Chemistry

13. Introduction - strong v. weak

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The point of an introduction is to provide an essay map, i.e. tell the reader what you are going to discuss and what limitations you have set yourself. With large topics and a limited wordcount, it's impossible to discuss everything.

The opening line of your introduction sets the tone of your whole essay. It has two characteristics:

The next lines should very precisely state the background to, and the point of, your essay. By the end of your introduction, your reader should know what to expect from your work and be ready for the themed sections that will follow.

There is no set length to an introduction, but in an essay of 10,000-15,000 words, it should not be longer than one A4 page, and should be divided into topic paragraphs if necessary.

The main criticism of introductions is that the opening paragraph is too general. We need background to your topic, not its entire history.

TaskTask TypeDifficulty
Task 1Multiple choiceEasier
Task 2Multiple choiceMore Challenging
Task 3Multiple choiceModerate
Task 4Multiple choiceMore Challenging
Task 5Multiple choiceModerate
Task 6Multiple choiceMore Challenging
Task 7Multiple choiceEasier
Task 8Multiple choiceModerate