There are countless ways to effectively begin an essay. To get you started, here are introductory strategies with examples from a wide range of professional writers. Write eye-catching examples of excellent introductory paragraphs. Catch your reader's attention from the first words. Introduction. ThoughtCo. By. Richard Nordquist. Updated. An introductory paragraph, because abruptly changing the topic in an essay can be jarring, but transition words can ease the change for the reader's convenience. Additionally, you can use essay transition words to begin a paragraph, sentence, or clause more naturally. Additionally, essay transition words can connect new information to the previous statement so that you don't. Here is a list of what to include in your college essay introduction: “Hook” sentence. Roadmap for your essay. Transition sentence. Good flow. As we said, the introduction can make or break your entire essay, because it is your chance to “hook” your reader. Therefore, your introduction should begin with your punchline: Introduce your topic: Describe the context: Establish your research problem: Specify your objectives: Plan your paper. Examples of research paper introductions. Frequently asked questions about research paper introduction. Essay writing: introductions. “A relevant and coherent beginning is perhaps your best guarantee that the essay as a whole will achieve its goal.” Gordon Taylor, Student's Guide to Writing. Your introduction is the first thing your marker will read and should be, given your word count. From the first minute, they.