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Study Guides : Writing
1.22 Writing introductions
Your introduction is the first impression your readers will have of your writing. A good
introduction will show them that you know what you're talking about and that you're going to
complete the task in question. It will also make them want to carry on reading and feel well
disposed to what is to come. A bad introduction will have the opposite effect and might even
prejudice the reader against the rest of the writing, even if it does improve.
The most common mistakes made by students are:
not to include an introduction at all
to include an introduction, but one which is unrecognizable as such
to include too much background/historical information in the introduction
to make the introduction too long
A good introduction will:
show that you are going to answer the question or complete the task
show that you understand the issues and their implications
show how you are going to do this by indicating the structure of your answer and making
clear the main areas that you are going to write about (your plan).
show evidence that you have carried out some research by making a reference to one of
your sources
be totally relevant
be concise: 8-9% of the total number of words is usually recommended (eg 120 words in a
1500 word assignment).
You want your readers to say to themselves "Good! This writer has understood the question,
has done some research and is going to answer the question set, not another one. Let's read
on!"
So more specifically, how do you do this?
include a "topic sentence" which indicates the main thrust of your answer. For example:
This essay deals with the economic and political decline in Britain's world role.
This assignment will examine Britain's peculiar unwritten constitution.
Four major features of the influence of human behaviour on planning are
considered in this report.
This report will analyse the relative advantages and disadvantages of the
different operating systems.
This essay will first describe the recent changes in the tax system and will
then go on to argue that these changes are unfair and impracticable.
use the same, or very similar, wording as in the question. If part of the question is "Discuss
recent developments in communication technology" then in your introduction say something
like "This essay will consider recent developments in the field of communication technology
and will ... ". Don't leave any room for doubt.
use words and expressions which clearly show the plan behind your writing, for example:
The essay is divided into four main sections.
It will first consider ...
It will then go on to describe ...
The third part compares ...
Finally, some conclusions will be drawn as to ...
The importance of introductions (and conclusions) cannot be stressed too much.
Here are some examples of good (and bad!) introductions.
Example introductions
Imagine you are studying the mass media as part of your course and you have been set the
following essay title:
Examine the sociological evidence of stereotypes of social groups in the
mass media. What are the causes of stereotyping in the mass media and to
what extent do they influence social attitudes?
Word limit: 2000 words
Read the following examples and decide which meet the criteria for a good introduction.
Example 1
As we all know, Britain is a multicultural society. In the 1960s
many thousands of immigrants came to the country, mostly setting
up home in the major cities. The majority of these immigrants
came from the West Indies, India and Pakistan and Hong Kong.
Racism has always been a problem, with the various groups of
immigrants seen as stereotypes, although over the years there has
been increasing integration into British society, particularly by
the children of immigrant families. This is reflected in the mass
media. Twenty years ago black people were rarely seen on
television and very few held jobs in the press. However,
nowadays, more and more black people work as journalists and are
thus able to look at events from a different perspective.
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Your comments: _______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ _________________________
Example 2
Stereotypes are everywhere: the reserved British, the disorganised Italians, the
shopping-obsessed Japanese. This essay will talk about these stereotypes and ask if
they are true. It is going to look at the different types of stereotypes and their
representation in the media. The following areas will be covered: television; radio; the
press, and the cinema. I will particularly look at television and ask the question "Does
television reinforce these stereotypes?"
Your comments: _______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ _________________________
Example 3
Stereotypes abound in today's society. People seem to have an innate compulsion to
categorise others into various groups and then to apply rigid and limited descriptions to
these groups. There are therefore, amongst others, stereotypical nationalities and
races; stereotypical sexes and sexual orientations and stereotypical classes. And one
place where these stereotypes often thrive is in the mass media, particularly in the
tabloid press and popular television, such as in situation comedy. Some, for example
Hick (1996), claim that this is a harmless phenomenon, whereas commentators such as
Ealham (1998) point to the possible dangers of obsessive stereotyping in the media.
This essay will examine what sociological evidence there is for the process of
stereotyping in the mass media, and will then go on to analyse the reasons for its
occurrence. The final part of the essay will ask how far society's attitudes are in fact
shaped by this portrayal of the various kinds of stereotypes.
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Your comments: _______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ _________________________
Introduction 1
Your tutor would read an introduction like this with a great sense of foreboding. There's no
real problem with the actual English, but the writer shows no indication whatsoever of
answering the question. The word 'stereotype' has been picked up on, and narrowly
interpreted as meaning racial stereotype. But even then there is no attempt to focus on the
actual question, and most of what is said is irrelevant. Probably a fail.
Introduction 2
Too short for a start, and not very well written (inconsistency of tenses: will/going to) No
attempt to put the question into some sort of context, to get the reader interested in what's
to come. At first, it looks as if stereotypes are being interpreted simply as national
stereotypes and also the writer goes off on the wrong tack: the question does not ask for a
simple description nor asks about the validity of these stereotypes. The last part of the
introduction, however, does indicate that the last part of the question will be addressed. If
the writer manages to focus more on the actual question, the essay might just scrape a pass.
Introduction 3
This is a very good introduction. It's about the right length (c8%); gives a little relevant
background and context, indicating that the writer has thought about what a stereotype is in
its broadest interpretation; makes some initial references to sources; and finally focuses
precisely on the question, showing the reader that it has been fully understood and that it
will be answered. Note that the wording of the final part of the introduction is very close to
that of the question. If the essay follows in the same vein, it should get an excellent mark.
 Steve Gould 2003
steve.gould@uce.ac.uk
Related Learner Development Study Guides:
1.11 Understanding the question
1.23 Writing conclusions
1.34 Paragraph structure
Further guidance on writing introductions can be found
here:
Williams,K. Writing Essays OCSD
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/LTDU/essay.htm#4.1
http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/skills/Writing/introds.html
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