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How to Write an Effective Introduction for GP Essays

Writing an impressive introduction paragraph for your GP Essays is simple.

My clear-cut, time-saving steps help you do away with the mythical "inspiration" you need to start writing.

Firstly, you need to understand:

What makes an introduction effective?

1. Good context

From the get-go, you need to demonstrate an excellent general awareness of the topic on a global level. This shows the examiner that you know what you are talking about.

Next, you also need to engage with the specific question keywords. This shows the examiner that you are immediately focused on answering the question fully.

2. A clear stand

This goes without saying. Without a clear stand, can you really persuade your examiner to buy into your argument?

Learn to use explicit keywords to indicate your position on the question. Follow the phrasing of the question and leave no room for ambiguity when it comes to your stand.

Finally, always remember to be balanced in your view. Just because you AGREE with the question, does not mean that all points for the DISAGREE camp are invalid. It just means that you have more reasons and arguments to swing to the AGREE camp. Thus, do demonstrate that you perfectly respect the validity of the opposing view, and that you have chosen your stand because it is BETTER, not because you believe it to be the only argument that is true.

3. A good overview of arguments

Like a good menu for a restaurant, your introduction must establish expectations and clearly state what you are offering your reader right from the start.

Nobody likes to be blindly led from one argument to the next, without knowing what direction they are going in or what 'surprises' are in store.

In order to allow your examiner to grade you effectively, set clear expectations. From the start, lay out all the arguments you intend to address. As they read on, they will then know what to look out for and how to evaluate your answer better.

4. Great vocabulary

At the end of the day, GP is a language paper. Many students get so stressed out and preoccupied with memorising examples and following formats, that they forget to write with enjoyment and persuasion.

Your examiner is human after all. They are not immune to the reading pleasure of a well-crafted, interesting argument. Going a step further to weave in literary references to famous works or mythology, as well as using figurative phrasing and less commonly-heard words and phrases, will help you grab their attention and appreciation. This will extraordinarily boost your language score.

Let me show you what I mean, using this step-by-step method:

1. General context.

2. Specific context.

3. It is undeniable that.. Opposing Argument 1 (OA).

4. However, Your stand

5. because Supporting Argument 1 (SA1) and because Supporting Argument 2 (SA2).

‘The mass media is to be blamed for perpetuating stereotypes.’ Do you agree?

General context: The mass media

Specific context: Is the mass media really responsible for reinforcing and spreading stereotypes that may be harmful? (*Note, 'blame' has a negative connotation. It would thus be reasonable to assume that stereotypes in this case are harmful.)

Stand: Agree to a large extent

OA: No, because increasingly, it corrects stereotypes and spreads empowering messages in society.

SA1: However, it has a long and undeniable history of playing a major role in entrenching gender stereotypes.

SA2: Additionally, it also has a significant hand in creating harmful racial bias in society.

​ Full introduction:

The mass media is a powerful and omnipresent entity, capable of communicating ideas and messages that captivate billions on an unprecedented scale in real-time. Yet, can this powerful medium really be held accountable for reinforcing and spreading stereotypes that may be harmful to society? It is undeniable that in the current epoch, traditional and new media are both beginning to correct stereotypes and spread empowering messages more and more. However , I would agree to a large extent that the mass media is still to be blamed for perpetuating stereotypes because it has a long and undeniable history of playing a major role in entrenching gender stereotypes, as well as because it has a significant hand in creating harmful racial bias in society.

Voila! These steps will help make your essay planning and writing remarkably easy and effective. Writing an introduction paragraph never needs to be painful again!

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5 Tips for Writing a General Paper Essay that Will Score You an 'A'

Students often fall into two camps when it comes to how they approach the General Paper (GP) essay. The first group believes religiously in spotting questions and the power of the memorised template essay. However, tweaks to familiar questions by crafty examiners can negate the template’s effectiveness, and what if the spotted questions fail to turn up altogether? The second group is the opposite, and regard GP as a subject they can breeze through without much studying. Just choose any question that looks easy or interesting, write what comes to mind and hope for the best, right? Sadly, the best is rarely achieved. You have probably been in one or even both of these groups at some point. Neither approach is entirely wrong or correct - they wouldn’t exist if they didn’t work to some extent. However, if your goal is to write a GP essay that will score you an A, then you will need more than an approach that works to some extent. 

Here are 5 tips from The Learning Lab that will help you improve your writing and your chance at an A for the General Paper. 

1. Read the Questions Carefully

You get a total of 12 questions to choose from for your GP essay. Take a moment to read all of them carefully. While you should choose a topic that you are familiar with or passionate about (e.g. tech, government legislation, foreign affairs, generation gaps), avoid choosing a question immediately just because it seems familiar. As your teachers would have told you, some questions are traps! You may have studied the Cold War and the demise of the Soviet Union in A-Level History, but that doesn’t mean you have the arguments and examples to adequately answer if communism is dead today. 

