An introduction tells your reader what your assignment is about, why the topic matters, and how you will structure your response.

Requirements can vary by subject area. Check your assignment brief or ask your module leader if you're unsure.

 

 

Essential guidance

 

What to include

A good introduction has five elements. You can work through these in order.

  • 1. Opening statement

    Start by saying what your topic is and why it matters. This might be a broad contextual statement, a relevant statistic, or a surprising fact.

  • 2. Background and context

    Give your reader the background information they need to understand the topic. Only include what is directly useful – avoid details that belong in later sections.

  • 3. Definitions

    Your marker will already know most key terms, but you must define the ones you are using to show your understanding of them. This also makes it clear how you are using them, as some terms mean different things to different writers. If a term only appears in one section, you can define it there. Avoid general dictionaries. A textbook, journal article, or subject-specific dictionary is more appropriate.

  • 4. Summary of main points

    Summarise the main points, ideas, or issues your assignment covers. This shows the marker you have selected the most relevant material for the question.

  • 5. Signposting statement

    Tell the reader what the assignment will do and in what order. Use clear, direct language. For example: 'This report investigates...' or 'This essay examines...'.

 

 

How long should it be?

Aim for around 10 per cent of your total word count.

 

 

What to avoid

Keep your introduction relevant and concise. Common problems include detail that belongs in later sections, material that is not relevant to the question, and repetition.

 

 

Try this…

Start with planning and drafting rather than an introduction. A good plan gives you a clearer guide for your writing than an early draft introduction. Write your introduction once the rest of the assignment is drafted.

 

 

Advanced guidance

The essential guidance above gives you a reliable structure for writing an introduction. Once you are confident with that approach, you can try other ways to structure your introduction.

 

Which approach should I use?

There is no single correct approach. Your choice depends on your subject area, assignment type, and topic. If you are unsure, the structure in the essential guidance is always a reliable starting point.

 

 

The funnel

Start with a broad statement about your topic and gradually narrow the focus to your specific assignment question. This structure works well for most assignment types.

Assignment question

To what extent did independence from British colonial rule in 1947 shape India's subsequent economic development?

 

Introduction

The end of British colonial rule across South Asia marked a significant turning point in the region's political and economic history.1 In India, independence in 1947 brought both new opportunities and considerable structural challenges, including the legacy of colonial economic policy and the immediate disruption of partition.2 Historians and economists have debated the degree to which these conditions shaped India's development trajectory in the decades that followed.3 This essay examines how necessary independence from British rule was in facilitating India's economic development.4

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Broad opening statement Back to text, note 1
  2. Narrowing to specific historical context Back to text, note 2
  3. Identifying the academic debate Back to text, note 3
  4. Focus on the specific question Back to text, note 4

Assignment question

To what extent do multinational corporations have a responsibility to prioritise ethical supply chains?

 

Introduction

Corporate responsibility has become an increasingly prominent topic in business ethics.1 Growing consumer awareness and international regulation have prompted organisations to examine their supply chain practices more closely.2 This has generated debate about the nature and extent of corporate obligations beyond legal compliance.3 This report considers the extent to which multinational corporations have a responsibility to prioritise ethical supply chains.4

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Broad opening statement Back to text, note 1
  2. Narrowing to specific context Back to text, note 2
  3. Identifying the central debate Back to text, note 3
  4. Focus on the specific question Back to text, note 4

 

 

The attention-grabbing opening

Open with something that immediately engages your reader. This might be a surprising statistic or a strong, direct claim. This only works if the opening is relevant to your specific question, not just your topic.

Assignment question

To what extent is online fraud a growing threat to individuals in the UK?

 

Introduction

Fraud accounts for an estimated 41% of all crime against individuals in England and Wales, yet only 14% of cases are reported to the police (National Crime Agency, n.d.).1 This gap between the scale of fraud and the level of reporting shapes how the threat is measured and understood.2 This essay examines the extent to which online fraud represents a growing threat to individuals in the UK, drawing on reported crime data and research into under-reporting.3

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Opening statistic with a citation Back to text, note 1
  2. Explaining how this statistic links to the assignment question Back to text, note 2
  3. Outlining how the assignment answers the question Back to text, note 3

 

Reference

National Crime Agency. (n.d.). Fraud and economic crime. https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/fraud-and-economic-crime

 

The referencing style used here is APA 7. Your course may require a different referencing system. Check your assignment brief or module guidance to confirm which style applies to you.

Assignment question

To what extent does deforestation in the Amazon basin represent an irreversible threat to global biodiversity?

