Handout in English for Academic and Professional Purposes

INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION

How to write an essay introduction

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay. It sets up
your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The main goals of an introduction are to:

 Catch your reader’s attention.
 Give background on your topic.
 Present your thesis—the central point of your essay.

This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history
of Braille.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of

disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people
was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that
did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly
stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier
to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but
existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As
the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a
groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits,
but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by
discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then
describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance
within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of
this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Step 1: Hook your reader

Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing
an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will
spark your reader’s curiosity.

The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re
writing about and why it’s interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of
fact.

Examples: Writing a good hook

Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.
 Braille was an extremely important invention.
 The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.
The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold
claim about exactly why the topic is important.
 The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety of
information and communication facilities.”
 The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the
world of education.

Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that
everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much
clearer sense of what the essay will be about.
 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a famous book from the nineteenth century.
 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the
dangers of scientific advancement.

Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here
tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will
offer a different interpretation.

Step 2: Give background information

Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument.
Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:
 Historical, geographical, or social context
 An outline of the debate you’re addressing
 A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic
 Definitions of key terms

The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your
argument.

Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but
save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of
your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and
sketch the social context that the essay will address:

Example: Background information

The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people
was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that
did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized,
and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social
participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing
methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use.

Step 3: Present your thesis statement

Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about
the topic. This is your thesis statement—a sentence or two that sums up your
overall argument.
This is the most important part of your introduction. A good thesis isn’t just a
statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point
about a topic.

Example: Thesis statement

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a
groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits,
but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

Step 4: Map your essay’s structure

Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what
will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the
direction your argument will take.

Example: Signposting
This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-
century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual
process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the
wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Step 5: Check and revise

As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you
learn more.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing
process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last
thing you write.

When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion, you should return to
the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.

It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents
what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than
planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.

You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything
it’s supposed to.
Checklist: Essay introduction
 My first sentence is engaging and relevant.
 I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.
 I have defined any important terms.
 My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.
 Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

More examples of essay introductions

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the
printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this
invention on European society).

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle
Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of
intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average
person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The
invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less
restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the
Reformation.

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and
education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the
world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise,
and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow
up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This
concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are
outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely
comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and
engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning
environment.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay, about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,

starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the
author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably

the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the
dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In
this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad
scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of
modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character,
Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our
impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as
the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic
idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in
his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.
How to conclude an essay
The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay. A strong conclusion aims to:
 Tie together the essay’s main points
 Show why your argument matters
 Leave the reader with a strong impression

Your conclusion should give a sense of closure and completion to your argument, but
also show what new questions or possibilities it has opened up.

This conclusion is taken from our annotated essay example, which discusses the
history of the Braille system. Hover over each part to see why it’s effective.

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people
were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation
was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the
success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’
reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive
broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools
provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change
the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Step 1: Return to your thesis

To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to
your overall argument.

Don’t just repeat your thesis statement—instead, try to rephrase your argument in a
way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction.

Example: Returning to the thesis

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people
were treated and the opportunities available to them.

Step 2: Review your main points

Next, remind the reader of the main points that you used to support your argument.

Avoid simply summarizing each paragraph or repeating each point in order; try to
bring your points together in a way that makes the connections between them clear.
The conclusion is your final chance to show how all the paragraphs of your essay add
up to a coherent whole.

Example: Reviewing the main points

Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a
blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to
adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense,
Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness.
Step 3: Show why it matters
To wrap up your conclusion, zoom out to a broader view of the topic and consider the
implications of your argument. For example:
 Does it contribute a new understanding of your topic?
 Does it raise new questions for future study?
 Does it lead to practical suggestions or predictions?
 Can it be applied to different contexts?
 Can it be connected to a broader debate or theme?

Whatever your essay is about, the conclusion should aim to emphasize the
significance of your argument, whether that’s within your academic subject or in the
wider world.

Try to end with a strong, decisive sentence, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of
interest in your topic.

Example: Showing why it matters

New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them,
but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

What shouldn’t go in the conclusion?

The easiest way to improve your conclusion is to eliminate these common mistakes.

Don’t include new evidence

Any evidence or analysis that is essential to supporting your thesis statement should
appear in the main body of the essay.

The conclusion might include minor pieces of new information—for example, a

sentence or two discussing broader implications, or a quotation that nicely
summarizes your central point. But it shouldn’t introduce any major new sources or
ideas that need further explanation to understand.

Don’t use “concluding phrases”

Avoid using obvious stock phrases to tell the reader what you’re doing:
 “In conclusion…”
 “To sum up…”

These phrases aren’t forbidden, but they can make your writing sound weak. By
returning to your main argument, it will quickly become clear that you are concluding
the essay—you shouldn’t have to spell it out.

Don’t undermine your argument

Avoid using apologetic phrases that sound uncertain or confused:
 “This is just one approach among many.”
 “There are good arguments on both sides of this issue.”
 “There is no clear answer to this problem.”
Even if your essay has explored different points of view, your own position should be
clear. There may be many possible approaches to the topic, but you want to leave the
reader convinced that yours is the best one!

More examples of essay conclusions

This conclusion is taken from a short expository essay that explains the invention of
the printing press and its effects on European society. It focuses on giving a clear,
concise overview of what was covered in the essay.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its
immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact
on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of
the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the
Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the
Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total
reshaping of the continent.

This conclusion is taken from an argumentative essay about the internet’s impact on
education. It acknowledges the opposing arguments while taking a clear, decisive
position.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education;
occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The
future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens for communication,
research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows,
students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and
educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real
and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the
internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.