The introduction to your essay is an important paragraph. It is the first thing the reader sees. A good introduction should
1. Introduce the reader to the general topic
2. Identify the focus or purpose of the essay
3. Outline the scope, that is, the points to be covered
Your introduction (and the conclusion) just frames the essay, and should not do any of the real work of explaining, justifying or arguing which is all done by the body of the essay.
When writing your introduction, first, organize your thoughts and create an outline. Once you are ready to write your introduction, keep a few simple points in mind. Be brief and to the point. An introduction is usually one paragraph. Have at least three sentences but no more than six. You want your introduction to be just that, an introduction. It should start your essay off with a bang. Grab their attention, explain what your essay will be about, and then get into the essay. You may want to try to come up with an interesting first sentence to immediately grab the reader's attention, it could be a quote. Some students define key terms in the introduction, however lengthy definitions may be better dealt with in the body of the essay.
An introduction containing these features might look like this:
Essay on alternate family arrangements:
In contemporary Australia there exists a wide variety of family structures. Traditionally however, the law has mainly recognised the nuclear family and has been slow to recognise other family arrangements, particularly same-sex couples. As a consequence, not all families receive equal recognition under the law. To improve justice for all people, there has been a gradual movement towards equality for all family units, regardless of their composition.
2. Body
The body of an essay is where you develop your essay. This occurs in a series of paragraphs with each paragraph logically flowing to the next. Thus:
a good use of topic sentences and
correct paragraph