 

Introduction

The Amazon rainforest is home to at least 10% of the world's known species (WWF, n.d.).1 Continued deforestation therefore carries consequences that reach well beyond the region itself.2 Whether the resulting loss can be reversed is disputed: some ecologists point to evidence of forest recovery, while others argue that certain losses are permanent.3 This report examines the extent to which deforestation in the Amazon basin poses an irreversible threat to global biodiversity.4

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Opening statistic with a citation Back to text, note 1
  2. Explaining why this statistic matters Back to text, note 2
  3. Identifying the key idea that is still being debated Back to text, note 3
  4. Outlining how the assignment answers the question Back to text, note 4

 

Reference

WWF. (n.d.). About the Amazon. https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/amazon/about_the_amazon/

 

The referencing style used here is APA 7. Your course may require a different referencing system. Check your assignment brief or module guidance to confirm which style applies to you.

 

 

Inductive or deductive

Give the context of your topic and then specify whether your approach is inductive or deductive.

  • An inductive approach uses evidence to build a new explanation.
  • A deductive approach tests an existing theory against the evidence.

 

Stating your approach tells the reader what content and structure to expect.

Assignment question

How do young people in the UK understand and negotiate privacy on social media?

 

Introduction

Social media platforms have changed how personal information is shared and controlled.1 Existing research offers competing accounts of how young users think about privacy, but few studies examine this from their own perspective.2 This study takes an inductive approach, using interview data from a small sample of users aged 16 to 18 to develop an explanation grounded in their accounts.3 It does not test a predetermined model but builds one from the patterns that emerge.4

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Setting out the context Back to text, note 1
  2. Identifying what existing research does not cover Back to text, note 2
  3. Naming the approach and the evidence it uses Back to text, note 3
  4. Making clear what this approach does and does not do Back to text, note 4

Assignment question

To what extent does cognitive load theory explain differences in student performance under exam conditions?

 

Introduction

Cognitive load theory proposes that performance declines when the demands placed on working memory exceed its capacity.1 The theory has been applied widely in educational settings, though its predictive value under exam conditions remains contested.2 This study takes a deductive approach, testing the predictions of cognitive load theory against performance data from timed and untimed assessment conditions.3 The aim is to establish whether the theory holds in this specific context.4

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Setting out the theory being tested Back to text, note 1
  2. Identifying what remains uncertain Back to text, note 2
  3. Naming the approach and the evidence it uses Back to text, note 3
  4. Making clear what the study aims to establish Back to text, note 4

 

 

The SPSE model (situation, problem, solution, evaluation)

This model works well when focusing on a problem or gap in existing knowledge. It helps you present the problem and your response to it.

You do not need to use all four elements, and the order can vary.

  • Situation: establish the context or background.
  • Problem: identify an issue, gap, or challenge.
  • Solution: indicate how your assignment addresses this.
  • Evaluation: consider the strengths and limitations of the solution. 

Assignment question

Evaluate strategies for reducing medication administration errors on acute hospital wards.

 

Introduction

Medication administration is a routine part of nursing practice on acute hospital wards, where patients need urgent care and staff work under time pressure.1 Errors in this process remain a persistent source of avoidable harm to patients, and interruptions during drug rounds are a recognised contributing factor.2 One widely adopted response has been the introduction of protected drug round periods, during which staff are not interrupted.3 This report evaluates the evidence for this approach, including the practical difficulties of maintaining it on busy wards.4

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Situation: setting out the context Back to text, note 1
  2. Problem: identifying the issue Back to text, note 2
  3. Solution: naming the response Back to text, note 3
  4. Evaluation: outlining what the assignment assesses Back to text, note 4

Assignment question

Assess the effectiveness of retrofitting measures in reducing heat loss in Victorian terraced housing.

 

Introduction

Victorian terraced houses make up a substantial part of UK housing and were built without insulation.1 These properties lose heat rapidly, which raises energy costs for occupants and complicates national decarbonisation targets.2 Internal wall insulation is often added to these homes, as it can be installed without altering the external appearance of protected buildings.3 This report assesses how effective this measure is in practice, including its cost and its effect on internal space.4

 

Annotations (summary)

  1. Situation: setting out the context Back to text, note 1
  2. Problem: identifying the issue Back to text, note 2
  3. Solution: naming the response Back to text, note 3
  4. Evaluation: outlining what the assignment assesses Back to text, note 4

 

 

Page last edited: 26 August 2026
Next review due: 7 August 2029