How do I set out my introduction?

Due to the time limitation during your exam, it's important to make sure that your introduction is short, snappy and gets to the point right away. Generally, the basic structure of an exam introduction would be:1) One sentence that relates to the theme or idea of the question- for example, if a question was talking about fear, it might be useful to write about the genre more widely, quickly explaining its typical conventions in a text, an example of another text (not stated in the question) that also contains fear, or perhaps a famous quote or line that relates to fear in society. By doing this, the examiner will know that you understand the genre of writing and are able to make contextual links across texts. 2)Now focus on the set text(s) that you are writing about. A sentence or two on the main ways that fear is presented in the text for example, what the writer wanted to convey to the reader. 3)Most importantly, state your own view. Bring your introduction to a close by giving your opinion in relation to the question. It doesn't necessarily matter what argument you give, but what does matter is that you are able to sustain this argument throughout the rest of your essay, using your introduction as a point of reference, so that the examiner can see that you're able to sustain and justify your points. Do ensure, though, that your argument in your introduction isn't too long, really no more than a sentence or two- explanation and development is what the rest of your essay is for!