How to Write a Great Introduction for IB English A Paper 2
- An introduction in IB English Paper 2 isn’t just a formality, it’s your first impression, and it sets the tone for the entire essay.
Think of it like the opening move in chess: it’s where you take control.
Step-by-Step: How to Write a High-Quality Introduction
Step 1: Understand the Prompt
- Before you write anything, take a moment to deconstruct the prompt.
- Highlight or underline the keywords
- Ask: What does this keyword mean? Can it be interpreted in multiple ways?
- Think about how your texts engage with those ideas
- Example Prompt: To what extent do the texts you have studied portray rebellion as a force for personal liberation?
- Key words: rebellion, personal liberation
Step 2: Start with a General Insight
- Open with a sentence that introduces a big idea connected to the keyword.
- This engages the reader and gives your essay a strong tone from the outset.
- Why this works:
- It's relevant to the prompt without repeating it
- It sets up a thoughtful, original argument
- It leads smoothly into the texts and thesis
Throughout history, individuals who resist authority are often remembered not for their defiance alone, but for what they recover in the process, such as identity, dignity, and agency.
Step 3: Introduce the Texts and Their Contexts
- Briefly mention:
- The full titles
- The authors
- Relevant context or genre
- Why this works:
- The texts are introduced clearly
- Context is included naturally
- The prompt remains the focus
In George Orwell’s 1984 and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, rebellion is portrayed not as a grand political act but as a deeply personal one. Both novels, written in response to authoritarian regimes, explore how quiet resistance helps characters preserve their sense of self.
Step 4: Interpret the Keyword Subtly
- Avoid saying “In this essay, I define...”.
- Instead, embed your interpretation into the flow of your ideas.
- Better phrasing: ...rebellion becomes a painful yet vital path toward reclaiming agency and selfhood.
- This defines liberation and rebellion through implication, not awkward explanation.
Step 5: Present a Strong Thesis
- This should:
- Directly respond to the prompt
- Be specific, not vague
- Suggest the direction of your essay
Ultimately, both Orwell and Atwood show that rebellion, while not always successful, becomes a vital force for personal liberation, enabling characters to mentally survive in systems that attempt to erase their individuality.
Step 6: Hint at Your Main Points
- Briefly outline the main points that your body paragraphs will explore.
This essay will explore how Orwell and Atwood use internal monologue, symbolism, and narrative structure to portray rebellion not as a political outcome, but as a reclaiming of the self.
Final Example: Complete Introduction
- Prompt: To what extent do the texts you have studied portray rebellion as a force for personal liberation?
- Sample Introduction:
Rebellion has often been seen as a catalyst for political upheaval, but in literature, it can also be a quiet, internal act of survival. In George Orwell’s 1984 and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, rebellion is less about overthrowing a regime and more about resisting psychological domination. Both novels, written in response to authoritarian control and systemic oppression, depict rebellion as a deeply personal effort to reclaim dignity, identity, and human agency. While neither Winston Smith nor Offred succeeds in toppling the systems that imprison them, their resistance through memory, language, and small acts of defiance represents a form of personal liberation. This essay will explore how Orwell and Atwood use internal monologue, symbolism, and narrative structure to portray rebellion not as a political outcome, but as a reclaiming of the self.
- Have you clearly identified the keywords in the prompt and considered how to interpret them?
- Does your first sentence introduce a relevant big idea (not just restate the prompt)?
- Have you introduced the full titles and authors of the texts clearly and accurately?
- Did you include brief, relevant context (historical, political, cultural) for each text?
- Have you subtly redefined the keyword(s) to focus your argument?
- Is your thesis statement clear, specific, and directly answering the prompt?
- Have you included a short preview of your main points?
