How can I write an introduction for my Extended Essay?

[Lauren1]

An Extended Essay (or EE) is an essay that I have to write in order for me to receive my IB Diploma next May. It has a max of 4000 words and can be about anything. I have written a good portion of the body of my essay, but I am having a hard time writing my introduction and conclusion.

My essay is about 1920s fashion, and influences on it (ancient Egypt, cubism, dance marathons/the Charleston, prohibition, cheaper goods), as well as a huge portion on how World War I and the 19th Amendment emancipated women and led to shorter hemlines (but only just below the knee), the switch from steel corsets to elastic girdles, and bare arms. I have also included a little tidbit about beauty and hair during the time period as well.

I'm not asking anyone to write an introductory paragraph, but if anyone could give me a sentence or two that could help me organize all this into an introduction, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Wawa]

Fashion after World War I personified the "Roaring 20's". It was subject to roaring winds of change from a wide range of sources, from ancient Egypt to cubism in art; dance marathons and the Charleston; the 19th Amendment, the change from steel corsets to elastic girdles, and bare arms.

 

[JohnM]

The classic advice on writing introductions is to grab the readers attention, and then tell them what the content of the essay will be about. In your case, I would start out with something on the transition for women from restrictive and uncomfortable clothing to the more comfortable and contemporary styles of the 1920's. You actually have a pretty good start in paragraph 2 in your question, just modify the "huge portion" language into something more appropriate to your teacher reading it.

The information below, and in the link I have included, is from a web site that cites the work in a handout prepared by Harry Livermore for his high school English classes at Cook High School in Adel, Georgia.


Students are told from the first time they receive instruction in English composition that their introductory paragraphs should accomplish two tasks:

1. They should get the reader's interest so that he or she will want to read more.
2. They should let the reader know what the writing is going to be about.

The second task can be accomplished by a carefully crafted thesis statement. Writing thesis statements can be learned rather quickly. The first task — securing the reader's interest — is more difficult. It is this task that this discussion addresses.

First, admit that it is impossible to say or do or write anything that will interest everybody. With that out of the way, the question then becomes: "What can a writer do that will secure the interest of a fair sized audience?"

#Professional writers who write for magazines and receive pay for their work use five basic patterns to grab a reader's interest:

1. historical review
2. anecdotal
3. surprising statement
4. famous person
5. declarative