How would you write an effective introduction?

An introduction is the first thing that an exam marker reads, and often it forms their impression of the whole answer - to write an effective introduction is therefore really important to the rest of your essay. Keep it concise and focus on the question you're answering. For example, if you were asked 'How important do you think oracles and divine intervention are to Aeschylus’ and Herodotus’ presentation of the Persian Wars?' I would make sure to define 'oracles' and 'divine intervention' right from the start of the essay. This makes it clear to the examiner that this is how you're treating the terms they've given you, which focuses your answer.

Concentrate on the key terms of the question in your introduction, because they signpost you towards an answer the examiner is looking for. To assess the importance of oracles and divine intervention, you need to make comparisons throughout your answer and make value judgements based on your own opinion. Don't be scared to think outside of the box when you tell the examiner what your answer will be about - sitting on the fence in an introduction won't get you as many marks as if you come down emphatically on one side or the other. Remember, they're not judging you on your opinion, but how you articulate it in your answer. So, to recap: an ideal introduction is concise, outlines the terms of the question, states a definite view one way or the other, and references how you will structure your answer. Once you've followed these few simple steps, you're well on your way to a great exam answer.