Effective Introductions
Intermediate 2
Introduction Formula
 1 – Title, author/poet/playwright, genre
and link to the question
 2 – Brief, relevant summary of the text
 3 – Answer to the question
 4 – Link to the theme
Introductions
 What you need to plan and learn for each text
is:


a skeleton introduction
Various ‘answers’ to the different questions that
you may be faced with
 This means that you will be able to quickly and
easily write your first paragraph with little
stress or timewasting
William Shakespeare’s ________ play ‘Macbeth’
is one in which ________________________.
After encountering three witches who
prophesise that he will one day be hailed as
king, the eponymous Macbeth embarks on a
violent journey of ambition, regicide and
increasing brutality; a journey which results in
mental turmoil and his eventual death. ____
answer to question _______. _________
Shakespeare explores the theme/s of the
corrupting nature of unchecked ambition and
the consequences of betrayal.
Choose a play in which there is an important relationship
between two of the main characters.
Describe the nature of the relationship, and explain how it is
developed throughout the play.
William Shakespeare’s tragic play ‘Macbeth’ is one in which
there is an important relationship between Macbeth and his
wife, Lady Macbeth. After encountering three witches who
prophesise that he will one day be hailed as king, the
eponymous Macbeth embarks on a violent journey of
ambition, regicide and increasing brutality; a journey which
results in mental turmoil and his eventual death. The nature
of the relationship between Macbeth and his wife
dramatically alters throughout the play as the balance of
power between them shifts. Through his depiction of this
relationship, Shakespeare explores the theme/s of the
corrupting nature of unchecked ambition and the
consequences of betrayal.
Try for these questions
 Choose a play in which there is a strong
female character…
 Choose a play which explores a particularly
violent theme…
 Choose a play in which there is a pivotal scene
in the development of the plot and
characters…
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee is a _________
novel, and one which ________________. Through
the eyes of young Scout Finch, we observe the
seemingly sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, and
the events that unfold there in the 1930’s: namely,
the false accusation of rape by a white girl against a
black man, Tom Robinson. ____answer to question
_______. _________ Lee explores the themes of
prejudice and discrimination.
Try for these questions
 Choose a play in which there is an effective
portrayal of a character OR setting…
 Choose a play which deals with an unpleasant
aspect of human nature…
 Choose a play in which a character
experiences a moment of realisation…
Langston Hughes’ _______ poem, ‘Freedom Train’ is
one which ____________________. In his poem,
Hughes references the Freedom Train: a museum
train displaying important historical documents
pertaining to American independence and liberty
which toured the states in the 1940’s. He uses the
irony of such a train to explore the racism and
discrimination inherent in the US at this time – the
main themes of the poem – and as a metaphor for
black American's struggle for civil rights. ___answer
to question____.
Try for these questions
 Choose a poem which has a striking opening…
 Choose a poem which creates a particular
mood or atmosphere…
 Choose a poem which has an ending that you
find particularly shocking or surprising…
Conclusions
 You MUST always add a conclusion to your
essays, even if you run out of time and it is
merely a simple sentence:
 In conclusion, throughout the novel Atticus
has been effectively portrayed as an
inspirational character.
However, for an effective conclusion…
 Reference to author/playwright/poet, text and
answer to question
 Final evaluative comment (your personal
opinion) on the character/opening/theme etc
– the impact/resonance it has on the audience