Structure of the Introduction
- Grab the reader’s attention and introduce the historical question the paper will explore.
- Clearly explain the scope of the essay - the time period, places, and subjects discussed in the essay.
- Give basic background if needed and explain the historical setting.
- State thesis and give an overview of main points or categories of evidence.
- You can also use your introduction to introduce your main primary sources, if used, historiography, or theoretical framework.
Good Ideas for the Introduction
- Begin with a quotation and show its relevance
- Or, begin with a story, example, or anecdote
- Or, begin with a paradox or apparent contradiction
- Or, emphasize the difference between your evidence or interpretation and the arguments of other scholars
- Always provide background information and establish the historical setting if necessary
- Always clearly state your thesis and provide a road map to your reader of what is to come
What to Avoid in the Introduction
- Using dictionary definitions
- Echoing the instructor’s question exactly
- Using inflated declaration or a cliché (Throughout human history; The more things change, the more they stay the same)
- Apologizing for the deficiencies in the paper
- Quoting extensively – the words and ideas should be your own
- Including gratuitous personal preambles (such as long digressions about your personal feelings about a topic).