Conversely, you may find that some of the general knowledge you have absorbed in preparation for the exam can be applied to a question on a less familiar topic, and provides the breadth of examples that markers look for. A good practice is to shortlist two or three questions before you start planning, just in case you hit a snag when formulating your argument and need an alternative.

2. Plan Out Your Essay

Planning out your essay is essential for many reasons. Firstly, it helps you avoid the perils of jumping straight in with a template argument or no argument at all, only to realise after an hour that you haven’t really been answering the question. The subject may be called General Paper, yet your essay should be anything but. This is also when you spot the trap questions and steer clear. Secondly, it allows you to structure your points and counterpoints in a logical flow to best support your thesis statement and overall argument. Thirdly, planning enables you to take stock of the examples you have to back up your points.

Ask yourself:

Do you have enough to substantiate each point? 

Which example is better used for which point?

 Are there obvious gaps that you can’t think of a way to fill, and should you quickly go and look at another question instead?

3. A Clear and Concise Introduction is Better than a Stylish One

A good introduction in a GP essay does its job and quickly moves both you (the writer) and the reader on to the meat of the essay. It sets up your argument clearly and provides a preview of what is to come. Under timed conditions, style that piques the reader’s attention is a bonus. Remember that a complete essay with all points substantiated and a conclusion will always score better than an incomplete essay with an impressive and memorable introduction.

You should also avoid giving too detailed a description of your points in the introduction. A good rule is to keep the introduction as short as possible: you should not write much more than an opening sentence, a thesis statement, and a sentence to link your introduction to your first point. 

4. Link Your Arguments Together and Stay on Point

This is often the difference between an average essay and a good one, and between a good essay and an excellent one. The highest-scoring GP essays are not the ones with the most distinctive style or the most flowery language, but the ones with the tightest arguments and structure. Everything you write should aim to answer the question, so that your thesis statement, points, and examples mutually reinforce each other and your overall argument. Signposting is your best friend: leave the examiner in no doubt of which piece of evidence supports which point and why, and use keywords from the question and your thesis statement repeatedly. 

If a favourite example of yours doesn’t quite fit the argument you are crafting, cut it. Unlike Mathematics or the Science subjects where plonking down some calculations or facts could earn you some marks, in GP, it’s better to keep your examples on point rather than try to show everything you know.

5. Pay Attention to Grammar and Spelling 

While you don’t have to be Shakespeare to ace the General Paper exam, you do need to communicate what you have to say clearly. If you have followed the previous 4 tips to the letter, the last thing you want is to distract your marker from your compelling argument with basic spelling or punctuation errors. Writing essays under exam conditions can often be a mad rush, but it’s wise to slow down a little to make sure you don’t spell words wrongly or leave them out by mistake. And of course, if you happen to have time to spare after finishing, do read through your essay again!

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If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at  [email protected] .

FREE General Paper Essays By Top Students

Find the best General Paper model essays written by students from top Junior College in Singapore.

Wide Collection of Quality GP Essays

You can expect to find a extensive collection of GP model essays across a wide range of themes, such as social media, politics, governance, environment, education, nuclear energy and so much more. Easily find the theme that you are interested in and focus for your GP  exams. Moreover, our essays are written by top students from the best JCs in Singapore who have consistently scored well for their GP examination.

Frequently Updated Essays

Using relevant and updated examples are essential for an exemplary essay. With our GP model essays, not only can you learn how to apply the examples and support your argument well, you can also access to a wide range of recent examples that makes your GP essay stand out among the rest.

Read Essays Anywhere

No matter where you are, you can read the GP model essays using your mobile phone or laptop! Simply login to your paid account and you can start reading the essays. No more carrying of heavy books around in MRTs or library when you just need to read a few pages of essay!

Categorised Into Essay Themes

Strategise your learning by selecting and narrow the GP essay themes that you want to focus for your GP examination. We make it very easily for you to select the essays that you want to study. No matter what areas you are interested in, we have the best GP essays for you to study!

Print Essays Easily

Do you prefer to read and annotate the essays on hard copy? No problem! You can easily print out the essay that you want to study. There is no need to carry heavy essays book when you only need to study a few pages!

General Paper Model Essays

Improve your General Paper essay score by learning from GP model essays!

Get General Papers essays written by real top students in Singapore. Learn how model essays brilliantly discuss their points and cleverly make use of their examples so that you can apply on your own essays and score your ‘A’ ! These essays are written under exam conditions so the  standards are very achievable .

We will constantly update our collection with newly written essays with recent examples from 2018 – 2020, so your essays will remain relevant and engaging .

Sample General Paper Model Essays

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4 Simple Proven Steps to START Studying GP ESSAY! [A LEVELS]

Hi friends! I am finally back after a short hiatus. I hope i am still in time to share some tips with you for GP, for your upcoming tests! As usual, the full post is here if you want to read some details and also enjoy my memes :) Today i would like to share some simple steps i personally found really helpful when i was starting out my preparation for GP Essays!

