The first few sentences or paragraphs of your report can be the difference between drawing your readers in – or losing them before you’ve even got started. Whether you’re writing an academic report, a research paper or any other kind of report, set your work up for success with our top tips for how to write a great introduction.
First things last
A well-written introduction explains exactly what a reader should expect from your work. But how can you know what they should expect when you haven’t yet written your report or research paper?
If you’re at the start of the writing process, it can be a good idea to skip the introduction entirely until you’ve written the rest of your paper.
Alternatively, some writers find it helpful to write a rough draft of their introduction before the rest of the report. It can even help get your thoughts in order. But don’t forget to come back to edit (or even rewrite) it when you’ve finished your full draft.
What an introduction is
You’ve written your report and you’re ready to tackle your introduction. But what exactly is a report introduction and what is it for?
Your introduction needs to set out:
what the report is about
why the reader should care about it
what the intended outcome is
what your reader should expect from reading your report.
A strong introduction also sets a good first impression. It establishes your writing style and the logic of your argument, as well as demonstrating your analytical skills.
The best length depends on how long your report is. It could be anything from a paragraph to several pages. But all introductions follow the same principles.
What an introduction isn’t
An introduction isn’t the same as an abstract or executive summary.
In an academic report or research paper, an abstract is a concise, one-paragraph summary of your paper that comes before the introduction. It includes the key research question, its purpose and significance as well as the key findings. An executive summary serves a similar purpose for a non-academic document, such as a business plan or policy report.
The main differences between an introduction and an abstract or executive summary are that an introduction provides much more context and detail about the report’s theme or problem and how it’s structured. It should also pique your reader’s interest and make them want to read on.
For an executive summary or abstract, the reader is not necessarily expected to read the entire report, so it must work as a standalone text.
What to include in an introduction
Depending on your report’s purpose and content, the key elements to include are:
a brief overview of the report’s scope, including the main theme or problem
relevant background information, including the necessary context
a clear statement of your main argument (also called a thesis statement) which concisely articulates your main point of view
it may include a nod to existing research papers and how your report differs from or builds on previous research
a roadmap or overview of how the report is structured, including the key points but without going into too much detail; for example: this report begins by looking at X, then considers Y, before focusing on Z.
What to avoid
Your introduction should make your reader want to read your report – so you don’t want to give away too much too soon. Instead, keep the information top-level: just enough to pique your reader’s interest and perhaps raise a few questions you’ll answer in the rest of the report. The detailed information belongs in the main body of your paper, such as the discussion section.
Similarly, if you’re writing about complex topics and need to give detailed background information, consider whether to give a brief synopsis in the introduction and include more context in a separate section in the report.
Don’t overwhelm your reader with jargon or definitions. It can be useful to define one or two technical terms if they’re crucial to your argument, but too many and you risk losing your reader’s attention.
It’s also worth bearing in mind your expected readership. For example, if you’re writing a business report for experts in agriculture, you’re unlikely to need to explain technical terms relevant to that industry. But if your report will be read by non-experts, or it includes a number of uncommon key terms, consider adding a glossary on a separate page.
How should you structure your introduction?
A good introduction is like an inverted triangle: it takes the reader from the bigger picture to your area of focus.
First comes the most general information and the broader implications. These should introduce the theme or issue (this is your background or issue statement).
The introduction should then home in on the specific area or question that will form the main chunk of analysis in your report. You should also include your thesis statement.
Finally, outline the report’s structure and what the intended outcome is.
The all-important hook
A strong report introduction catches the reader’s attention and draws them in. How do you do this? Use a hook.
A hook is something that makes your readers curious for more information. It could be a story, an anecdote, a thought-provoking question or problem or a shocking fact or statistic. Something original is ideal but, if you’re drawing a blank, even a strong quotation can work.
The most important thing is that your hook is relevant to the subject and makes your readers want to read more.
Last few tips
If you’re finding it hard to get words on the page, try starting your report introduction by using key words from your title in your first couple of sentences. This helps make sure that you are setting the subject out clearly.
Use a clear and concise writing style, and avoid using jargon or technical terms unless it’s necessary. An active voice and present tense can also help to make your report more engaging and accessible.
For advice on how to write in plain English, read our blog post on the topic.
And if you have an assignment brief or submission guidelines, this is a good time to go back to it and make sure that you’re hitting all the important points.
Found these tips on how to write an introduction for a report useful? Let us know on our Linkedin.
Still struggling?
Writing an introduction for business reports or a research paper is important – that’s why it can be so difficult. If you need help getting your report introduction up to scratch, why not ask a professional?
Our expert team are on hand to discuss what you want to achieve with your report writing and how to get there. For a free consultation or quote, drop us a line at [email protected].
