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Surprised to see
introductions as the topic of our second-to-last lesson? Most writers find
that it is nearly impossible to craft an essay by beginning with the
introduction. The best leads often develop during and after writers have
written the remainder of the essay. Maybe a fantastic
introduction or conclusion is caught floating around in the middle of your
rough draft. Maybe you find that your essay does not even need an
introduction or conclusion (see sidebar). More likely, however, it is in
these later stages that you have a good sense of the way your essay is
shaping up, all the way to the nitty-gritty details. Since beginnings and
endings can be the most challenging and important part of any piece of
writing, you will want to take advantage of a completed rough draft. Part of the reason why
introductions and conclusions are so difficult is that writers tend to worry
about them too much. Writing teachers give so much attention to the need for
a thorough introduction and a sharply drawn conclusion that anxious
essayists compensate by going overboard. They feel that in order to appear
mature and worldly, their essays must contain profound insights and sweeping
observations. While your introduction
and conclusion need not provide the answers to every worldly problem, they
do need to be engaging. Admissions officers may spend just a few minutes
reading your essay. Your introduction must grab their interest from the
beginning and your conclusion must make a lasting impression. Most
applicants assume that a good essay must have an
introduction and conclusion. While most essays do require these
bookends, there are some instances in which an introduction and
conclusion can actually diminish the quality of your essay. Heed
the advice of one admissions officer: "When
you have finished writing the rest of your rough draft, you may
discover that you don't need an introduction at all. But isn't
that risky? Maybe. But believe it or not, more essays have been
ruined by forced and unnecessary introductions than have been
ruined by the lack of one. Largely this is because of the
misconception of what an introduction is supposed to accomplish.
This is especially true if you are writing your essay as a
narrative. It might feel risky or uncomfortable just letting the
story stand on its own. You might be afraid that your reader
will miss the point. But the point should be made in the story
-- through the telling -- not before or after it. If you really
cannot resist, then offer your observations and explanations in
the conclusion instead of the introduction, leaving you free to
begin your essay with the action."
Copyright 1998 by Dan Kaufman. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
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Introduction