THE INTRODUCTION: The introduction is usually one paragraph, or perhaps two in a

THE INTRODUCTION: The introduction is usually one paragraph, or perhaps two in a paper of eight pages or more. Its purpose is to: (1) set out the problem to be discussed; (2) define key terms that will be used in that discussion; (3) outline the structure of the argument; (4) CLEARLY STATE THE THESIS. A. Suggestions for the introduction: Establish the problem: Quickly established the issue your paper confronts. Where and when are you? What are you examining? It is especially important to clearly define the limits of your exploration. If you are discussing the life of Frederick Douglass, it will not suffice to establish the setting by referring to the “days of slavery,” since slavery has existed in all times all over the world. Frederick Douglass was a slave in Maryland in the decades before the Civil War. Do not begin a history paper with absurdly general phrases like, “since the beginning of time,” or “humans have always. . . .” Get as specific as necessary as early as possible. Set the tone, voice, and style of your paper. (See other guidelines for how this is done.) Make sure you convey that the topic is of vital concern, and that you are interested in it. Catch the reader’s attention. You might start with an example, a quotation, a statistic, or a complaint. Be sure that this opening theme runs through your paper. Do not abandon this theme. You can use it again later to help unify your paper. There are many types of introductions that can catch your readers’ attention, but a few include: narrative (setting the scene with a well chosen vignette); corrective (laying out the problem that is before you and how your paper will fix it); paradoxical (setting up the issue you will address as an unexpected conundrum needing a solution); and inquisitive (asking a few pertinent rhetorical questions that draw your reader in). Provide a subtle blueprint (or “road map”) for the paper. Let your reader know where you are headed (how you plan to tackle the subject) without giving away your best ideas. If, for instance, your paper breaks down into political, social, and cultural components