How to Start an Essay: 7 Tips for a Knockout Essay Introduction
Sometimes, the most difficult part of writing an essay is getting started. You might have an outline already and know what you want to write, but struggle to find the right words to get it going. Don’t worry; you aren’t the first person to grapple with starting an essay, and you certainly won’t be the last.
Writing an essay isn’t the same as writing a book. Or writing a poem. Or writing a scientific research paper. Essay writing is a unique process that involves clear sequencing, backing up your positions with quality sources, and engaging language. But it’s also got one important thing in common with every other type of writing: You need to hook your reader’s attention within the first few sentences.
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Intriguing ways to start an essay
There are many different ways to write an essay introduction. Each has its benefits and potential drawbacks, and each is best suited for certain kinds of essays . Although these essay introductions use different rhetorical devices and prime the reader in different ways, they all achieve the same goal: hooking the reader and enticing them to keep reading.
To “hook” a reader simply means to capture their attention and make them want to continue reading your work. An essay introduction that successfully hooks readers in one essay won’t necessarily hook readers in another essay, which is why it’s so important for you to understand why different types of essay openings are effective.
Take a look at these common ways to start an essay:
Share a shocking or amusing fact
One way to start your essay is with a shocking, unexpected, or amusing fact about the topic you’re covering. This grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read further, expecting explanation, context, and/or elaboration on the fact you presented.
Check out these essay introduction examples that use relevant, engaging facts to capture the reader’s attention:
“More than half of Iceland’s population believe that elves exist or that they possibly can exist. Although this might sound strange to foreigners, many of us have similar beliefs that would sound just as strange to those outside our cultures.”
“Undergraduate students involved in federal work-study programs earn an average of just $1,794 per year. That’s just slightly more than the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in our city.”
Relevance is key here. Make sure the fact you choose directly relates to the topic you’re covering in your essay. Otherwise, it will feel random, confusing, or at best, shoehorned into the essay. In any case, it will undermine your essay as a whole by making it seem like you don’t have a full grasp on your topic.
If you’re writing an expository or persuasive essay , including a shocking or amusing fact in your introduction can be a great way to pique your reader’s curiosity. The fact you present can be one that supports the position you argue in the essay or it can be part of the body of data your expository essay explains.
Ask a question
By asking a question in your essay opening, you’re directly inviting the reader to interact with your work. They don’t get to be a passive consumer; they’re now part of the conversation. This can be a very engaging way to start an essay.
Take a look at these examples of essay openings that use questions to hook readers:
“How many times have you been late to class because you couldn’t find parking? You’re not alone—our campus is in desperate need of a new parking deck.”
“How frequently do you shop at fast fashion retailers? These retailers include H&M, Zara, Uniqlo and other brands that specialize in inexpensive clothing meant for short-term use.”
Asking a question is an effective choice for a persuasive essay because it asks the reader to insert themselves into the topic or even pick a side. While it can also work in other kinds of essays, it really shines in any essay that directly addresses the reader and puts them in a position to reflect on what you’re asking.
Dramatize a scene
Another effective way to write an essay introduction is to dramatize a scene related to your essay. Generally, this approach is best used with creative essays, like personal statements and literary essays. Here are a few examples of essay introductions that immerse readers in the action through dramatized scenes:
“The rain pounded against the roof, loudly drowning out any conversations we attempted to have. I’d promised them I’d play the latest song I wrote for guitar, but Mother Earth prevented any concert from happening that night.”
“Imagine you’ve just gotten off an airplane. You’re hot, you’re tired, you’re uncomfortable, and suddenly, you’re under arrest.”
Beyond creative essays, this kind of opening can work when you’re using emotional appeal to underscore your position in a persuasive essay. It’s also a great tool for a dramatic essay, and could be just the first of multiple dramatized scenes throughout the piece.
