English Academic Writing

Introductions and Conclusions

Introduction components
Introduction structure
Opening sentences
Conclusion structure
Introductions and Conclusions
An effective introduction explains the purpose, scope and
methodology of the paper to the reader.
The conclusion should provide a clear answer to any questions
asked in the title, as well as summarizing the main points under
discussion.
With coursework, it may be better to write the introduction after
writing the main body.
Introduction components
Introductions are usually no more than about 10% of the total length
of an assignment. Therefore in a 2,000-word essay the introduction
would be approximately 200 words.

What components are normally found in an essay introduction?

Choose from the following list.
Introduction structure
There is no standard pattern for an introduction, since much depends on the type of
research you are conducting and the length of your work, but this is a common structure:
a) Definition of key terms, if needed
b) Relevant background information
c) Review of work by other writers on the topic
d) Purpose or aim of the paper
e) Your research methods
f) Any limitations you imposed
g) An outline of your paper
Opening sentences
It can be difficult to start writing an essay, but especially in exams, hesitation will
waste valuable time. The first few sentences should be general but not vague in
order to help the reader focus on the topic. They often have the following
pattern:
Opening sentences
It is important to avoid opening sentences which are over-general
and vague.
Compare:
Nowadays there is a lot of competition among different news
providers. ×
In the last 20 years newspapers have faced strong competition from
the internet for news and entertainment. ✔
Conclusions
Conclusions tend to be shorter and more varied in format than
introductions. Some articles may have a ‘summary’ or ‘concluding
remarks’. But student papers should generally have a final section
which summarizes the arguments and makes it clear to the reader that
the original question has been answered.
Conclusion structure
Although there is no fixed pattern, a common structure for an essay
conclusion is:
a) Summary of main findings or results
b) Link back to the original question to show it has been answered
c) Reference of the limitations of your work (e.g. geographical)
d) Suggestions for future possible related research
e) Comments on the implications of your research
Introductions and Conclusions
Introduction components
Introduction structure
Opening sentences
Conclusion structure