It's now March, regardless of whether you're in J1 or J2, you still have a lot of time to make a difference in your GP journey. Start by aiming to do well for the upcoming common test!

Did you know that GP is one of the subjects with the lowest national percentages of A at around 22-25% while most other subjects are above 30% or even above 40%? That means that in the whole Singapore, only about 1/4 or 1/5 of the cohort would receive an A :(

Does that mean it is an extremely challenging subject? Yes and No. Yes because it is difficult and confusing if you just jump into the subject and hope to do well. No because it is actually intuitive and straightforward the moment you understand how to study for the subject. GP seems very broad, so if you don't have a targeted strategy you may struggle with it quite a bit. The good news is GP is really much easier when you understand what needs to be done and I am here to share that with you :)

Here are 4 simple steps to START studying for GP Essay (Paper 1) even if you're absolutely clueless at the moment:

1. Choose a theme that interests you

There are many themes out there in GP but you have to be strategic about it! Choose from those themes that are more major. By major, i mean that they come out for A Levels nearly every year and sometimes even have 2 questions in a year. The themes i personally find important are: Science & Tech | Arts | Media | Politics | Environment | Social Issues. One other themes you can focus on is "In your society" questions, which means you specialise in all knowledge of Singapore no matter in what aspects (be it our work dynamics, green spaces, food culture, city living, diversity, crime & punishment, tech advancements, politics and foreign policy etc). Check out this article if you need some more information about the various themes!

Pro Tip: Pick something from the major themes!

I stress finding a theme that you LIKE . Legit, there will definitely be at least ONE theme that interest you. Liking that theme is very important because it gives you the motivation to find out more about that theme.

You may be wondering what about other themes like education, sports, crime, fashion, poverty? Well i think of these topics as fringe topics that are not as major as the abovementioned ones simply because they do not come out as often . Some of them like education is also particularly challenging and requires a highly nuanced response. So i would recommend picking from the major themes. You should pick at least two themes to work on , but for starters go with one first and dive deeper into it.

2. Look at what questions there are for that theme

The next thing to do is to look at the potential questions that are being asked for that theme. I always encourage students/peers/friends to look at questions because it gives a very succinct and comprehensive overview of what that topic entails. Imagine if you just dive into Science and Tech, you would probably Google that and read what comes up but that becomes a little inefficient since the scope of the topic is virtually endless. Conversely, looking at questions evinces the key topics and concerns surrounding that theme. Once again, you can check out the article i wrote previously to see what types of questions there are.

Pro Tip: Spot the trends across different questions!

Note that questions can be similar. Don't be overwhelmed by the large number of questions. Instead, seek to spot some trends among the pool of questions to see which ones are similar and relate to the same key concern.

3. Read some essays or articles to build content

Once you have identified the key theme and some key issues of that theme, you can proceed to build your content! It's kinda like playing Pokemon where you have to train your Pokemon and expose them to outside gym battles. Similarly, you have to take time to accumulate your own content pool about this topic. The earlier you start, the more solid your content knowledge will be!

Pro Tip: Get content from reading essays!

Model essays are powerful tools because in one essay, it's packed with so many arguments and examples . Check out some model essays here ! The point here is not for you to memorise these essays, but to learn from them. I really mean this, because if you memorise and regurgitate, it may only work if the exact same question comes out. If the question is different even slightly, you would be failing to answer the question and simply spamming content in your essay. From essays, extract the arguments and examples . After that, you could really spend some time thinking about what you just read , how you feel about it, and how it relates to your own opinion. Actively digesting and evaluating what you read is important to train your critical thinking skills and help develop your personal voice (the X factor that differentiates A-grade essays in the exams).

4. Start writing some paragraphs and get feedback!

After all the reading, you need to try writing and answering the questions!

This is really crucial because you can only improve when you try and you can only truly understand when you apply . From all the questions that you have seen, pick one and it's time to show what you have got! It's like going for gym battles with your Pokemon! If you are defeated, don't lose heart, simply get feedback and work on it.

Feedback is extremely important for improvement because otherwise you will just keep repeating the same mistakes. Practice doesn't make perfect, effective practice makes perfect . You have to make tweaks to your own writing every time you practice. Seek consultations with teachers or tutors. Remember, it is very important to have someone give you comments on your work and writing and also provide concrete steps that outline how you can improve.

Pro Tip: You don't have to write an entire essay to practice! You can simply write just one paragraph and that's good enough for you to try and apply what you have read and learned

If you have read this far, kudos to you to taking a step in improving your GP :) The next step is to try out these 4 simple steps! It will surely take time but the sooner you start the easier it gets. I know of many students who wait till 1-2 months before exams before really revising or going for tuition. Honestly, that is not as effective because as you would have noticed by now, GP is a subject that takes time to improve. So go out there and ace GP essays with these steps!

