• 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
• Writing Introductory Paragraphs For Essays  Long Beach City College
• Basic Essay Structure: Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs  Rochester Institute of Technology. SEA - Supporting English Acquisition