How to Write a Good
Introduction to a Higher Essay
All Introductions must SEAF
• S – Explain the situation at the start of the period you are
writing about.
• E – Explain the situation at the end of the period you are
writing about.
• A – Outline your argument (but don’t totally answer the
question – that comes in your conclusion!).
• F– Outline the factors you are going to write about in the
rest of your essay.
• Question: (2000 Paper I)
How important was cultural nationalism
to the growth of national feeling in
Germany between 1815 and 1850?
This part sets explains the situation at the start and end of the period: (SE)
In 1815, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars the Deutscher Bund was
created. This loose-knit confederation of 39 independent states was
not a united Germany. By 1850 German nationalism had grown
considerably. There had been more than one attempt to unify the
German states, but these had failed and ‘Germany’ remained
divided.
This part refers to the question and hints at the argument: (A)
There are several important reasons for the growth of national
feeling in the German states between 1815 and 1850, Cultural
nationalism was undoubtedly fundamental in the drive towards
German unification. However, this type of nationalism was largely
limited to the middle classes and intellectuals.
This part outlines the factors you are going to write about in the rest of your
essay: (F)
Other factors, such as the economic nationalism created by the
Zollverein and the political nationalism created by revolutions of
1848 were more important.
The wording of the question should appear in your introduction and has been
underlined here.
•Question: (2000 Paper I)
‘To what extent was the granting of the
right to vote to women due to their
role during the First World War?’
Rearrange the following sentences to form the
most effective introduction to the previous
question:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
but, by 1918 most women over 30 could vote and, by 1928, all
women over 21 were enfranchised, on equal terms with men.
However, there were several other factors which led to the
granting of the right to vote to women.
In 1850 women were unenfranchised and excluded politically;
The impact of the war went far beyond the role played by women;
and the contribution of women’s suffrage movements – namely
the N.U.W.S.S. and the W.S.P.U. cannot be ignored.
There is no doubt that the role played by women during the First
World War contributed greatly to the enfranchisement of women.
Your Introduction should read:
In 1850 women were unenfranchised and excluded politically; (3) but,
by 1918 most women over 30 could vote and, by 1928, all women over
21 were enfranchised, on equal terms with men. (1) There is no doubt
that the role played by women during the First World War contributed
greatly to the enfranchisement of women. (5) However, there were
several other factors which led to the granting of the right to vote to
women. (2) The impact of the war went far beyond the role played by
women; and the contribution of women’s suffrage movements – namely
the N.U.W.S.S. and the W.S.P.U. cannot be ignored. (4)
The wording of the question should appear in your introduction
and has been underlined here.
This part sets explains the situation at the start and end of the
period: (SE)
In 1850 women were unenfranchised and excluded politically; but, by
1918 most women over 30 could vote and, by 1928, all women over 21
were enfranchised, on equal terms with men.
This part refers to the question and hints at the argument: (A)
There is no doubt that the role played by women during the First World
War contributed greatly to the enfranchisement of women.
This part outlines the factors you are going to write about in the
rest of your essay: (F)
However, there were several other factors which led to the granting of
the right to vote to women. The impact of the war went far beyond the
role played by women; and the contribution of women’s suffrage
movements – namely the N.U.W.S.S. and the W.S.P.U. cannot be
ignored.
Let’s try another:
•Question: (2000 Paper I)
‘How important was the role played by
political pressure groups in the growth of
democracy in Britain between 1860 and
1914?’
Rearrange the following sentences to form the
most effective introduction to the previous
question:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
By 1914, although 40% of men and all women were still
unenfranchised, many of the essentials of democracy were in
place.
There were many other reasons, however, for democratic change
during this period.
In 1860 Britain could not be described as a democracy,
Political pressure groups, such as the Fabians, the N.U.W.S.S. or
the W.S.P.U. had a huge role in the growth of democracy in
Britain.
i.e. a country where government is by the people or their elected
representatives.
Industrialisation and urbanisation made extension of the franchise
and redistribution of parliamentary seats inevitable and the growth
of socialism made reform a political necessity.
Your Introduction should read:
In 1860 Britain could not be described as a democracy, (3) i.e. a
country where government is by the people or their elected
representatives. (5) By 1914, although 40% of men and all women
were still unenfranchised, many of the essentials of democracy were in
place. (1) Political pressure groups, such as the Fabians, the
N.U.W.S.S. or the W.S.P.U. had a huge role in the growth of democracy
in Britain. (4) There were many other reasons, however, for democratic
change during this period. (2) Industrialisation and urbanisation made
extension of the franchise and redistribution of parliamentary seats
inevitable and the growth of socialism made reform a political necessity.
(6)
The wording of the question should appear in your introduction
and has been underlined here.
This part explains the situation at the start and end of the
period : (SE)
In 1860 Britain could not be described as a democracy, i.e. a country
where government is by the people or their elected representatives. By
1914, although 40% of men and all women were still unenfranchised,
many of the essentials of democracy were in place.
This part refers to the question and hints at the argument: (A)
Political pressure groups, such as the Fabians, the N.U.W.S.S. or the
W.S.P.U. had a huge role in the growth of democracy in Britain.
This part outlines the factors that you are going to write about in
the rest of your essay: (F)
There were many other reasons, however, for democratic change
during this period. Industrialisation and urbanisation made extension of
the franchise and redistribution of parliamentary seats inevitable and
the growth of socialism made reform a political necessity.
Now you try:
•Question: (2005 Paper I)
‘How far were the reports on poverty
produced by Booth and Rowntree
responsible for the Liberal social reforms
of 1906 – 1914?’
Now you try:
•Question: (2000 Paper I)
‘How effectively did the Liberal
Governments (1906 – 1914) deal with the
problem of poverty?
(Of course, this one is a ‘how’, not a ‘why’ question.)
Until the early twentieth century the attitude of successive British
governments to poverty was one of laissez-faire and self-help. In other
words, the problem of poverty was not the responsibility of the state.
By 1906, when the Liberals won a sweeping election victory, attitudes
were beginning to change. Between 1906 and 1914 the Liberal
Governments passed a series of social reforms to deal with the
problem of poverty and help the five groups regarded as the most
‘deserving’ poor: namely the young, the old, the sick, the unemployed
and the low paid. These reforms were far from comprehensive, but, by
1914 a safety net was in place for those in extreme poverty.
The wording of the question should appear in your introduction
and has been underlined here.