What is the structure of an essay? Opening paragraph for essay Bogeyman of Your Nightmares: Freddy Krueger's Folkloric Roots. Do My Homework. Library Home OneSearch Email a Librarian Article Databases A to Z. The Truth NO ONE likes research papers.
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An introductory opening paragraph for essay, as the opening of a conventional essaycompositionor reportis designed to grab people's attention. It informs readers about the topic and why they should care about it but also adds enough intrigue to get them to continue to read. In short, the opening paragraph is your chance to make a great first impression. The primary purpose of an introductory paragraph is to pique the interest of your reader and identify the topic and purpose of the essay. It often ends with a thesis statement. You can engage your readers right from the start through a number of tried-and-true ways.
Posing a question, opening paragraph for essay, defining the key term, giving a brief anecdoteusing a playful joke or emotional appeal, or pulling out an interesting fact are just a few approaches you can take. Use imagery, details, opening paragraph for essay, and sensory information to connect with the reader if you can. The key is to add intrigue along with just enough information so your readers want to find out more. One way to do this is to come up with a brilliant opening line. Even the most mundane topics have aspects interesting enough to write about; otherwise, opening paragraph for essay, you wouldn't be writing about them, right?
When you begin writing a new piece, opening paragraph for essay, think about what your readers want or need to know. Use your knowledge of the topic to craft an opening line that will satisfy that need. You don't want to fall into the trap of what writers call "chasers" that bore your readers such as "The dictionary defines The introduction should make sense and hook the reader right from the start. Make your introductory paragraph brief. Typically, opening paragraph for essay, just three or four sentences are enough to set the stage for both long and short essays. You can go into supporting information in the body of your essay, so don't tell the audience everything all at once.
You can always adjust your introductory paragraph later. Sometimes you just have to start writing. You can start at the beginning or opening paragraph for essay right into the heart of your essay. Your first draft may not have the best opening, but as you continue to write, new ideas will come to you, and your thoughts will develop a clearer focus. Take note of these and, opening paragraph for essay you work through revisionsrefine and edit your opening. If you're struggling with the opening, follow the lead of other writers and skip it for the moment. Many writers begin with the body and conclusion and come back to the introduction later.
It's a useful, opening paragraph for essay, time-efficient approach if you find yourself stuck in those first few words. Start where it's easiest to start. You can always go back to the beginning or rearrange later, especially if you have an outline completed or general framework informally mapped out. If you don't have an outline, even just starting to sketch one can help organize your thoughts and "prime the pump" as it were. You can read all the advice you want about writing a compelling opening, but it's often easier to learn by example. Take a look at how some writers approached their essays and analyze why they work so well. What did Zeigler do in her introduction?
First, she wrote in a little joke, but it serves a dual purpose. Not only does it set the stage for her slightly more humorous approach to crabbing, but it also clarifies what type of "crabber" she's writing about. This is important if your subject has more opening paragraph for essay one meaning. The other thing that makes this a successful introduction is the fact that Zeigler leaves us wondering. What do we have to be prepared for? Will the crabs jump up and latch onto you? Is it a messy job? What tools and gear do I need? She leaves us with questions, and that draws us in because now we want answers.
This revised classification essay begins by painting a picture of an ordinary scenario: the grocery store. But when used as an opportunity to observe human nature, as this writer does, it turns from ordinary to fascinating. Who is the amnesiac? Would I be classified as the dawdler by this cashier? The descriptive language and the analogy to rats in a maze add to the intrigue, and readers are left wanting more. For this reason, even though it's lengthy, this is an effective opening. Here is an example of reversing expectations. The introductory paragraph is filled with doom and opening paragraph for essay. We feel sorry opening paragraph for essay the writer but are left wondering whether the article will be a classic opening paragraph for essay story.
It is in the second paragraph where we find out that it's quite the opposite. Those first few words of the second paragraph—which we cannot help but skim—surprise us and thus draw us in. How can the narrator be happy after all that sorrow? This reversal compels us to find out what happened. Most people have had streaks where nothing seems to go right. Yet, it is the possibility of a turn of fortunes that compels us to keep going. This writer appealed to our emotions and a sense of shared experience to craft an effective read. Share Flipboard Email. An Introduction to Essay Writing. Introduction Choosing a Topic. Writing an Introduction. How to Begin an Essay Writing a Great First Paragraph Strong Thesis Statements Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentences Check Your Knowledge: How to Support a Topic Sentence.
Structuring and Outlining. How to Write a 5-Paragraph Essay Create an Outline Using a Venn Diagram Use Text Boxes to Outline and Organize Check Your Knowledge: Create a Simple Outline. Types of Essays. How to Write a Narrative Essay How to Write an Argumentative Essay How to Write an Expository Essay How to Write a Personal Narrative How to Write an Opinion Essay How to Write a Profile. Editing and Improving. Making Paragraphs Flow With Smooth Transitions Replace These Overused, Tired Words An Essay Revision Checklist. By Richard Nordquist Richard Nordquist.
Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. Learn about our Editorial Process. Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Nordquist, Richard. Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs. copy citation. Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay. Understanding General-to-Specific Order in Composition. Writers on Writing: The Art of Paragraphing. Bad Essay Topics for College Admissions.
Hookers vs. Chasers: How Not to Begin an Essay. How to Develop and Organize a Classification Essay. How to Write a Solid Thesis Statement. Classification Paragraph, Essay, Speech, or Character Study: 50 Topics.
narrative essay on love
You have to make sure that you are choosing the right words to start a paragraph. In this section, we are going to look as some examples of sentence starters. You will discover that you choose the right transition words to start a body paragraph depending on what you are communicating. You may need transition words to show contrast, add to idea, show cause, or even add emphasis. So, here is a list of transition words that can help you in each category. You can use them as tips to get the right words to start a sentence and bring great expressions to the readers.
You may discover that each new paragraph is becoming repetitive and distract you from the key component in the critical analysis of your academic work. Succinctly identify the key sections or paragraphs of your essay in the introduction paragraph. You also need to restate them in your conclusion paragraph. Students who have this knowledge will not struggle with starting or how to end an essay. You can also be sure that you will please those who read your work. The most important thing is to choose good transition words for your essay. These tips will help you to choose the best words to start a paragraph in your essay. Your email address will not be published. Skip to content My Homework Done Expert Writing Services.
Order Now. Do My Homework. So, How to Start a Paragraph? Transition Words to Start a Paragraph Transition words prompt the reader to establish relationships that exist between your ideas, especially when changing ideas. Topic Sentences You need to start with a topic sentence at ideas the beginning of ever paragraph. Organization The way you organize your paper can also assist in boosting the transition of paragraphs. Relationships In addition to how you write your academic essay , you can also enhance how you transition your paragraphs by discussing the relationships that exist between your ideas. You don't want to do a research paper. Your professor doesn't want to read it or grade it. So, do you both a favor and make it interesting! Think about the things that interest you. Now, think about your paper.
Can you find a way to incorporate the two? If you come up with an idea for a paper, run it by your professor. Chances are, your professor is tired of reading the same paper over and over again and may be open to your idea. You will be surprised by how many fun and interesting topics there are with just a little imagination. Let's pretend I have to write a paper for an economics class. I am horrible at economics and business, so I don't enjoy the subjects. However, I love music. Can I combine music and economics? Of course! There are many ways to incorporate music into an economics paper :. Scholarly research is WAY more interesting than most people give credit to. Below are some of my favorite off-the-wall articles:. The Bogeyman of Your Nightmares: Freddy Krueger's Folkloric Roots.
Head and Neck Injury Risks in Heavy Metal: Head Bangers Stuck between Rock and a Hard Bass. Librarians and Party Girls: Cultural Studies and the Meaning of the Librarian. It's a useful, time-efficient approach if you find yourself stuck in those first few words. Start where it's easiest to start. You can always go back to the beginning or rearrange later, especially if you have an outline completed or general framework informally mapped out. If you don't have an outline, even just starting to sketch one can help organize your thoughts and "prime the pump" as it were. You can read all the advice you want about writing a compelling opening, but it's often easier to learn by example. Take a look at how some writers approached their essays and analyze why they work so well.
What did Zeigler do in her introduction? First, she wrote in a little joke, but it serves a dual purpose. Not only does it set the stage for her slightly more humorous approach to crabbing, but it also clarifies what type of "crabber" she's writing about. This is important if your subject has more than one meaning. The other thing that makes this a successful introduction is the fact that Zeigler leaves us wondering. What do we have to be prepared for? Will the crabs jump up and latch onto you? Is it a messy job? What tools and gear do I need? She leaves us with questions, and that draws us in because now we want answers.
This revised classification essay begins by painting a picture of an ordinary scenario: the grocery store. But when used as an opportunity to observe human nature, as this writer does, it turns from ordinary to fascinating. Who is the amnesiac? Would I be classified as the dawdler by this cashier? The descriptive language and the analogy to rats in a maze add to the intrigue, and readers are left wanting more. For this reason, even though it's lengthy, this is an effective opening. Here is an example of reversing expectations. The introductory paragraph is filled with doom and gloom. We feel sorry for the writer but are left wondering whether the article will be a classic sob story.
It is in the second paragraph where we find out that it's quite the opposite. Those first few words of the second paragraph—which we cannot help but skim—surprise us and thus draw us in. How can the narrator be happy after all that sorrow?
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