How to write a really good Introduction for an essay

[emmawatsonlover990]

Hi,

How do you write a really good Introduction for an essay?

Thanks in advance,
Susan Debono

[clarke54321]

Hi,

How do you write a really good Introduction for an essay?

Thanks in advance,
Susan Debono

The definition of a really good introduction is highly subjective among teachers and examiners alike. In saying this, however, assessor's cannot refute the merit of an introduction that is clear, concise and inextricably bound to the prompt and its overarching implications. So in essence, choose an introduction that most suits your own writing style, and what makes it easiest to deliver a coherent opening paragraph.

All the best

[TSEtuition]

Hi,

How do you write a really good Introduction for an essay?

Thanks in advance,
Susan Debono

Hi Susan,

I've got a video precisely about this that you might find helpful: https://youtu.be/aM3icyuAUus

~Shirlaine from TSEtuition

[pha0015]

I'd also like to know the answer to this question.

My intro usually starts off with very vague statements that make links with the outside world, so I'm just wondering if I'm going off topic with my pieces by doing this.

e.g. prompt: What role does fate play in Burial Rites?

paragraph starter: Many choose to believe in fate, as it shifts the blame of a life gone wrong from themselves to factors outside of their control (this sounds a lot more off topic than my usual sentence starters, but you get the jist of it)

[clarke54321]

My intro usually starts off with very vague statements that make links with the outside world, so I'm just wondering if I'm going off topic with my pieces by doing this.

e.g. prompt: What role does fate play in Burial Rites?

paragraph starter: Many choose to believe in fate, as it shifts the blame of a life gone wrong from themselves to factors outside of their control (this sounds a lot more off topic than my usual sentence starters, but you get the jist of it)

Hi pha

I'd strongly encourage you to steer clear of these very vague statements. Although the first line of the introduction can be used for contextualisation purposes, it must still intimately engage with elements of the prompt. A potential issue with the sample start you've provided, is that it does not relate to the world of the text. It is more of a generalised, didactic assertion that could relate to you, me, or someone else. Examiners are interested in seeing how you've pulled out the implications of the prompt (enough so that you can entwine them in a tightly relevant, contextualising statement).

For example (Medea is a cautionary tale about being consumed by emotion. Discuss):
Euripides’ tragedy Medea seeks to examine the human psyche and explore how extreme emotions motivate a perilously frail state of being.

Can you see the way I'm connecting the overarching implications of the prompt and linking them to the bounds of the text?

Hopefully this helps!

[Sine]

PLAN!!
once you plan your essay and know what you will discuss in the content part of the essay what to include in your introduction should become very clear. I think if you really want you could probably get away with 1 "vague" statement at the very start just to recognise any historical aspects or writing styles of the text but once you've done that make sure to clearly engage with the given prompt.