The length of your introduction will vary depending on the overall word count of your assignment. However, it is helpful for an introduction to do most of the following:

1. Identify the subject of the essay.

2. Define key terms (if necessary/relevant).

3. Highlight major debates, or the 'problem' or issue that the essay is addressing.

4. Establish the aim or purpose of the essay.

5. Provide a 'roadmap' for the reader that tells them about the structure.

NB: You will see that this structure also follows the 'triangle' shape suggested on the previous page - going from the general subject of the essay question down to the specifics of your aims and structure.

Try reading through the example below, and see if you can identify any of the points above.

An interdisciplinary approach to learning is when “two or more disciplines collaborate for a specific purpose” (Marr, 2015), and this approach has risen in popularity due to the recognition of the “natural relations among subjects” (Klein, 2005). Interdisciplinary studies can be beneficial due to the increased desire for knowledge and understanding of the subjects and the relations they hold to global issues as well as the appreciation of the overlap and similarities that exist between different disciplines. However, the benefits of interdisciplinary studies can be disputed, with the main stream of argument being the potential vagueness of the approach, and the perceived movement away from a deep and academic understanding of each individual discipline. This essay aims to consider the benefits and disadvantages of an interdisciplinary approach to learning in consideration of a global issue, the Syrian refugee crisis. It will explore the implications of using an interdisciplinary approach when considering the impact of the crisis on Turkey, the EU and Syria, in terms of the overlap and similarities between the economic, political and policy perspectives.