Writing Essays and Assignments

The Introduction

Arguably, this one of the hardest parts of an essay to write. The conclusion can be tough, but at least by then you already have lots written down. But the introduction starts with a blank piece of paper, and it's always difficult to be sure how to begin...

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The introduction should Explain to the reader exactly what your essay will be about. Imagine the first part of a lesson, or a presentation - the bit where you are briefly told what's coming up so you know you're definitely in the right room! Essays need the same thing.

An introduction should set the context of the essay, be relevant and to the point. Length may vary, but it should typically be around 7-10% of the total length of your essay. So if your essay is about 1,500 words, your introduction should be just over 100 words, and possibly not much more than 150.

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It should:

• state exactly what the essay is about.
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  This is actually very easy to do! Just look at the question (and your break down of the question in your plan) and reword it.
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  For example: "This essay will argue that the character of Hamlet, from Shakespeare's play of the same name, was not mad."
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• define any key words or phrases to show that you understand what is meant by them, and to set the parameters for your upcoming argument.
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  For instance: "In this essay, the term 'mad' will refer to insanity, rather than a state of anger."
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  If you have used BUG to help you break down your question, you should already know which terms to define in your essay - they'll be underlined!
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  Tip: If in doubt, define everything! This might sound crazy, but you'd be surprised what knowledge examiners are looking for. (I once saw a mark scheme that expected students to define 'United Kingdom', even though you would have thought the definition was obvious... But is it...? Better to prove you know than leave doubt...!)
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• include a brief list of your planned arguments.
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  Again, think back to a good class or a clear presentation - you'll normally have the day's topic broken down into chunks so you know what will be covered or discussed. However, it is just a quick overview, with no details yet. They come later.
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  An example might be: "It can be argued that Hamlet is not mad because of three main reasons - his initial delusion (talking to his father's ghost) is not considered mad by his friends, he is clearly able to express his thoughts and feelings, and he makes a conscious decision to be perceived as mad."
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The above example introduction is so far only around 86 words long, but I would also add a short introduction to the play as well: "Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare some time around 1600, is the story of the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, and his tragic quest to avenge his father's murder..." etc.). Again, this is just briefly setting the context and proving that I do know the subject matter that I'm about to evaluate. I'm not telling the whole story, or yet discussing the points of the play I'll be analysing later. Sometimes the definitions will cover this context without you needing to add anything more.

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Some top tips if you're struggling to start an introduction are: 

1. Use standard phrases in your first draft, such as:
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   "This essay will argue...",
   "[X] can be defined as...",
   "The arguments used in this essay will be...".
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   This moves you away from blank-page-panic and helps you to remember the main elements that should be included in an introduction. You can reword sentences later if you need to.
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2. Reword the essay question as your opening line. This helps you to focus on the actual question being asked (rather than the one you might want to be answering!). 
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3. Use the BUG breakdown from your plan to help you know exactly what to define.
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4. Do not start writing your arguments within the introduction! This is a common mistake and often an attempt at padding the introduction. Sum up what you arguments will be, but do not go into any more detail than that at this stage. The detail comes later...

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Once you've drafted your introduction, ask yourself:

• "Have I introduced the question being asked?" Re-read the question and then your introduction to make sure.
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• "If the person reading this knows absolutely nothing about this topic, have I explained enough for them to be able to understand what's coming up in my main argument?" You have to stop thinking that you're writing for a teacher or an examiner who already knows everything, and imagine you're writing for people who have no clue. That's your best chance of writing a clear and detailed essay.

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Quick Activity

Before you move on, have a go at analysing some sample introductions to see if you can spot the good from the not so good. This is an essential activity and worth having a quick go at before you move on. Complete the worksheet and, if you wish, you can upload it below.