Getting started

The hardest part of writing an essay can be the first sentence - especially in exams when time pressure can make you feel nervous. But staring at a blank piece of paper won't help - so it's worth learning a simple approach to writing the important first paragraph.

The first few sentences need to be general but not vague, as they set the tone for the rest of the essay. So the subject can be introduced by giving some background information:

In recent years the internet has become an important tool of academic research.

There is increasing interest in the use of wind power to produce electricity.

These statements tend to consist of:

Time phrase             Topic               Development
In recent years          the internet      has become an important tool of academic research.

These generalisations can be followed by further information and examples:

There is increasing interest in the use of wind power to produce electricity. In north Wales, for example, one wind farm produces enough electricity to light 120,000 homes. Wind power is a renewable resource which does not produce carbon dioxide.

For more ideas about writing introductions see:
Academic Writing Chapter 1.11 page 83