Stay tuned for Part 2 that will be posted a few weeks from now where we will look at another 4 simple steps for studying Compre (Paper 2)! :) And yes, if you are surprised Compre can be studied for, it can! In the meantime, you can check out some of my previous Reddit posts by clicking on my profile or navigating from the above link!

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A Level General Paper STUDY NOTES

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Download my A Level General Paper notes (syllabus 8807) at no cost. I believe that educational resources should be open-source and democratised. Feel free to share these notes with your friends and relatives if you think that they will find value in them. Cheers!

If you wish to support my effort in providing free resources, buy me a coffee here:

General Paper: Paper 1 Notes Free

A collection of essay planning and writing tips and strategies to equip you with the requisite skills to tackle the Essay Paper.

First Edition • Ju ly 2021

General Paper: Paper 2 Notes Free

A collection of numerous tips and strategies to answer some of the most commonly tested questions in the Comprehension Paper over the years.

First Edition • June 2021

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General Paper notes: Essay Introductions

The opening paragraph or introduction to a GP essay is one of the most important parts of the essay.

GP students should aim to begin their essay in a manner which accomplishes three main things:

• Introducing and clarifying the key ideas so as to let the reader know what the essay is going to be about
• Effectively signalling the direction in which the essay is heading. This is usually achieved by a clear thesis statement that uses the key ideas discussed earlier as leverage.
• And as a bonus, to get the interest of the reader. From a reader’s perspective (and from our teaching experience), an essay that has a interesting start is a sheer delight after marking dozens of bland openings!

Each of these components have specific strategies. This will be elaborated later under a dedicated “Writing Introductions” GP tuition lesson.

Yet very often, GP students do none of these things. Instead they resort to rather odd techniques to get started. Here are a few.

Mistake no. 1 The “Encyclopedia or Dictionary definition” opening – Some students go overboard in beginning their essay by defining every term in the question,  whether the terms need explanations or not. To begin an essay with: “The internet can be defined as a network of computers . . .” or “War is defined as armed conflict between nations” is both unnecessary and an insult to the reader. You can assume that the marker of your GP essay knows what ‘war’ or ‘internet’ is,  despite how you might think of your GP tutor! 🙂 Worse, you spend needless time and effort that will get you no marks and might even penalise the overall impression. Do Note! Definitions do have  a place in the introductions but not when they are defining the obvious!

Mistake no. 2 Beating around the bush – the circular and irrelevant opening Some students seemingly cannot bring themselves to address the question in the opening paragraph. Instead, they waffle vaguely, going on for many tedious sentences, before finally writing what is really in their introduction by paragraph 2. This is a terrible start. First you frustrate the reader and risk losing their interest(remember our point of having dozens of other essays to mark?). Second and more importantly, your inability to get to the point probably leads to your inability to have an effective and clear thesis statement – a key component of your introduction. Furthermore . . .

Mistake no. 3 Abusing the use of rhetoric questions aka “The bombarding reader with questions” opening – Interestingly, during GP tuition, some students believe that an effective opening consists of a string of questions such as, “Is the environment truly doomed? Do industries and consumers put self interests before the greater good? Can we get our act together or has the failure of key environmental summits support this pessimism?” etc etc. While the occasional rhetorical question in the body of an essay may be appropriate and indeed, effective, a string of questions is not. Worse, more often than not, students end up repeating the essay question…without answering it!! Students should take note that . . .

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Top 10 General Paper (GP) Tips for Essay

Wait, who’s mr zach & what’s zascension click here to discover, top 10 tips for gp essay – 2020.

To aid revision efforts, I have compiled the Top 10 Tips that we absolutely must know . These are carefully selected from the entire list of tips that we had for the year from our Telegram group. You may join the group here if you haven’t already done so!

I have classified the Tips based on the various components in Essay . These are the top Tips that we must remember to prepare for the A Levels, but be sure to check out the rest of the Tips . Remember that they are classified into hashtags in the Telegram group and we can use that for easy access: #Essay #Compre #Content #General

Tips for GP Essay

Tip 1 : Planning is very crucial to write a good essay because it gives a clear direction and prevents excessive cancellation. A lot of students only spend less than 5 mins on planning and rush into the writing. It’s actually recommended for you to take the time to plan (15-20 mins) and be very certain what your arguments are before you begin writing. This clarity will make your essay much more coherent 

Tip 2 : Keep in mind the scope of the topic and ensure that your examples come from a wide range to address this scope. When you mentally put all your examples together, they should have thoroughly engaged with the question. For e.g, if the question looks at Tech, you should ensure you have examples pertaining to different kinds of tech; you shouldn’t only talk about transport or medical. You can look at agricultural, communications, environmental and many more. The point is to cover enough ground and give breadth to your writing 

