Although judging a book by its cover may be a mistake, still people are prone to do so. Same goes with the IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph where examiners presume the quality of the entire essay from the first paragraph.
In IELTS Writing Task 2 questions, the first paragraph should set the stage for the discourse rather than delving into the nitty-gritty of the arguments. Hence, a short introductory paragraph needs to be the part of the format of the essay question in IELTS.
First impression is the last impression: How to write an essay introduction?
The following are the most essential elements of IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph:
- It should be a short paragraph, ideally not exceeding 50 words and at most three sentences.
- Lay out the premise of the question by restating the topic.
- Announce a clear position by directly answering the prompt in the question.
- Outline the main arguments which are going to be elaborated in the essay.
- Do not start with explanations and evidences. Reserve them for later.
- Demonstrate your vocabulary range by not repeating words. Try including context-specific technical vocabulary.
- Include at least one complex sentence.
IELTS Essay Introduction Step 1: Paraphrase the statements in the question
The essay question in IELTS Writing Task 2 always begins with one or two sentences which form as the background for the actual question.
Look at a sample question below:
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
| Some people say that children should be taught to do household chores during their free time. Other people think that children should be allowed to engage in fun activities of their choice in leisure time. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
There are two sentences in the question which mention about the debate and set the scene for the essay. The prompt asks us to discuss both the views. Restating these views in our own words is how the Introduction paragraph should ideally begin.
Here is a sample rewrite of the two sentences:
| It is believed by some that kids need to spend their spare time learning to perform chores around the house. However, others assert that idle time should instead be devoted to entertainment. |
As you can see, I have tried to restate the two sentences given in the question with my own two sentences. Although the words are different, the meaning remains the same. Thus, I have cemented the plot of the question in the IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph.
Click here » to learn in detail about the process of paraphrase.
Examples of Paraphrase in IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph
| Judicial punishment for violence against animals should be the same as violence against humans. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
Sample paraphrase:
Culprits who abuse animals deserve the same sentencing as those who abuse human beings.
| Many people these days rely on information found on the internet. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend? |
Sample paraphrase:
The internet has become the primary source of news and facts for most individuals.
| In search of better educational and career opportunities, many people from developing countries are migrating to developed nations. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages? |
Sample paraphrase:
A large number of individuals from underprivileged nations emigrate to affluent countries with the hope of securing good futures.
| Some people say that the government should be responsible for the health of its citizens. Other people believe that it is the individuals who should take care of their own health. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
Sample paraphrase:
There is a debate as to whether the health status of people is the concern of the government.
| A lot of fake news and erroneous information circulate on social media sites. Why is this the case? What problems does this cause and what can be done to solve them? |
Sample paraphrase:
Social media is rife with fake news.
| Education is so expensive these days that many people have to go under debt to afford a university degree. What can be done about this issue? Do you agree that university education is necessary for a successful career? |
Sample paraphrase:
Currently, universities cost an arm and a leg forcing people to burrow money in order to pursue an education.
IELTS Essay Introduction Step 2: State your perspective
After paraphrasing the topic, the IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph should include a clear position which you take on the issue.
Don’t keep the examiner guessing your personal opinion on the matter. It is always better to state your point of view clearly.
Here is an example:
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
| Traditional written examinations are no longer valid as assessment tools in schools and colleges. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
The question clearly asks us to choose a side, so we should deal with this in the IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph. A short sentence is enough.
| I completely disagree. |
Just writing this in our first paragraph makes our essay more comprehensible.
Look at the following examples. In the IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph, stating a clear position should come after paraphrasing the topic.
Examples
| Judicial punishment for violence against animals should be the same as violence against humans. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
Sample paraphrase and opinion:
It is often argued that culprits who abuse animals deserve the same sentencing as those who abuse human beings. But, I oppose this sentiment.
| In search of better educational and career opportunities, many people from developing countries are migrating to developed nations. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages? |
Sample paraphrase and opinion:
A large number of individuals from underprivileged nations emigrate to affluent countries with the hope of securing good futures. In my opinion, there are more positive effects of this trend compared to the negatives.
| Some people say that the government should be responsible for the health of its citizens. Other people believe that it is the individuals who should take care of their own health. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
Sample paraphrase:
There is a debate as to whether the health status of people is the concern of the government. From my point of view, keeping ourselves healthy is entirely our own duty.
IELTS Essay Introduction Step 3: Briefly outline your arguments
When you take a side in the essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, you should back your ideas with factual or logical claims. Even though the claims will be explained in the body paragraphs, it is appropriate to briefly shine a light on them in the IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph.
Consider the example question below:
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
| The rate of depression among adults has skyrocketed in modern times. Why is this the case? What can be done to solve this issue? |
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
For this question, we can think of several arguments.
| Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|
| Weakening social fabric | Stronger communities, community-driven programs |
| Childhood trauma | Child protection services, psychotherapy |
| Unemployment | Government projects, social safety nets |
| Genes | Medication, early diagnosis |
But for our essay, we only need a couple of them. So, after brainstorming for ideas, select the ones which you can best develop. It is best to touch upon these ideas in the IELTS Essay Introduction paragraph since this would help the reader to prepare for what is to come.
| The main reasons for growth in depression cases are the weakening of the social fabric as well as unemployment. With the purpose of alleviating the situation, we need social security benefits from the government in addition to stronger communities. |
IELTS Writing Task 2 Introduction Paragraph Examples
| Many people these days rely on information found on the internet. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend? |
Sample introduction paragraph:
The internet has become the primary source of news and facts for most individuals. The obvious reward of this tendency is quick and free access to limitless knowledge over the world wide web. On the other hand, there could be issues related to reliability of such information.
| A lot of fake news and erroneous information circulate on social media sites. Why is this the case? What problems does this cause and what can be done to solve them? |
Sample introduction paragraph:
Social media is rife with fake news. This is due to the ease of uploading any content on the internet without verification, leading unwary people to being manipulated or even defrauded. As far as I am concerned, adopting caution while reading and acting upon such news is the only solution.
| Education is so expensive these days that many people have to go under debt to afford a university degree. What can be done about this issue? Do you agree that university education is necessary for a successful career? |
Sample introduction paragraph:
Currently, universities cost an arm and a leg forcing people to burrow money in order to pursue an education. Increasing government funding to universities in order to subsidize tuition fees or to provide scholarships can help more individuals to realize their dream of a college education. However, I do not believe that everyone should attend university to become prosperous.
Next lesson:
Writing the perfect body paragraphs for IELTS essay: An IELTS Task 2 tutorial
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