Although it might sound like a cliché, the saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”, is true when it comes to HSC English exams. Your introduction has the power, either to captivate your marker’s attention immediately with its obvious flair and ‘Band Six’ potential, or to send him/her into a pit of despair. Believe me, when you’re reading through hundreds, if not thousands of papers, an introduction that is original, interesting and clear makes a powerful impact.
An introduction to an effective HSC English: Area of Study: Belonging essay should perform three jobs:
- Show that you understand the question and its key terms.
- Outline your argument.
- Introduce your texts and their composers and some of the techniques used in each.
Explain the Question and Key Terms
Firstly, your introduction should open with one or two dynamic sentences, illustrating that you understand the question and engaging the reader’s attention. For example, consider the 2010 HSC English question:
‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their
experience of belonging.’
Discuss this view with detailed reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of
your own choosing.
An effective opening could read as follows:
According to the great sixteenth century poet, John Donne, “No man is an island”. An individual’s experience of belonging is, indeed, affected by his/her social, emotional, intellectual, cultural and political exchanges with both other people and with society and the environment at large.
The use of the quotation by John Donne grabs the marker’s attention and shows that you are a wide reader. It is a good idea to collect a range of ‘Belonging’ related quotations and use them to support your ideas. Note that the phrase ‘social, emotional, intellectual, cultural and political exchanges’ replaces ‘interaction’ and ‘society and the environment’ replaces ‘the world around them’. This indicates that the writer understands the key terms in the question and is able to express them in his/her own words.
State Your Argument
Secondly, you should state your argument and introduce the texts. For example:
A thorough examination of the verse novel, The Simple Gift, by Steven Herrick and the novel, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, reveals that these exchanges have the power to both enrich, or deepen, and limit, or restrict, one’s sense of belonging.
Note that the titles, text types and composers are all included. The writer states his/her position regarding the question. He/she is arguing that an individual’s experience can be both enriched and limited through interaction. Just as in the second sentence, the writer defines the key terms ‘enrich’ and ‘limit’.
Outline Language Techniques
Thirdly, you should outline some of the literary devices and language techniques relevant to each text type.
In The Simple Gift, Herrick employs poetic techniques, such as free verse form, changing narrators and imagery, to convey the individual’s experience of belonging. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini draws on descriptive language, first person narrative perspective and symbolism, amongst other techniques.
Try using this structure to write introductions answering a range of Belonging Area of Study questions.
Sources
Donne, John, 'Meditation XVII'
Jasmine Crittenden - Jasmine Crittenden (B.A.)(Hons.)(First Class) is a writer and editor specialising in music, literature and travel.
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