How to Write an IGCSE Literature Passage Question Introduction: Guide & Examples
What Is an Introduction in an IGCSE Literature Passage Question?
Your introduction is the first thing your examiner will see. It does not need to be overly complicated or long. You only have around 45 minutes for each essay (including planning time), so you want to make sure that what you’re writing is concise. Learning a structure will reduce the amount that you need to think in the exam and allow you to quickly recreate really high-quality introductions under exam conditions.
The job of your introduction is to explain WHAT you are going to argue about the question and WHY you think the writer presents these ideas.
WHAT → your argument about the question
WHY → your interpretation of the writer's purpose/bigger idea
Cambridge 0475 includes both passage-based and essay-style questions. This blog focuses specifically on how to approach the introduction to a passage-based question.
How to Write an Effective Introduction for the Passage Question
Step 1: (WHAT)
Use the words from the question to directly answer the question. This sentence is your “WHAT” -> It tells your reader what your essay will be about, and it should include 2 small ideas – each of these will be the ideas for your paragraphs (and inform your topic sentences). You will also use the words from the question (or synonyms)
Step 2: (WHY)
This sentence is your “WHY” – it tells your reader why you believe the writer has presented these ideas. This is the GOLDEN THREAD on which our whole essay rests. You will refer back to your big idea many times in your essay. This sentence needs to use an analytical verb.
Literature Introduction Sentence 1 Examples
How does Achebe make this a significant moment in the novel?
Achebe makes this a significant moment in the novel by firstly depicting Okonkwo’s disregard of Ikemefuna’s vulnerability and kinship in his desire for masculinity, then conveying how Ikemefuna’s death makes Nwoye lose faith in the Ibo traditions.
How does Shakespeare make this moment revealing?
Shakespeare makes this moment in the play so revealing by contrasting Cleopatra’s political awareness and manipulation with Antony’s loss of control and reduced sense of identity.
Literature Introduction Sentence 2 Examples
How does Achebe make this a significant moment in the novel?
Through this, Achebe highlights how Okonkwo’s distorted perception of masculinity is not representative of Ibo traditions and customs, but that this binary perception serves as a catalyst for Nwoye’s scepticism towards the Umuofia customs.
How does Shakespeare make this moment revealing?
As such, Shakespeare highlights Antony’s debasement, emphasizing how Cleopatra’s malignant impact on Antony ultimately contributed towards his inevitable downfall.
Full IGCSE Literature Introduction Examples
How does Achebe make this a significant moment in the novel?
Achebe makes this a significant moment in the novel by firstly depicting Okonkwo’s disregard of Ikemefuna’s vulnerability and kinship in his desire for masculinity, then conveying how Ikemefuna’s death makes Nwoye lose faith in the Ibo traditions. Through this, Achebe highlights how Okonkwo’s distorted perception of masculinity is not representative of Ibo traditions and customs, but that this binary perception serves as a catalyst for Nwoye’s scepticism towards the Umuofia customs.
How does Shakespeare make this moment revealing?
Shakespeare makes this moment in the play so revealing by contrasting Cleopatra’s political awareness and manipulation with Antony’s loss of control and reduced sense of identity. As such, Shakespeare highlights Antony’s debasement, emphasizing how Cleopatra’s malignant impact on Antony ultimately contributed towards his inevitable downfall.
Why This Structure Works
This structure helps you to do two important things quickly: answer the question and establish your overall argument.
Your first sentence gives your examiner a clear idea of WHAT you are going to discuss. By introducing two small ideas, you are also setting up the focus of your two main paragraphs and creating a clear line of argument.
Your second sentence explains WHY you think the writer has presented these ideas. This gives your essay a bigger idea to explore and creates a GOLDEN THREAD that you can return to throughout your essay.
Most importantly, this structure keeps your introduction concise. You are not trying to say everything you know about the text before you begin your essay. Instead, you are giving your examiner a clear sense of your argument and showing that you understand both what the writer presents and why they present it.
Key Takeaways
Your introduction should establish the key ideas of your essay, directly address the question and show your understanding of the writer’s intentions. Think of it as WHAT you are arguing and WHY the writer presents these ideas.
