Parts of an essay: The introduction
The purpose of the introduction to your academic essay is to introduce your proposition in relation to the topic.
Your essay is your response to a question and set of instructions; there is no need to repeat them as part of your introduction. Your acknowledgement of the topic, the instructions for answering the question, and limitations imposed on your response, should be evident in what and how you write.
The introduction is not always the first part of the essay to be completed. Some writers like to have an outline of the introduction as a guide for the body and conclusion. Others assemble a more detailed version.
Do whatever suits your writing style. Whether you have an outline or not, the introduction is almost always the last part of the essay to be finished. This allows you to make last minute alterations to ensure that the introduction introduces all the main points and sets the appropriate 'tone' for the essay.