Kick it off with a quote
When you’re wondering how to write an essay introduction, remember that you can always borrow wisdom from other writers. This is a powerful way to kick off any kind of essay. Take a look at these examples:
“‘The past is never dead. It’s not even past.’ —William Faulkner. In his novel Requiem for a Nun , our changing perspective of the past is a primary theme.”
“‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ —Nelson Mandela. Before I joined the military, boot camp seemed impossible. But now, it’s done.”
Just as in choosing a fact or statistic to open your essay, any quote you choose needs to be relevant to your essay’s topic . If your reader has to perform a web search for your quote to figure out how it relates to the rest of your essay, it’s not relevant enough to use. Go with another quote that your text can easily explain.
State your thesis directly
The most straightforward kind of essay introduction is one where you simply state your thesis. Take a look at these examples:
“Fraternity culture is dangerous and contrary to campus values. Banning it is in the campus community’s best interest.”
“We can’t afford to ignore the evidence any longer; we need climate action now.”
By starting your essay like this, you’re cutting right to the chase. Think of it like diving into the deep end of a pool—instead of wading to that deep end, slowly getting acclimated to the water’s temperature along the way, you’re dropping your whole body right into the cold water. An introduction that directly states your thesis can be a great choice for an analytical essay.
How to write an essay introduction
Pick the right tone for your essay.
You probably shouldn’t use a funny quote to start a persuasive essay on a serious subject. Similarly, a statistic that can evoke strong emotions in the reader might not be the right choice for an expository essay because it could potentially be construed as your attempt to argue for a certain viewpoint, rather than state facts.
Read your essay’s first paragraph aloud and listen to your writing’s tone. Does the opening line’s tone match the rest of the paragraph, or is there a noticeable tone shift from the first line or two to the rest? In many cases, you can hear whether your tone is appropriate for your essay. Beyond listening for the right tone, use Grammarly’s tone detector to ensure that your essay introduction—as well as the rest of your essay—maintains the right tone for the subject you’re covering.
When you’re stuck, work backwards
Starting an essay can be difficult. If you find yourself so caught up on how to write an essay introduction that you’re staring at a blank screen as the clock ticks closer to your deadline, skip the introduction and move onto your essay’s body paragraphs . Once you have some text on the page, it can be easier to go back and write an introduction that leads into that content.
You may even want to start from the very end of your essay. If you know where your essay is going, but not necessarily how it will get there, write your conclusion first. Then, write the paragraph that comes right before your conclusion. Next, write the paragraph before that, working your way backwards until you’re in your introduction paragraph. By then, writing an effective essay introduction should be easy because you already have the content you need to introduce.
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The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples
An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.
There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.
The essay writing process consists of three main stages:
- Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
- Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
- Revision: Check the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.
Table of contents
Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.
The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .
For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.
Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:
- Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
- Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
- Do your research: Read primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
- Come up with a thesis: The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
- Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.
Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.
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The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.
1. Hook your reader
The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.
Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:
The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.
2. Provide background on your topic
Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.
3. Present the thesis statement
Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:
As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.
4. Map the structure
In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.
The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.
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The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.
Length of the body text
The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.
Paragraph structure
To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.
That idea is introduced in a topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.
After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.
Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.
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The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :
- Returns to your thesis
- Ties together your main points
- Shows why your argument matters
A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.
What not to include in a conclusion
To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:
- Including new arguments or evidence
- Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
- Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”
Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.
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Checklist: Essay
My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).
My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.
My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.
I use paragraphs to structure the essay.
I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.
Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.
I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.
My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.
I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.
I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.
I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.
My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .
My essay has an interesting and informative title.
I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).
Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.
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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.
In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.
Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.
The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.
The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.
Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:
- An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
- Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
- A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.
The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.
The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:
- It gives your writing direction and focus.
- It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.
Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.
A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.
At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).
Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.
The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .
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How to Begin an Essay: 13 Engaging Strategies
ThoughtCo / Hugo Lin
- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York
An effective introductory paragraph both informs and motivates. It lets readers know what your essay is about and it encourages them to keep reading.
