Write engaging introductions that hook the reader and set up the essay, and conclusions that close the piece deliberately rather than trailing off

What this dot point is asking

SEAB wants your Continuous Writing to open well and close well. The introduction creates the reader's first impression and should make them want to read on; the conclusion creates the final impression and should make the essay feel finished, not abandoned. Continuous Writing is worth 30 marks, and a deliberate opening and ending lift the whole piece. The skill is to hook the reader at the start, set up what is coming, and then close with a clear final note rather than trailing off with "and that was that".

The answer

Hooking the reader

A good introduction starts with a hook: something that grabs attention. For a story or recount, this might be action ("The first crack of thunder sent me running") or a vivid image ("The sky was the colour of bruised plums"). For a discursive essay, it might be a question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement. The hook pulls the reader in before you settle into the topic.

Setting up the essay

After the hook, the introduction should set up what is coming. In a story, hint at the situation. In a discursive essay, state your stand clearly so the reader knows your view. The introduction is a doorway: it should be inviting and point the reader toward what follows, without giving everything away in a story or being vague in an argument.

Closing deliberately

A conclusion should feel deliberate, not like the essay ran out of time. For a story or recount, end with a reflection (what it meant) or a closing image, ideally one that echoes the opening. For a discursive essay, restate your stand in fresh words and end with a final thought. A deliberate ending signals craft and leaves a strong final impression.

What to avoid in endings

Avoid endings that trail off ("and then I went home and slept"), that repeat the introduction word for word, or that introduce a brand-new idea with no room to develop it. The conclusion should round things off, not open a new door.

Examples in context

Example 1. A discursive opening and close. For "Should students have part-time jobs?", a strong introduction hooks with a question ("Should a teenager spend weekends earning money or studying?") and states a stand. The conclusion restates the stand in fresh words and ends with a final thought ("With sensible limits, a part-time job can teach lessons no classroom can"), rounding off the argument deliberately.

Example 2. A story frame. A story that opens with "The letter sat unopened on the table for three days" can close by returning to the letter, now opened, with the character changed by what it said. The echo between the opening image and the closing one gives the story a satisfying, deliberate shape rather than a sudden stop.

Try this

• Cue. Rewrite this dull opening with a hook: "One day I went to the beach." For example: "The waves were already crashing when I kicked off my shoes and ran into the surf." This opens with action instead of a flat statement.

• Cue. Write a deliberate closing line for a discursive essay arguing that reading is important. For example: "In a world full of screens, the quiet habit of reading remains one of the most powerful tools we have - and that is worth protecting."

• Cue. Explain why ending with "and then I woke up and it was all a dream" is weak. It cancels the whole story, feels like a cheap escape rather than a deliberate close, and gives no reflection or real ending.