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Writing Projects » Essays Etc. » Essay Elements. »Introduction

Most essays will begin with an introduction. Some people find it easiest to write the introduction after they've written the body of the essay. Others write the introduction first to figure out where they are headed. Whichever way works best for you, it will probably take a few drafts to get the introduction the way you want it. You will also find that introductions vary in length. They can be very short — only a compelling couple of sentences. Or, they can be quite long — a few paragraphs or more. In the introduction, you will usually: Explain your main idea and signal what's ahead. Include background information and provide context. Engage your reader. And, choose an approach. The workshop ahead will lead you through a series of exercises on writing the introduction. If you just want a quick review of a point, click on it above. Otherwise, we recommend you work through the steps from beginning to end. At the end of the workshop, you will have a chance to write your own introduction. Let's begin! »

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