There are countless ways to begin an essay effectively. As a start, here are 13 introductory strategies accompanied by examples from a wide range of professional writers.
State Your Thesis Briefly and Directly
But avoid making your thesis a bald announcement, such as "This essay is about...".
"It is time, at last, to speak the truth about Thanksgiving, and the truth is this. Thanksgiving is really not such a terrific holiday...." (Michael J. Arlen, "Ode to Thanksgiving." The Camera Age: Essays on Television . Penguin, 1982)
Pose a Question Related to Your Subject
Follow up the question with an answer, or an invitation for your readers to answer the question.
"What is the charm of necklaces? Why would anyone put something extra around their neck and then invest it with special significance? A necklace doesn't afford warmth in cold weather, like a scarf, or protection in combat, like chain mail; it only decorates. We might say, it borrows meaning from what it surrounds and sets off, the head with its supremely important material contents, and the face, that register of the soul. When photographers discuss the way in which a photograph reduces the reality it represents, they mention not only the passage from three dimensions to two, but also the selection of a point de vue that favors the top of the body rather than the bottom, and the front rather than the back. The face is the jewel in the crown of the body, and so we give it a setting." (Emily R. Grosholz, "On Necklaces." Prairie Schooner , Summer 2007)
State an Interesting Fact About Your Subject
" The peregrine falcon was brought back from the brink of extinction by a ban on DDT, but also by a peregrine falcon mating hat invented by an ornithologist at Cornell University. If you cannot buy this, Google it. Female falcons had grown dangerously scarce. A few wistful males nevertheless maintained a sort of sexual loitering ground. The hat was imagined, constructed, and then forthrightly worn by the ornithologist as he patrolled this loitering ground, singing, Chee-up! Chee-up! and bowing like an overpolite Japanese Buddhist trying to tell somebody goodbye...." (David James Duncan, "Cherish This Ecstasy." The Sun , July 2008)
Present Your Thesis as a Recent Discovery or Revelation
"I've finally figured out the difference between neat people and sloppy people. The distinction is, as always, moral. Neat people are lazier and meaner than sloppy people." (Suzanne Britt Jordan, "Neat People vs. Sloppy People." Show and Tell . Morning Owl Press, 1983)
Briefly Describe the Primary Setting of Your Essay
"It was in Burma, a sodden morning of the rains. A sickly light, like yellow tinfoil, was slanting over the high walls into the jail yard. We were waiting outside the condemned cells, a row of sheds fronted with double bars, like small animal cages. Each cell measured about ten feet by ten and was quite bare within except for a plank bed and a pot of drinking water. In some of them brown silent men were squatting at the inner bars, with their blankets draped round them. These were the condemned men, due to be hanged within the next week or two." (George Orwell, "A Hanging," 1931)
Recount an Incident That Dramatizes Your Subject
"One October afternoon three years ago while I was visiting my parents, my mother made a request I dreaded and longed to fulfill. She had just poured me a cup of Earl Grey from her Japanese iron teapot, shaped like a little pumpkin; outside, two cardinals splashed in the birdbath in the weak Connecticut sunlight. Her white hair was gathered at the nape of her neck, and her voice was low. “Please help me get Jeff’s pacemaker turned off,” she said, using my father’s first name. I nodded, and my heart knocked." (Katy Butler, "What Broke My Father's Heart." The New York Times Magazine , June 18, 2010)
Use the Narrative Strategy of Delay
The narrative strategy of delay allows you to put off identifying your subject just long enough to pique your readers' interest without frustrating them.
"They woof. Though I have photographed them before, I have never heard them speak, for they are mostly silent birds. Lacking a syrinx, the avian equivalent of the human larynx, they are incapable of song. According to field guides the only sounds they make are grunts and hisses, though the Hawk Conservancy in the United Kingdom reports that adults may utter a croaking coo and that young black vultures, when annoyed, emit a kind of immature snarl...." (Lee Zacharias, "Buzzards." Southern Humanities Review , 2007)
Use the Historical Present Tense
An effective method of beginning an essay is to use historical present tense to relate an incident from the past as if it were happening now.