Brainstorming

Tip 3 : When we are stuck during our brainstorming for points, we can rely on examples. We can think of examples that intuitively appear in our minds and use those as a starting point to derive the argument. For instance, the question looks at whether music has any value in our lives. We can begin thinking about examples of music in our lives and consider how they add value to our lives, or the different functions that music could have for us. Thinking about specific songs could really help crystallise some of the points. That being said, be sure to focus on deriving the argument instead of simply making our paragraph example-driven 

Tip 4 : When it comes to writing the Hook in your intro, ensure that it has two traits: 1) It’s interesting/unique (it can be a quote, a question, some kind of commentary, or even an example) | 2) It’s relevant to the question, you have to consciously explain why the Hook is significant for the given topic rather than assume your reader will automatically get it. Many students write the Hook but do not go on to explain it, be sure you explicitly highlight how it is relevant to the question

Tip 5 : A thesis statement has two functions. Firstly, it expresses your stand. Secondly, it provides a reason for this stand. The reason, of course, comprises your arguments since they support your stand. But the way you express these arguments has some variation. You may either choose to list your arguments, or you can condense them into a single compelling idea. The latter is harder to do, but shows more critical thinking, and gives a degree of personal voice 

Topic Sentence/Point

Tip 6 : A topic sentence is not merely one single sentence. It should be 2-3 sentences because it gives an idea of what argument is being made in the rest of the paragraph. It has to provide a clear overview of the paragraph’s direction and unpack some ideas that you have introduced in the very first sentence of the paragraph 

Arguments/Elaboration

Tip 7 : Good arguments have a logical flow to them, where one idea builds on another. This logical flow needs to be carefully constructed. Many students just write what comes to mind without much thought on how it adds to the central argument of the paragraph, and it starts to feel random and incoherent. The most effective way is to plan out this logical flow before you even begin writing. For each body paragraph, think about this: what is the logic of my argument? 

Tip 8 : When it comes to writing examples, the key is to show the significance of your examples. You can think of it as: What is the larger argument made by this example? This is the critical difference between writing a descriptive example and one that is argumentative. Descriptive examples simply provide facts that can be interpreted in any way, but argumentative examples would explain why these facts matter and how they link to the question 

Tip 9 : Having a strong link in your paragraph means that you explicitly tie your point back to what the question is asking. Many students often forget to do this. An explicit link can go a long way in enhancing the clarity of your writing, especially when you directly address terms in the question. Always check to see whether you have made the link 

Answer the Question (ATQ)

Take note that ATQ needs to be in every part of the paragraph, NOT just at the end with the link!

Tip 10 : We can use the word ‘because’ when trying to check whether we have answered the question (ATQ). In essays, we can repeat the question with the word because, and then mentally fit our point into the sentence to see if it makes logical sense. For example, ‘Tech has made society more dangerous because it replaces jobs’ would not ATQ. ‘Tech has made society more dangerous because it can result in crimes with an unprecedented level of destruction’ would ATQ. In compre, we can also do this for summary and AQ. Check for ATQ before even writing out the rest of the paragraph

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You can do it!!

It’s a few days before the A Levels! The last lap can be nerve-wrecking but it can also be game-changing! I have seen many students make tremendous and miraculous improvements in the final lap. Study smart and pay attentions to all the skills in GP. Skills mean the difference between knowing how to consciously meet the requirements of GP and simply depending on luck.

That being said, good luck for the upcoming exams. Take care of yourself, be sure not to burn out in this period. Stay tune for the 2020 A Levels Questions Analysis, I will share it as soon as I can 😃

If you found this helpful, do check out our new GP Tips & Resources Telegram Channel! Click here to join . This channel is meant to act as a GP companion to share knowledge and help all students, regardless of whether they are a part of ZAscension. Everyday there will be Tips of the Day, Answers to FAQs, Articles and many more. So if you enjoyed this article, this channel will definitely be useful for you 😃

Do share this article and also the Telegram channel with everyone you know who is also studying for GP, let’s share the good stuff so that we may all learn 🙂

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Interpreting GP essay questions

Writing a GP essay is always a daunting task if you are not prepared or worse, do not know how to start. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to tackle a GP essay question.

1. Understand the question

A lot of times, students make the fatal mistake of misinterpreting the question and thus end up writing off-topic or hijacking the question i.e. changing the question. A GP essay question becomes very straightforward if you can identify its main components:

The opinion gives you the discussion topic. The context tells you the time frame and/or society from which your examples should come from and finally, the task tells you what you need to do.

Unlike the Arts, such as writing or music, Mathematics lacks the capacity for creativity. How far do you agree with this statement? (2013)

In the first example, the question is only made up of two components: opinion and task . There is no context, which means that your examples can come from anywhere and any time period.

Looking at the opinion , the question is hinting at us to compare the Arts’ and Mathematics’ ability to foster creativity. You then need to decide whether to agree to a large or small extent if ‘Unlike the Arts, Mathematics lacks the capacity for creativity’. This is your task .

