How to Write an Introduction of a Report

The specific design of the introduction of your report will vary based on the type of paper you are writing, as well as the guidelines issued by your teacher. For example, introductions for a research paper sometimes are as long as two pages. For smaller papers an introduction is only supposed to be 4-5 sentences. In either case, there are several components and topics that should be addressed in your report, regardless of the structure your paper takes. Always consult the rubric your teacher hands out to make sure you are following the instructions and doing your introduction correctly.

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Start the introduction with a general lead-in sentence that draws the reader's attention and makes them want to find out more about what you are writing about.

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Address the purpose of your report, and what it will cover. Go over all the main issues you have studied or researched, and consider how they pertain to the overall findings of the report.

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Discuss what the report seeks to accomplish, and what knowledge was already generally accepted about the subject matter. A good report should expand on already existing information.

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Conclude the introduction with a strong thesis statement that conveys the main point of the report, and summarizes what all findings in the report indicate. The thesis statement should be the last sentence of the introduction.