Writing a good introduction

Writing a GOOD Introduction

ne of the first things you do in the essay writing stage is to pen your introduction.
The introduction is not a mere cosmetic, peripheral paragraph. Rather, the
introduction is vital as it sets the first impression of your linguistic and intellectual
competency and in fact is your fist chance to rouse your reader’s attention and interest
them to read further. Cambridge examiners have often stressed that better candidates
pay attention to crafting Good Introductions. Here are some tips to help you in this
venture…
Why is a Good Introduction important?
♦ Gives the first impression of your linguistic & intellectual
competency
♦ Sets the tone & direction for the whole essay
♦ Allows the marker to know from the beginning the stand
you are taking with regard to the topic
♦ When written well, can interest and engage your reader’s attention
What does a Good Introduction serve to do?
♦ INTRODUCE the reader to the topic in question.
♦ INFORM the reader of your viewpoint and the intended scope of your essay.
♦ INTEREST the marker by opening in an original way.
How do you write a Good Introduction? (Refer to table for elaboration/examples)
♦ Give General Comment(s)
♦ Interpret/Define keywords & phrases
♦ Give your viewpoint statement
♦ Give a preview of what you will cover in your essay (optional)



How do you write a Good Introduction?
(a) Give General
Comment(s)
♦ Establish the importance
of the topic
♦ Provide some factual
background relevant to
the question
♦ Highlight a problem or
controversy in the issue
♦ Open with an appropriate
quotation
♦ Share an anecdote/story
♦ Ask a thought-provoking
question
♦ Make a personal
comment on the topic
Examples
♣ One of the most significant and current discussions
surrounding cloning is…
♣ X is the leading cause of death in third world countries…
♣ In the new global economy X has become the most pressing
issue that plays a key role in influencing Y
♣ Although the genre of reality TV has existed in some form or
other since the early years of television, the 20th Century saw a
current explosion in its popularity
♣ The discovery of X has been a controversial and much
disputed subject within the field of …
♣ Concerns have been raised by several NGOs regarding the
urgent state of the environment
♣ Despite its safety and efficacy, X also has several major
drawbacks
♣ A famous person once said that…
♣ A children’s author once wrote that…
♣ The Greek philosopher Sophocles held the view that…
♣ An eye for an eye and the whole world would be blind;
Mohandas Gandhi once said
♣ It was a Friday night in Birmingham, Raglan, 21 November
1974. The pubs were filling up. Suddenly just after eight o’
clock, explosions ripped through two crowded pubs. Many lay
dead and many more were injured. Such are the dramas of
terrorism which are often flashed onto our TV screens and
headlined in the newspapers.
♣ Why is mankind so attuned to aggression? Could it be
because of our primordial instinct to survive?
♣ When does life begin? Would we ever gain concrete answers
to life’s strange puzzles? I think not
♣ Whilst many detractors would fervently disagree, I still strongly
feel that premarital sex should not be condoned
(b) Interpret / Define
keywords & phrases
♦ Clarify meaning when a
keyword is ambiguous or
has a very broad scope
Examples
♣ Qsn: A good leader should do what is necessary, not what is
popular. Comment? – Leadership can mean many different
things for different people. However, it is widely accepted that
leaders need be good role models and be of charismatic