They say the beginning is the best place to start. An essay introduction is the first thing the reader will see when reading your essay.
Depending on your assessment guidelines your introduction may count towards part of your grade – usually between 5%-10%. A typically introduction should be between 100-250 words (some people follow the rule that an introduction is 10% of your word count).
What makes a good introduction?
The introduction paragraph should fully explain the purpose of the essay. Are you going to discuss something? Critically analyse something? What is the main focus of the essay? It may be a good idea to provide some background information about the topic.
Next, you need to outline the main ideas your essay will cover. Whilst you will likely have an overall theme, there will be several different topics included within this. For instance, an essay about digital marketing may discuss social media marketing, email marketing and online advertising. You should highlight in your introduction the key arguments you will make.
Finally, you should include an overview of the structure of the essay structure.
Good phrases to use in an essay introduction
- The purpose of this essay is to…
- This essay will critically analyse…
- This essay will consider the field of……
- This essay will begin with…
Just like the rest of your essay, the introduction needs to flow i.e easily move from one sentence to the next without causing confusion. The reader should gain an understanding of the scope of your essay. For that reason, it is a good idea to create a plan for your introduction before actually writing it (just like you would for the rest of your essay).
What should you avoid?
A common mistake students often make when writing an essay is simply stating what the essay will cover and in what order. Do not simply say “This essay will discuss X then talk about Y”. Instead, you need to also explain what the main arguments your essay will make are and how you will make them.
Further, you should ensure you do not mention any arguments or ideas you will not explore in depth during the main body.
Lastly, make sure your introduction is not boring. The aim of the introduction is to attract the attention of the reader and draw them into your essay or in other words make them interested in reading the rest. Try to think of a strong opening statement to begin your essay.
