• should grab the reader’s attention, so they want to read more
• provides some general background information on the topic to be discussed
• includes some brief information about the key points to be included in the thesis statement.  
• end with your thesis statement

Resources to help develop a good introductory paragraph

• The Introductory Paragraph University of California. Santa Barbara. Writing Program
• Basic Essay Structure: Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs  Rochester Institute of Technology. SEA - Supporting English Acquisition
• Writing paragraphs. University of Ottawa. The Writing Centre
• University of Toronto. Writing Advice - includes planning, researching, using sources, revising, types of writing, and grammar
• Paragraphs, Flow and Connectivity. University of Sheffield
  
• How to Write Academic Paragraphs: A step-by-step guide. Scribbr