More about introductions

Ok, in the other page on Introductions, I suggested using three sentences:

• one side (or the situation in one place or time, perhaps the past)
• other side (or the situation in another place or at the present)
• thesis sentence (what your essay will do)

That’s a simple layout, but it can get boring. Here are some more ways to write your introduction. But be careful!

Story Introduction

You can start with a story or a description of an incident.

Essay question: Who should be more active in raising children, mothers or fathers?

Three years ago, when I first held my new-born baby in my arms, I realized that being a father was not just a job title. It comes with responsibilities, excitement, intense happiness and incredible nervousness. Now I realize more than ever that a father’s role in raising children is not just as a breadwinner or a disciplinarian. I will now explain why I think fathers must play an active role in taking care of children.

If you use the story introduction, keep the story very short and to the point. Remember, you only have 250 words in IELTS and the paragraph above is already 75.

Proverb or Quotation Introduction

You can start with a proverb (a wise or well-known saying) or a quotation (the exact words of a famous person).

Essay question: Are some people born to succeed, or is everyone capable of success?

There is a very true saying that “the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” In this essay I will explain why I believe that successful people are not born, but are responsible for their own good fortune.

If you use the proverb or quotation introduction, please, please get the quotation or proverb right. Sometimes the effect of the saying depends on the exact words – their sound, rhythm, or brevity. Don’t change it. And don’t use a quotation you made up from an imaginary person. The newspapers do it to fill empty spaces, but you shouldn’t – you only have 250 words to fill.