Beginnings and endings matter

Getting the start and finish of your documents right. They are more likely to be remembered than the long bit in the middle.

The introduction and summary contain the key messages of the entire document and the reader’s expectations are set by them.

Let’s face it, this might be the only bit someone reads and you want them to be impressed, don’t you?

In long documents you need provide a brief overview of the purpose and key messages of the document for the busy reader. This should enable them to decide within 60 seconds whether to read the rest, and if they do read it, which parts to look for.

The introduction and/or summary need to have enough content to be able to stand alone and represent the entire document.

I think this can be shorter than people often expect (but writing concisely takes more effort than waffling).

I always recommend to my students not to write long backgrounds as introductions to their essays. If the background information really is essential (and perhaps it is) then it should be in the body of the document, not in the introduction.

Even in an email, it is worth thinking about the opening sentence. Don’t waste the receiver’s time with niceties or rambling introductions. Just get straight to the point. Ask for what you want, or explain that the attached document is for a decision or for information or whatever.