For more information about essays check out the Academic Grammar


Topics, Titles and Introductions

What are the main functions of an introductory paragraph?
The main functions are to get the reader’s attention and encourage him or her to read more.  The introduction can also interpret the title, establish the importance of the topic, identify the issue(s) to be dealt with, clarify problematic terms and indicate the structure of the rest of the essay.
How can you get readers interested and encourage them to keep reading?
The easiest way is to make sure that the information is new and of interest to your target audience.
What is context in an essay?
A context is the situation or place of the essay in the world or general affairs. An essay about war might have the context of Ancient China, or modern Africa. Different audiences are interested in different contexts, although a good essay shows universal connections.  Introductions often describe the wider, more general context, while the body may contain more specific details.
How does the introduction outline the main argument?
This is the job of the thesis statement. A thesis statement states the main point-of-view and often contains three or more brief points in support of the argument. These later become paragraphs in the body of the essay.
How does the introduction summarise the essay?
By including your point-of-view and a few brief reasons, the introduction allows readers to see whether or not they generally agree or disagree with you. This also allows them to decide whether it’s worth their time to read more.