What to Include in Your HLE Introduction
A strong HLE introduction (150-200 words) must introduce the text, present a clear Line of Inquiry, state a precise thesis, and give a roadmap of the key points to come.
Your HL Essay introduction is the examiner's first impression of your ability to construct a coherent, focused response (Criterion A) and to demonstrate conceptual understanding (Criterion C). Aim for 150-200 words that do four specific jobs — no more, no less. A bloated or vague introduction wastes word count that belongs in your body paragraphs, while a thin one leaves the examiner unsure what you're arguing or why it matters.
| Component | Purpose | What It Should Contain |
|---|---|---|
| Introduce the text | Orients the examiner immediately | Title, author, genre — stated cleanly in the opening sentence(s) |
| Present the LOI | Frames the entire essay's purpose | Your exact Line of Inquiry, ideally quoted or closely paraphrased |
| Thesis statement | Answers the LOI up front | Your main argument in 1-2 sentences — specific, not generic |
| Roadmap | Signals structure to come | A brief preview of the techniques/themes each body paragraph will cover |
A humorous visual metaphor showing reader confusion when an essay lacks a clear introductory roadmap.
Worked example — introduction with clear linkage to key points
- Introduce the Text: Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian work that explores themes of oppression, power, and identity through the experiences of Offred, a woman forced into servitude in the authoritarian Republic of Gilead.
- Present the LOI: This essay investigates the question: "To what extent does Atwood use Offred's characterization to critique female oppression and societal control?"
- Thesis Statement: Atwood portrays Offred's identity as fragmented and constrained by Gilead's patriarchal structures, illustrating how systemic oppression erases autonomy. However, Offred's narrative voice, internal monologues, and moments of defiance reveal her resistance, emphasizing the enduring strength of individual thought even in oppressive systems.
- Roadmap: This essay will analyze how Atwood employs narrative perspective, symbolism, and intertextual references to explore female agency, power dynamics, and resistance within a dystopian framework.
Notice how each roadmap item (narrative perspective, symbolism, intertextual references) can become the topic of a distinct body paragraph — the examiner already knows what structure to expect.
Self-check skeleton
Try this template to draft your intro quickly:
In [Text] by [Author], a [genre], the author uses [brief description of technique] to explore [big idea]. This essay explores the question: [LOI]. It argues that [your thesis]. This will be examined through analysis of [techniques/themes] that highlight [core insight].
Ask yourself: could an examiner identify the text, the question, your argument, and your paragraph structure just from this paragraph alone? If not, revise.
Common mistake: Writing a thesis that merely restates the LOI ("This essay will discuss how Atwood explores oppression") instead of actually answering it. A thesis must take a position — state how and to what effect, not just that the theme exists.
Exam tip: The roadmap doesn't need to name every technique in detail — just enough to preview 3-4 distinct angles. Each roadmap item should correspond to one body paragraph, so the examiner can track your structural coherence (Criterion A) as the essay unfolds.
- Keep the introduction to 150-200 words — no more.
- Include all four components: text (title/author/genre), LOI, thesis, roadmap.
- The thesis must directly answer the LOI, not just restate it.
- The roadmap previews 3-4 distinct angles that map onto your body paragraphs.
- Use the skeleton template to check nothing essential is missing before drafting further.