Write a direct statement on the essay question - the thesis statement - which ties the whole essay together - usually one sentence, but perhaps two. (‘Thesis' is an ancient Greek word meaning ‘something set down or proposed for discussion.) As said above, this statement is often a point of view, or claim.
Write one or two sentences which give a preview of the content and organisation of the essay body. If this preview is quite specific it is sometimes referred to as an essay map - a very useful metaphor for what you aiming to do.
You can play around with this pattern if you feel confident to do so. For example your thesis statement may merge with the essay map, or it may come after the essay map. Usually the introduction is one paragraph only, but sometimes a second paragraph might be included which gives further background or which defines a term or concept from the essay question.
One very important thing: your essay introduction does not contain detail. That belongs in the body. Keep your introduction relatively short and tight.
Think of the essay as a deep, dark forest, and your essay reader as a walker through that forest.
Your essayintroduction is like the signpost to the forest and the map of the different tracks
The essay body is where you elaborate on the main idea in the introduction, developing it with examples, arguments, facts and opinions
The body:
- matches the introduction in content and purpose
- matches the sequence of ideas mentioned in the essay map or preview
- is broken up into two or more paragraphs (usually more) - each paragraph being about one idea only