How important is it for people in your society to retain a sense of tradition ? (2010)

In the second example, we see all three components: opinion , context and task . Looking again at the opinion , the question wants us to discuss the importance of tradition, however the context limits us to using examples from our society only i.e. Singapore. Finally, the task wants you to decide if preserving tradition is very or not so important .

2. Plan your essay

Now that you have understood what the question wants you to do, you can proceed to plan how to write your essay. As the saying goes, ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail’ so planning is VERY important. Planning gives your essay a clear direction. Moreover, you are less likely to deviate from the topic or suddenly get stumped in the middle wondering how on earth to continue.

You should spend a maximum of 10 minutes planning. First, brainstorm quickly for ideas, counter-arguments and relevant examples. And by quickly I mean anything that comes to mind (I usually brainstorm using a mind map but any way is fine as long as it is fast and easy for you to understand).

Image taken from: one.garazx.cu.cc

Second, select the strongest points which support your stand and the weaker points belonging to your counter-argument. Doing so will help make your argument sound more convincing. Typically, the ratio is 3 strong points : 1-2 counter argument(s).

Finally, plan your paragraphs. A basic GP essay layout includes a/an:

• Introduction
• Body : this may consist of 3-4 paragraphs depending on how many points you want to argue

For the essay body, order your points and counter-arguments in a way that allows you to present the most convincing argument.

3. Write your essay

Once you have finished planning, start writing your essay and stick to your plan . Do not add or change anything unless it is absolutely necessary because this will eat into your time.

In summary, it only takes three steps to kick-off writing a GP essay. Pull out past year papers and try your hand at planning some of the essay questions. With practice, one should get familiar with the process in no time.

[…] Interpreting GP essay questions How to craft a good essay introduction? How to craft a good body paragraph How to write a good conclusion? Common Pitfalls […]

[…] 1. Science vs. Arts – Which is better? 2. Value of Arts 3. Fun Facts about Women 4. Problem of over-generalisation in General Paper 5. Analytical Question on Philosophy 6. Type of Science and Technology Questions 7. Top 10 Pitfalls for Essay Writing 8. How to write an essay that will get you an A? 9. How to tackle GP Summary (1) 10. How to tackle GP Summary (2) 11. How to write a good essay Introduction? 12. How to craft a good essay body paragraph? 13. How to write a good essay conclusion? 14. Interpreting GP essay Questions […]

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GP PAPER 2 COMPREHENSION PRACTICE #35 (‘Beliefs and Actions to Save the Earth’)

GP Essay #66: ‘The adoption of online trade has made traditional businesses irrelevant in this digital age.’ How far is this true of your society?

GP PAPER 2 COMPREHENSION PRACTICE #34 (‘Social Media’)

GP Essay #65: ‘What an individual eats or drinks should not be the concern of the state.’ What is your view?

Free notes for General Paper (GP) tuition

At The Knowledge Loft, we understand that students rarely have time to read the daily newspapers or weekly journals in the midst of their busy schedules, so we create and curate GP notes and resources specially designed to help students for General Paper (GP).

These resources include Model GP Essays, Sample GP Comprehension Answers and GP Topical Notes that capture current affairs and social issues in easy-to-understand formats. Written by experienced educators, they help students to build up their Content Knowledge, Language Skills and Critical Thinking abilities for GP and beyond!

General Paper (GP) Resources

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GP PAPER 2 COMPREHENSION PRACTICE #35 (‘Beliefs and Actions to...

Those who doubt that human activities have the ability to change the Earth’s climate should...

GP Essay #66: ‘The adoption of online trade has made traditional...

 “Out with the old, in with the new” is a common catchphrase that proponents of technological...

When the first TikTok star is elected president, one hopes she will save some room in her cabinet...

GP Essay #65: ‘What an individual eats or drinks should not be...

 Hippocrates, the father of medicine, once famously said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be...

GP PAPER 2 COMPREHENSION PRACTICE #33 (‘Conformity’)

From itifancy, we are constantly commanded to conform. We are programmed to integrate into our...

GP Essay #64: Do you agree that the biggest challenge that...

“In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against...

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The GP Essay: How to Craft an Excellent Introduction

Rebecca Samuel · June 8, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Think of an introduction to your GP essay as similar to meeting someone for the first time. The way you are dressed, your demeanour, manners and what you say as well as HOW you say what you say, will give someone an impression. This impression will either impress them, repulse them or make them feel neutral, and perhaps dismissive. In a GP essay introduction, you definitely want to impress, but also provide context and give the reader a broader sense of the issue that you will be arguing.

Suggested Techniques

• Quotes 

Some famous people you can quote from include Martin Luther King, Gandhi, LKY, Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein, Nietzsche, Shakespeare, Steve Job, Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Babe Ruth, Voltaire, Mother Teresa, Anne Frank… and the list goes on. 

