Most importantly, introductions should introduce your paper. Sounds simple, right? But often, students will use the introduction to summarize the topics they will expand in the body of their paper.

Require many reliable sources to back up your thesis/claim. Take up a position and support it with evidence. Usually about events (historical or current), textual arguments, or personal interests.

Your essay may change significantly while you're developing it, and then the intro will be inappropriate. Struggling for a good intro is a sure step to developing writer's block. Ex: One has to wonder ...