Below are four sample introductions to Literature Paper 1

responses. Each introduction addresses a different literary text.

Task
1. Rank order these introductions and identify any ingredients that
create a recipe for an effective introductory paragraph.
2. Which criteria from the Paper 1 assessment rubric should you aim
to target when crafting your introduction?
3. How effectively do the sample introductions target the rubric?
4. Where are the missed opportunities in these examples?
5. What is the guiding question likely to be for each introduction?

Example A
The poem ​The Bat​ by Ruth Pitter portrays the speaker’s journey from
horror and disgust to discovery and appreciation for bats. The speaker
initially depicts the bat as something supernatural, something alien and
not worthy of having a place on earth, however their perspective
changes through the experience of pity and possibly empathy for the bat
once it is injured. Through this journey and development, Pitter displays
the importance of appearance versus reality in nature and the effect that
pity has on the human mind and human nature. Through the initial
portrayal of a disgusted and judgmental tone in the poem, Pitter is able
to juxtapose the later descriptions of the bat to evoke the theme of
appearance versus reality, and through the use of changing structure
and tone, Pitter is able to evoke the influence that pity has on the
development of the speaker.

Example B
The extract from Charles Baxter’s ‘Gryphon’ details a substitute teacher
and the events that unfold in her class from the perspective of an
unnamed student. The passage focuses on the comedic aspect of
“substitute facts” and the childish stubbornness that the teacher is met
with as she attempts to explain that learning becomes more “fluid” as
perspective changes. From a reader’s perspective, it appears that the
teacher, Miss Ferenczi, is merely messing with the children or is unable
to admit to being incorrect and instead tries to confuse the students by
referencing things they do not understand yet, creating the humorous
element of the extract. This humour is created through the naive
narrative perspective and the characterisation of Miss Ferenczi and
overall the passage conveys a subtle criticism of school and traditional
methods of education.

Example C
In this extract, Albee presents a conversation between two characters,
one of whom seems ashamed of his wife and the other who disapproves
of his behavior. Nick and George’s relationship is depicted with an
awkward sense of tension. Whilst at first, both characters are hesitant to
speak, disconnected and disillusioned with each other, they gradually
reveal the sense of mutual hostility. This increases as the extract goes
along and the status levels between them shift.

Example D
By incorporating elements of subjective perception into the
imagery-laden description of setting and action in the canyon, the
narrator and author Robert Twigger creates both an engaging travelogue
and an (allegorical) message on personal growth. Twigger first
investigates the value of ignoring concerns out of one’s control through
the metaphorical implications of travel then encourages the reader to
rediscover their childlike curiosity and connection with nature through an
engaging account of explanation, and finally suggests the merit of facing
seemingly insurmountable challenges.