You can even quote from mythology, books or films!

• Statistics 

Descriptive statistics is a way to organise, represent and describe a collection of data. For example, it can refer to the collection of people in a city using the internet or using television.

Inferential Statistics allows us to use information collected from a sample to make decisions, predictions or inferences from a population.

Any type you choose to use is fine, so long as it remains relevant to the discussion at hand. 

You can define words or elements of the question to set the tone and context for the essay. It is important not to be pedantic here, and to focus on reasonable, common sense definitions that most people would not disagree with. 

Example: To what extent is success important in your society? 

You will first need to define success. Does it refer to wealth, academic achievements, a high quality of life, health, happiness, all of the above? How can we phrase the definition precisely without sounding overly detailed? 

One of the easiest ways to start an essay, can be with a short amusing, interesting story which involves yourself, a situation or someone else you know of or have read of. This method will lead the reader into your essay by getting them to IDENTIFY with the topic and begin to relate to it. 

• Historical or Current Event/Situation

Referring to how the main aspect of your topic has been viewed or handled in the past, or how it is considered in modern times will set the context for your essay, while demonstrating your understanding of how the issue developed to what it is today. 

Writing Thesis Statements

The thesis statement should be written at the very end of the introduction and should state your stand clearly. You must take ownership of this stand, and ensure that your entire essay leads back to proving it. 

Some suggestions for your stand (although you can try to be creative here as well!)

(a) I believe that… 

(b) It is my view that…

(c) It is my position that…

(d) It is my conviction that… 

(e) It is my considered opinion that… 

(f) I hold firmly to the view that… 

Suggested Approach to a GP Essay

Read the sample of an introduction to a GP essay below and critique it! 

Consumerism is not always bad. Do you agree? 

Last weekend, I sat and contemplated all three of my yoga mats, wondering what had prompted me to purchase that many. Reluctantly still, I posted two of them for sale on my estore on ‘Carousell’, my way of not contributing to more waste in Singapore. The world today is rife with consumerism as people become more preoccupied with the acquisition of consumer goods they do not need, or sometimes even want. Consumerism can be defined as the preoccupation of a society with products and possessions. Some may argue that the economic competition that has arisen thanks to consumerism has made the world a better place. Most people however, are usually constantly buying items that are frivolous or worse, impractical, contributing to environmental damage and socio-economic problems as well as the dangers arising from individual overconsumption. Hence it is my view that most of the time, consumerism is harmful and ought to be avoided. 

Downloadable notes:

About Rebecca Samuel

Rebecca enjoys reading, writing, reading and writing. She also bakes brownies and wild ideas.

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• How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples

How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

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 statement —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.

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Table of contents

Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.

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.

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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:

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.

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.

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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.

To polish your writing, you can use something like a paraphrasing tool .

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.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

• Argumentative
• Literary analysis

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 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 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.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

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How To Study for General Paper and Score A

How do you study for the a level gp paper many students struggle with studying for gp due to how demanding it is. not only does it demand a strong command of the english language but it also requires an understanding of popular a level gp topics. there are a few strategies that can help any student see tremendous improvements in their grades for the a level gp paper..

Navigating the rigorous demands of the A Level General Paper (GP) can often seem daunting for many students. Contrary to popular belief, success in GP isn't achieved by merely 'winging it', but is a product of a methodical and multifaceted approach to how you study and learn. This includes understanding global affairs, expanding your vocabulary, developing strong analytical abilities, and consistently honing your writing skills. It's a journey that calls for a well-rounded preparation.

As a pioneering force in the domain of General Paper tuition, illum.e stands at the forefront of educational excellence. We are deeply committed to providing students with a plethora of necessary tools, effective strategies, and bespoke learning experiences to help them transcend their academic potential and truly excel in their GP examinations.

1. Keep Up With Current Affairs

Perhaps the most obvious but most overlooked aspect of preparing for the A Level GP paper is keeping up with local and international affairs. Knowledge of current affairs is vital to the GP essay portion and the AQ portion of the A Level GP paper. Particularly in A Level GP paper 1, students are not given a choice of GP questions. Hence, students need to study and have a working knowledge of a wide range of popular A level GP topics.

The Straits Times  is the first and most important resource that any student should consult to improve how they tackle GP questions. All will receive a complimentary Straits Times Online Subscription. The 'Opinions' section is particularly valuable for writing GP essays. This section will introduce students to a range of argumentative writing approaches in order to help them improve their GP essays.

Aside from The Straits Times, you might also want to consider other reputable news sources such as BBC News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. Remember, your aim is to expand your horizons and diversify your knowledge base.

To further complement your learning, students can rely on GP notes curated by  GP tuition  centres such as illum.e. Curated notes would enable students to swiftly establish basic knowledge for popular A level GP topics. In this way, notes can help students get a jump start on their A Level GP paper journey. It should be stressed, however, that curated GP notes are not a substitute for being up to date on current events by reading newspapers.

