Writing an introduction for a critical essay
The table below gives three critical essay introduction plans:
- one for a basic essay
- one for a more developed essay
- one for a detailed and insightful essay
| Basic introduction | Developed introduction | Detailed/insightful introduction |
| Title | Title | Title |
| Author | Author | Author |
| Task | Task | Task |
| Techniques | Techniques | Techniques |
| 3-sentence summary | 3-sentence summary | |
| 2 adjective description | ||
| Contextual information |
| Basic introduction | Title |
|---|---|
| Developed introduction | Title |
| Detailed/insightful introduction | Title |
| Basic introduction | Author |
|---|---|
| Developed introduction | Author |
| Detailed/insightful introduction | Author |
| Basic introduction | Task |
|---|---|
| Developed introduction | Task |
| Detailed/insightful introduction | Task |
| Basic introduction | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Developed introduction | Techniques |
| Detailed/insightful introduction | Techniques |
| Basic introduction | |
|---|---|
| Developed introduction | 3-sentence summary |
| Detailed/insightful introduction | 3-sentence summary |
| Basic introduction | |
|---|---|
| Developed introduction | |
| Detailed/insightful introduction | 2 adjective description |
| Basic introduction | |
|---|---|
| Developed introduction | |
| Detailed/insightful introduction | Contextual information |
Example introductions
For an essay question on theme, you could write this basic introduction:
‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that has an important theme of love. Shakespeare uses different techniques to examine this theme such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure.
But what would a more developed introduction look like?
‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that has an important theme of love. Shakespeare uses different techniques to examine this theme such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure. In the poem, Shakespeare considers the overwhelming beauty of his beloved, concluding that the object of his affections is much more beautiful than a summer’s day.
What would an introduction to a detailed and insightful essay look like?
The thought-provoking and playful ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that has an important theme of romantic love. Shakespeare uses a range of techniques such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure, to explore this theme with great effect. In the poem, Shakespeare considers the overwhelming beauty of his beloved, concluding that the object of his affections is much more beautiful than a summer’s day. On a deeper level, the poem considers if poetry can adequately represent such beauty in words.
Check point
- Look at the introduction plans in the table above. Can you see how each of the example introductions for ‘Sonnet 18’ ticks off the steps listed?
- Think about the introductions to essays that you have written in class. Try following the steps from the plans above to make them detailed and insightful.
Twisting introductions
A good introduction can be used in a range of different essays – if we know how to amend it to fit the question.
Look at this extract from a National 5 exam paper:
Poetry
Answers to questions in this part should refer to the text and to such relevant features as word choice, tone, imagery, structure, content, rhythm, rhyme, theme, sound ideas...
- Choose a poem which explore an aspect of human experience. By referring to poetic techniques, explain how this aspect of human experience is explored.
- Choose a poem which has an interesting speaker. By referring to poetic techniques explain how the speaker is presented in an interesting way.
| Basic theme introduction | Basic human experience introduction (Q1) | Basic interesting speaker introduction (Q2) |
| ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that has an important theme of love. Shakespeare uses different techniques to examine this theme such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure. | ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that deals with an aspect of human experience – love. Shakespeare uses different techniques to examine this aspect such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure. | ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that has an interesting speaker who struggles to describe his beloved. Shakespeare uses different techniques to create this speaking voice such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure. |
| Basic theme introduction | ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that has an important theme of love. Shakespeare uses different techniques to examine this theme such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure. |
|---|---|
| Basic human experience introduction (Q1) | ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that deals with an aspect of human experience – love. Shakespeare uses different techniques to examine this aspect such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure. |
| Basic interesting speaker introduction (Q2) | ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare is a poem that has an interesting speaker who struggles to describe his beloved. Shakespeare uses different techniques to create this speaking voice such as poetic form, rhyme, extended imagery and structure. |
