Write your introduction after you have written the body of the paper. The body of the paper provides clues about what to include in the introduction. When the body of the paper is complete, re-read it and identify what the highlights of the paper are. Make sure your introduction addresses the content in the body and use the highlights to inspire your writing. Write down what is important and interesting about the paper's content. Brainstorm ways to introduce it.
Ask an interesting question. The question should provoke curiosity in the reader and be a relevant question that most people would want to know the answer to, or learn more about. For example, a paper on decision-making could begin with the question, "Why did you decide to read this sentence?"
Share a related quotation. Famous quotations are famous for a reason. The words have already captivated an audience, so why not use them to captivate your audience? For example, a paper on decision-making could begin with Kenneth Hildebrand's famous words, "Freedom is the opportunity to make decisions...."
Lead-in to your paper with a short story or case study. Most people enjoy a short story and will read the introduction. A good story can create interest in the rest of the paper. For example, a paper on decision-making could begin with a short story about a character, real or imagined, who is experiencing duress in the decision-making process, afraid that if making the wrong decision will be the end of his life.
Write an opening statement that either broadly addresses the paper, and then write each following sentence more and more narrowed, until the final sentence is your specific argument or thesis. You can also begin with a fact or specific detail and generalize this with each sentence, using the last sentence to explain how this small detail is a huge deal.
Write an opening statement with a twist. Set the reader up to presume how the sentence will end, but end it completely differently. For example, on a paper about decision-making, the introduction could begin with, "Everyone has experienced the difficulty in making decisions and has been stressed out by the very thought of the decision-making process, but making decisions is easy!"
Shock or surprise your reader in the introduction. This requires a degree of creativity, but is an excellent way to get the reader's attention. For example, a paper on decision-making could begin with, "Congratulations, you just made the best decision of your life!"
Write about a problem to create an element of drama. For example, a paper on decision-making could begin with a chilling explanation of how failing to make decisions or making the wrong decision can turn the reader's world upside-down.
Introduce your topic or argument with a joke or using humor. Research jokes on using keywords from your topic or make something up. For example, a paper on decision-making could begin with, "Bob was the fastest decision-maker I ever met. In under a second he always decided not to make a decision"