2. Learn From Others

The best practices of other students and even their mistakes are very useful to a student on their A Level GP paper journey. For instance, by reading GP model essays produced by their peers, students will become familiar with the standards expected in their essays.

Crucially, by borrowing ideas from these GP model essays, students will learn how to study and approach a range of  GP essay questions . KS bull, a collection of good essays produced by Rafflesians, is arguably the most famous source of GP model essays.

By reading non-ideal answers to GP questions, students can learn to avoid common mistakes. By being exposed to such errors, students will be able to identify these errors in their own GP essays or in their comprehension answers.

Good GP tuition centres focus on both aspects of learning from one another. They pick up best practices from essays that have  done well in tests  or written by experienced tutors. They would also have GP tuition classes focused on identifying errors in GP essays and AQ answers.

3. Expand Your Vocabulary

Having a diverse vocabulary is like wielding a powerful weapon in the realm of GP. In addition, it enables you to articulate your ideas with more precision and nuance, thereby securing essential marks. There are various ways to build your word arsenal, such as by reading broadly, consulting a thesaurus, understanding the origins of words, and incorporating newly learned words into your daily discourse and written work. Moreover, a robust vocabulary doesn't just improve your writing style; it breathes life into your arguments and makes your essays more compelling.

4. Learn to Analyse & Answer Questions

Central to excelling in GP is the skill to interpret questions correctly and craft pointed responses. The key lies in maintaining your focus and directly tackling the query — this distinction can elevate your work from satisfactory to exceptional.

At illum.e, we take great pride in providing our students with a  comprehensive essay guide . Moreover, we enhance your ability to dissect questions accurately and equip you with strategies to ensure your responses align perfectly with the question's demands. Through our approach, we aim to instil in you the expertise to respond effectively to any GP question, thereby securing your path to excellence.

5. Practice Writing Often

Lastly, it is vital that students keep practising. There is this misconception that as the A level GP paper is only a H1 subject, it does not require much effort. However, this is simply not true. The A level GP paper not only requires great amounts of content for popular A Level GP topics but it also tests language and writing skills. Without practising these skills, they may get rusty and impede the student’s ability to do well in the A Level GP paper.

This is especially vital to the short answer GP questions in the A Level GP paper 1. These questions require a great amount of skills in identifying the GP question type, identifying relevant text and paraphrasing.

Without sufficient practice, these skills can and will get rusty. Hence, it is crucial that students keep practising their craft by writing GP essays or doing past year comprehension papers. Often GP tuition centres have dedicated drill sessions for both papers to ensure that students are well equipped to answer any GP questions that come their way.

For example, at illum.e we have comprehension drill sessions where students learn how to answer GP questions of different types. Our  GP notes  for these sessions will provide students with ample opportunities to practise answering GP questions of the various types. Hence leaving them in good stead to tackle similar GP questions in the A level GP paper.

To study for the A Level GP paper comes down to these 3 main things. If students are able to keep up with current affairs, learn from others and practise a lot, they would most definitely do very well for the A Level GP paper!

How illum.e Can Help You Excel in Your GP Paper

Acing the A Level GP paper boils down to mastering three primary aspects: staying informed about current affairs, learning from the successes and mistakes of others, and engaging in continuous practice. Rigorously adopting these strategies can significantly elevate your GP scores.

At  illum.e , we're committed to facilitating your journey to A Level GP excellence. How? Our unique curriculum replicates the advantages of a one-on-one learning experience, with tailored learning paths designed by multiple expert tutors. We focus on immediate learning and progress, further bolstered by the real-world exam scenario replicated in our in-house mock examinations.

Our comprehensive curriculum ensures you develop a broad spectrum of necessary skills, from expanding your vocabulary and learning how to analyse GP questions accurately, to mastering the craft of essay writing. Moreover, you'll have access to a wide array of study resources, including, but not limited to, carefully curated notes and model essays.

Begin your journey to GP success with illum.e today. Learn how our team of dedicated, experienced tutors, proven teaching methodologies, and a wealth of learning resources can help you unlock your potential and achieve that coveted A grade.

How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

Table of Contents

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an essay introduction paragraph with paperpal – step -by -step, how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Unsure of how to start your essay introduction? Leverage Paperpal’s Generative AI templates to provide a base for your essay introduction. Here’s an example of an essay outline generated by Paperpal.  

Use the generated essay outline as your base for the introduction. If you’re stuck writing, you can use Paperpal’s Predictive AI writing features to continue writing. 

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This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

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Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

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Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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Related Reads:

• How to Write a Good Hook for Essays, with Examples
• What are Journal Guidelines on Using Generative AI Tools
• How to Use AI to Enhance Your College Essays and Thesis
• Powerful Academic Phrases to Improve Your Essay Writing 

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