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An essay should include:

1. a brief introduction (which focuses on the question)
2. the main body (four or five paragraphs)
3. a short conclusion (which focuses on the question)

Structuring an essay - Writing an introduction

Your essay should begin with an introduction. The first sentence of your essay sums up your answer to the question. Make a positive statement that relates to the question. Use key words from the question to demonstrate your understanding.

Example

‘When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added,

"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild."

"She did indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!"

"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it, not doing its office."

"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well, when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."

"You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition."

"Certainly not."

"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she mean by it? It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country town indifference to decorum."’

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, Chapter 8

Suggested introduction

Austen uses a variety of techniques to present the character of Miss Bingley in this extract. She uses language and structural devices to create humour and creates a character that the reader will not necessarily like.

This:

• specifically answers the question rather than just rephrasing it
• says what the text is effective in doing (by creating an amusing description)
• says in general how that effect is created (using structural and language devices)