How do you open an essay so the reader wants to continue, and close it so it feels finished?
Write engaging introductions and satisfying conclusions that frame the essay without merely repeating it
A focused answer to framing essays in O-Level Continuous Writing: opening with a hook and a clear direction, closing with a sense of completion, and avoiding weak openings and repetitive endings.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
The introduction and conclusion frame an essay: the opening earns the reader's attention and signals where the essay is going, and the closing gives a sense of completion. Markers notice both. A flat "In this essay I will talk about..." opening and a "So that is all" ending drag down an otherwise good essay. This dot point is about opening with purpose and closing with shape, for both story and argument essays, without padding or pointless repetition.
The answer
What an introduction must do
A good introduction does two jobs at once: it hooks the reader and it sets the direction. The hook makes the reader want to continue; the direction tells them what kind of essay this is and, for an argument, what your stand is. For a discursive essay, the introduction names the issue and your position; for a narrative, it opens a situation and a tone. Either way it should be short and purposeful, not a slow warm-up.
Ways to hook the reader
You have several reliable openings to choose from:
- A question that frames the issue ("Is freedom always a good thing?").
- A vivid image or moment that drops the reader into a scene (strong for narrative and descriptive).
- A surprising statement or contrast that makes the reader curious.
- A short, relevant situation that leads into the topic.
Avoid the dead openings: announcing the essay ("I am going to write about..."), defining the obvious ("A zoo is a place with animals..."), or filler ("There are many things to say about this topic..."). These waste your strongest position, the first line.
What a conclusion must do
A conclusion should leave the reader feeling the essay is complete. For an argument, restate your position in fresh words, draw the main points together, and end with a final thought that lingers, such as a wider implication or a call to act. For a narrative, bring the story to a controlled close and, often, a brief reflection. The conclusion is the last impression you leave, so it should feel deliberate, not like the essay simply stopped because time ran out.
Frame, do not repeat
The introduction and conclusion should connect but not duplicate. A common weakness is a conclusion that repeats the introduction almost word for word, which feels lazy and adds nothing. Instead, the conclusion should show movement: it restates the stand having now argued it, so it carries more weight than the same sentence did at the start. Equally weak is the conclusion that opens a brand-new argument there is no room to develop. Close the essay; do not reopen it.
Examples in context
Example 1. Two openings for the same story. A narrative prompt about a lost item could open flatly: "One day I lost my phone. It was a normal day and I was at the mall." Or it could hook the reader: "The moment I reached into my pocket and felt nothing but lining, the busy mall seemed to fall silent around me." The second opening drops the reader into a charged moment and a tone, making them want to read on, which is exactly the job an introduction should do for a narrative.
Example 2. A conclusion that grows the idea. In an essay arguing that reading should be encouraged, a weak ending simply repeats the opening: "So as I said at the start, reading is good for you." A stronger ending widens the idea after the argument has earned it: "If a single habit could sharpen a young person's vocabulary, broaden their world and quiet their screen, surely it is worth protecting time for reading." The conclusion now carries the weight of everything argued and leaves a thought that lingers, rather than echoing the first paragraph.
Try this
Q1. Give two effective ways to open an essay and one opening to avoid. [3 marks]
- Cue. Effective: a question that frames the issue, or a vivid image or moment that drops the reader into a scene (a contrast or short situation also works). Avoid: announcing the essay ("I am going to talk about..."), defining the obvious, or empty filler.
Q2. Explain why a conclusion should not simply repeat the introduction. [2 marks]
- Cue. Repetition adds nothing and feels lazy; a good conclusion restates the stand in fresh words now that the argument has been made, so it carries more weight than the same sentence did at the start, and it should draw the points together rather than echo the opening.
Q3. Write a one-sentence final thought to end an essay arguing that cities should plant more trees. [2 marks]
- Cue. Something like: "A city that makes room for trees is really making room for the health and calm of the people who live in it." It widens the idea and lingers rather than trailing off.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SEAB exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Original6 marksRead this weak introduction to a discursive essay on whether zoos should exist: 'In this essay I am going to talk about zoos. Zoos are places with animals. There are many things to say about them.' Rewrite it as an engaging introduction with a hook and a clear stand, and explain your changes. [6 marks]Show worked answer →
Model rewrite: "Behind every cage in a zoo stands a difficult question: is it right to keep wild animals for our entertainment and education? Supporters point to conservation and learning; critics see captivity and lost freedom. While zoos can do real good, I believe they are only justified when an animal's welfare comes first."
What changed and why: the empty announcement ("I am going to talk about zoos") was replaced with a hook (a vivid image and a question) that draws the reader in. A clear stand was added (zoos are justified only when welfare comes first) so the essay has direction. The filler ("there are many things to say") was cut, since it tells the reader nothing.
Markers reward an introduction that engages, signals the topic and gives a clear direction or stand, and an explanation that links each change to those aims.
Original5 marksExplain what a strong conclusion should do and what it should avoid, with reference to an essay arguing that exams cause too much stress. [5 marks]Show worked answer →
What it should do: restate the position in fresh words (that the current weight on exams causes harmful stress), draw the points together so the essay feels complete, and end with a final thought that lingers, for example a call to balance assessment with wellbeing.
What it should avoid: simply repeating the introduction word for word; introducing a brand-new argument that there is no space to develop; and trailing off weakly ("So that is my essay" or "There are many points about exams"). A conclusion should close the argument, not reopen or abandon it.
Markers reward a clear account of the conclusion's job (restate freshly, draw together, end memorably) and the specific weaknesses to avoid, applied sensibly to the exam-stress topic.
Related dot points
- Choose the most suitable essay prompt and produce a quick, usable plan before writing
A focused answer to the first decisions in O-Level Continuous Writing: reading every prompt carefully, picking the one you can develop best, and making a short plan that keeps the essay on track.
- Write an engaging narrative with a clear plot, a controlled point of view and well-paced tension
A focused answer to narrative essays in O-Level Continuous Writing: shaping a plot with a beginning, a complication and a resolution, controlling viewpoint and pace, and using showing rather than telling to engage the reader.
- Write an argumentative or discursive essay with a clear stand, developed reasons, examples and balance
A focused answer to argumentative and discursive essays in O-Level Continuous Writing: taking a stand, developing each point with a reason and example, addressing the other side, and keeping a logical structure.
- Write vivid descriptive writing using sensory detail, precise word choice and a controlling mood
A focused answer to descriptive essays in O-Level Continuous Writing: appealing to the five senses, choosing precise words, using figurative language with restraint, and shaping the whole piece around one dominant mood.