The Basics of Introductions
How are introductions usually structured?
Your introduction should use roughly 10% of your word count.
It should include what your essay is about (which text, which topic within that text, or just the
overall topic if not related to a specific text).
It should introduce the main points you will discuss, although not go into excessive detail (that
is what the main body of your essay is for).
If necessary, it should introduce your point of view.
It should get to the point straight away, ensure your answer fits the question, and grab the
reader’s attention.
Let’s look at two examples. The first is much more basic, and the second much more complex,
but they both follow the same rules.
This is the intellectual property of Ross Turner Academics
© Ross Turner 2023 | www.rossturneracademics.com
How are introductions usually structured?
Your introduction should use roughly 10% of your word count.
It should include what your essay is about (which text, which topic within that text, or just the
overall topic if not related to a specific text).
It should introduce the main points you will discuss, although not go into excessive detail (that
is what the main body of your essay is for).
If necessary, it should introduce your point of view.
It should get to the point straight away, ensure your answer fits the question, and grab the
reader’s attention.
Let’s look at two examples. The first is much more basic, and the second much more complex,
but they both follow the same rules.
This is the intellectual property of Ross Turner Academics
© Ross Turner 2023 | www.rossturneracademics.com
