Essay introduction examples of good practice

Writing IntroductionsThe introduction is the first opportunity for your tutor or other people to see your writing. A good introduction will show that you know what you're writing about and also show how you are answering the question. Introductions usually 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 allto include an introduction, but one which is unrecognizable as suchto include too much background/historical information in the introductionto make the introduction too longA good introduction will:show that you are going to answer the question or complete the taskshow that you understand the issues and their implicationsshow 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 sourcesbe totally relevantbe concise: 8-9% of the total number of words is usually recommended (eg 120 words in a 1500 word assignment).One of the most important parts of an essay introduction is to make sure that you 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.Adapted from: /learner/writingguides/1.22.htmAccessed: 26.08.12Use 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. 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.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.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.Adapted from:/learner/writingguides/1.22.htm Accessed: 26.08.12Imagine 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 wordsAs 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.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?"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. Adapted from:/learner/writingguides/1.22.htm Accessed: 26.08.12Writing conclusions:Summary of key pointsOne of the most important functions of an effective conclusion is to provide the reader with an overview of the most important ideas includedin the text. In this way, a reader will have the opportunity to reflect on what they have just read.Re-stating the overall purpose of writing:Here the reader will have the chance to reflect on the overall purpose of the writing which should have been made clear in the introduction. The reader will be able to judge whether or not the original aims of the writer have been fulfilled. The re-statement in the conclusion will serve to provide the reader with a sense of completion.Recommendations/suggestions:Recommendations may be included in conclusion writing, especially in response to a problem or issue which has been raised in the main body of the text.Future predictions:According to the points covered in the text, the writer may speculate in relation to any likely future developments.Author's opinion:In some essay titles, the question word may indicate that the writer's opinion is required, e.g.: 'discuss', 'evaluate', 'give your reasons for'. If the main body of the text contains two opposing arguments for and against a general proposition/claim, then generally the conclusion will provide the author's own viewpoint based on the strength of the arguments provided in the main body.Deduction: In a process of reasoning, deduction is the final stage. This is where a logical conclusion is formed on the basis of a series of arguments which preceded it. For example, if we know a certain illness is confined to a particular area where tap water is not clean, then we might deduce that the tap water has caused the illness and has therefore been contaminated in some way.Remember that not ALL the list of features for conclusion writing need to be included in your own assignments - they are merely there to provide you with some ideas about what you can include.The length of most conclusions will be roughly the same length as the introductions, approximately 10% of the total word length of the essay You do not usually include any new, unrelated information in your conclusion.Adapted from: /myskillsAccessed 27.08.12Writing Paragraphs and how they are structured。