Be brief. The introduction to an essay doesn’t need to be long – after all, it’s the main body of the text which counts; the introduction is just setting up what you’re going to include later in the essay.

Be concise. Say what you mean and don’t waffle. No lecturer will be fooled by a long and meandering introduction which doesn’t add any real content to the essay.

Provide some real information. Don’t just use the introduction to explain things which you’ll repeat later. Add some good, solid, relevant information at the start and it will put whoever is marking your essay in a good frame of mind. Above all, it will show them that you are clearly knowledgeable about the subject.

If you bear these suggestions in mind, your essay introduction will be informative, relevant and a suitable length, and it will provide the perfect introduction to the rest of your essay.