What is the difference between a summary & an introduction?

[KatyMac]

I seem to want to write the same in each & that must be wrong

A summary can be read on it's own and is normally written in past tense, e.g. 'this assignmnet showed that' rather than your introduction which will be 'this assignmnet will consider'. It should be a condensed version of your introduction, your main findings and your conclusion.

Thanks

My Dad always used to say:

1. Say what your going to say (intro)
2. Say it (body)
3. Say what you said (concl)

My intro always starts with 'This essay will discuss .....' and finishes with 'In conclusion .....', so it is clear to the marker which bit of the essay is which (because it might not be clear once I am waffling on).