How to write an introduction
What is an introduction?
Although the exact structure of your introduction may differ according to the type of assignment, most introductions follow a similar structure which includes 4 main parts:
- Context: a short background that briefly leads the reader to the main issues relevant to the topic.
- Topic: a topic statement which establishes the main focus of the paper (e.g. to discuss X, or to critically analyse Y).
- Outline of structure: a brief introduction to each of the main sections that will be covered in the assignment, and the order in which they will appear.
- Argument: a thesis statement that lets the reader know the writer’s position (or evidence-based opinion) regarding the topic. This may not be required for all types of assignments, so check the assignment instructions and, if in doubt, check with your lecturer.
What does a good introduction look like?
Essay question: Should Australia invest in a high-speed rail network between major cities?
CONTEXT: Australia ranks as one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world (The World Bank, 2014), yet it is also home to one of the busiest flightpaths on the planet, with over 54,000 flights between Melbourne and Sydney in 2018 alone (Smith, 2019). TOPIC: The continued growth in the number of people living and working in the major population centres leads to the question of whether Australia should invest in a high-speed rail network. ARGUMENT: This paper argues that a high-speed rail network between major Australian cities should be developed. Although there are considerable social and political challenges facing such an endeavour, the long-term benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. OUTLINE OF STRUCTURE: This essay will firstly examine the history of the proposal to develop high-speed rail between Sydney and Melbourne. It will then outline some of the political, economic and environmental challenges that have prevented this endeavour from progressing in the past, before finally discussing the significant advantages that such infrastructure would provide for Australia.
How do I write an introduction?
Ask yourself the following questions to check if your introduction is likely to be effective:
Have I given sufficient context?
In the example introduction above, background information is given in the first sentence. This builds context for the essay’s main topic and eases the reader into the topic statement. The background statement can be one or more sentences, depending on the overall word length and complexity of your assignment.
Have I included a topic statement?
The topic sentence in the example above is:
“The continued growth in the number of people living and working in the major population centres leads to the question of whether or not Australia should invest in a high-speed rail network.”
- Notice that this looks very similar to the assignment question. A good topic sentence paraphrases the assignment question to demonstrate to the marker that you are answering the question that has been asked. It should also logically lead the reader to the thesis statement.
- An easy way to make your topic sentence clear to the reader is to begin the sentence with: “The purpose of this paper is to discuss/critically examine/analyse….”
Have I included a thesis statement?
The thesis statement is the writer’s answer to the assignment question in one sentence. In the example above, the thesis has been expressed in the following sentence:
"This paper argues that a high-speed rail network between major Australian cities should be developed."
- Although many assignments require you to take a position (or give an opinion) on a topic, some may only require a summary or an analysis of the literature. In such cases, a thesis statement is not needed.
- Because a thesis statement involves giving an opinion, it will always be an “arguable” point, which means that other people may have a different opinion. The purpose of the assignment is to use evidence and logical reasoning to convince the reader that your position on the topic is valid.
- An easy way to make your thesis statement clear to the reader is to begin the sentence with: “This paper/essay/report will argue that ….”
Do I have an outline?
An outline is a summary of the main points of the writer’s argument or topic and acts to inform the reader of what to expect in the body. In the example above, the following two sentences form the outline:
“This essay will firstly examine the history of the proposal to develop high speed rail between Sydney and Melbourne. It will then outline some of the political, economic and environmental challenges that have prevented this endeavour from progressing in the past, before finally discussing the significant advantages that such infrastructure would provide for Australia.”
The outline is important because it helps the reader know what to expect as they read your assignment. This means they can focus on your ideas rather than trying to work out where you are going with your discussion. If you change your structure as you are writing, always double check your introduction to make sure they match.
What is the link between the introduction and the conclusion?
Think of the introduction and conclusion as bookends, keeping the ideas in your assignment together. In your conclusion you can summarise your main argument (or thesis), along with the key issues you raised in the background section of the introduction.
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