A good introduction is essentially a short summary of what you want your essay to accomplish. It is:
- Quick: The reader will decide to read on, or not, in a matter of seconds. (There are two exceptions to this principle--a long anecdote that sets up the rest of the essay, or, a complex topic that requires a more complex introduction.)
- Specific: There are concrete details, precise quotes, or revealing facts. It does not ramble about the state of the world in general.
- Appropriate: It fits the body of the essay
- Simple: There's no dead language in the sentences
- Compelling: It causes some disequilibrium for the reader--a surprise, one thing and its opposite. It creates a need to read on.
