Here’s how to how to start an essay to create the same effect.
That last point—capturing your audience’s attention—means you should carefully consider your choice of words as you start your essay introduction.
Not all essays are the same. Some ask you to argue a point, some ask you to explain something, and others might want you to tell a story. Knowing which type of essay you’re writing will shape how you start and what tone you use.
In this blog, we’ll show you exactly how to start an essay—step by step. From getting organized in the prewriting stage to crafting a strong introduction, we’ve got you covered.
How do I begin writing an essay?
First, we’ll talk about how to use each style to get your foot in the door. Then, we’ll discuss which introductions work best for different essay types.
Starting an essay might feel like one of the hardest parts of writing. You’ve got ideas floating around, but you’re unsure how to get them down on paper in a way that makes sense. You’re not alone—this is a common challenge for many writers, whether they’re in school or writing professionally.
Have you heard your essay needs to start with a hook? If you’re not sure how to write a hook, it boils down to the intriguing aspects of your essay.
Many times, it is more effective to show rather than tell your reader the importance of your topic. An anecdote is a story that can be used to illustrate a point that you are trying to make in your introductory paragraph. For example, if you want to explain the importance of cancer research, you might begin your introduction with a story about a cancer survivor who benefited from treatment. An essay on the importance of fraud protection laws might begin with a story about a senior citizen who was swindled out of his retirement savings by a con artist. A carefully selected anecdote can appeal to the emotions of your reader and increase their interest in your topic.
Example of How to Start an Essay with a Question:
A hook is an interesting statement that piques the interest of your reader. As the name suggests, the purpose of the hook is to figuratively “hook” your reader and compel them to continue reading your essay introduction. Startling statistics are among the most effective hooks. For example, if your paper is on obesity, you might include a shocking statistic that demonstrates the high prevalence of obesity in the United States. When you open your essay with an interesting fact, you can return to your hook and refer to it in the body of your essay. An effective hook can be referred to repeatedly in order to regain the attention of your reader. It takes practice to write an effective hook, but once you get it down, you will keep your reader hanging on to your essay until the very last word.
Another way to start off an essay is by using a quote.
Yeah, it’s an easy way to start your paper, but it certainly isn’t very interesting. Readers already know what happiness means. You don’t need to define it for them.
Here are some interesting sentences to start an essay:
Will asking a question grab your reader’s attention? Yes. When you begin your introduction paragraph with a thought-provoking question it forces the reader to pause and consider the answer. By asking questions in your essay introduction, you force your reader to pay closer attention to your writing. If you use this strategy, just be sure to keep your question simple and related to the topic of the essay. Though you want to slow your reader down, you also don’t want to confuse them or distract them from the rest of your essay.
How to Start a Paragraph in an Essay?
Nothing about this introduction works. It uses the term “imagery,” but it doesn’t say anything specific about the subject, how it’s used in the poem, or the focus of your paper.
How to Start a Conclusion in an Essay?
Okay, so an ear-shattering bang with a fiery-aftermath-type isn’t what I’m talking about when I say, “This is how to start an essay with a bang.” (But I bet this adorably suspicious kitten has one heck of a story to tell.)