One of the most difficult aspects of writing is deciding what to include in the first paragraph. After all, your first paragraph will set the tone for the remainder of your essay and what's important is that you try to create a positive impression for the reader. Knowing how to write a good introduction, then, is a key element of a successful assignment.
You do not need to include ALL the above features in your own introduction writing. However, certainly most effective introductions will include the first three:
Background/general context to the subject
Clear reference to the title;
Purpose of writing (this often relates directly to the 'question' word used in the title).
Generally speaking, the word length of most introductions will be 10% of the total word length and will be roughly the same word length as the conclusion.
For many people, introduction writing is one of the hardest parts of the essay to get right. For this reason, it may be useful to write your main body first and write your introduction later. This serves a second useful purpose since you will be able to give a clear outline in your introduction of the structure of ideas covered in the main body.
Do not include any detailed examples, or lengthy quotations.
Together with introductions, conclusions frame texts. They give the reader a sense of 'completion'. Without a satisfactory conclusion, the reader would be left with the feeling that the text hasn't really been finished. Conclusions should also leave the reader feeling that the aims of the writer have been achieved. They should not, therefore, try to introduce any new or unrelated ideas into the main text.
One of the most important functions of an effective conclusion is to provide the reader with an overview of the most important ideas included in 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.
Once again, 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 word length of most conclusions will be roughly the same length as the introductions, approximately 10% of the total word length of the essay
Be careful not to include any new, unrelated information in your conclusion.