"Ben and I are sitting side by side in the very back of his mother’s station wagon. We face glowing white headlights of cars following us, our sneakers pressed against the back hatch door. This is our joy—his and mine—to sit turned away from our moms and dads in this place that feels like a secret, as though they are not even in the car with us. They have just taken us out to dinner, and now we are driving home. Years from this evening, I won’t actually be sure that this boy sitting beside me is named Ben. But that doesn’t matter tonight. What I know for certain right now is that I love him, and I need to tell him this fact before we return to our separate houses, next door to each other. We are both five." (Ryan Van Meter, "First." The Gettysburg Review , Winter 2008)
Briefly Describe a Process That Leads Into Your Subject
"I like to take my time when I pronounce someone dead. The bare-minimum requirement is one minute with a stethoscope pressed to someone’s chest, listening for a sound that is not there; with my fingers bearing down on the side of someone’s neck, feeling for an absent pulse; with a flashlight beamed into someone’s fixed and dilated pupils, waiting for the constriction that will not come. If I’m in a hurry, I can do all of these in sixty seconds, but when I have the time, I like to take a minute with each task." (Jane Churchon, "The Dead Book." The Sun , February 2009)
Reveal a Secret or Make a Candid Observation
"I spy on my patients. Ought not a doctor to observe his patients by any means and from any stance, that he might the more fully assemble evidence? So I stand in doorways of hospital rooms and gaze. Oh, it is not all that furtive an act. Those in bed need only look up to discover me. But they never do." ( Richard Selzer , "The Discus Thrower." Confessions of a Knife . Simon & Schuster, 1979)
Open with a Riddle, Joke, or Humorous Quotation
You can use a riddle , joke, or humorous quotation to reveal something about your subject.
" Q: What did Eve say to Adam on being expelled from the Garden of Eden? A: 'I think we're in a time of transition.' The irony of this joke is not lost as we begin a new century and anxieties about social change seem rife. The implication of this message, covering the first of many periods of transition, is that change is normal; there is, in fact, no era or society in which change is not a permanent feature of the social landscape...." (Betty G. Farrell, Family: The Making of an Idea, an Institution, and a Controversy in American Culture . Westview Press, 1999)
Offer a Contrast Between Past and Present
"As a child, I was made to look out the window of a moving car and appreciate the beautiful scenery, with the result that now I don't care much for nature. I prefer parks, ones with radios going chuckawaka chuckawaka and the delicious whiff of bratwurst and cigarette smoke." (Garrison Keillor, "Walking Down The Canyon." Time , July 31, 2000)
Offer a Contrast Between Image and Reality
A compelling essay can begin with a contrast between a common misconception and the opposing truth.
"They aren’t what most people think they are. Human eyes, touted as ethereal objects by poets and novelists throughout history, are nothing more than white spheres, somewhat larger than your average marble, covered by a leather-like tissue known as sclera and filled with nature’s facsimile of Jell-O. Your beloved’s eyes may pierce your heart, but in all likelihood they closely resemble the eyes of every other person on the planet. At least I hope they do, for otherwise he or she suffers from severe myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), or worse...." (John Gamel, "The Elegant Eye." Alaska Quarterly Review , 2009)
Watch Now: Researching and Writing a Thesis and Outline for an Essay
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How To Start An Essay: Examples For All Essay Types
21 Sep 2021
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❔How To Begin An Essay
✏️Examples On How To Start Great Essay
Argumentative essay
Opinion essay, persuasive essay, essay about yourself, expository essay, compare and contrast essay, essay for scholarship, application essay, informal essay.
☝️Do and Don’t For a Good Essay Beginning
✅Motivate Yourself To Start Writing An Essay
You may know exactly how you’ll approach your essay assignment, from your research to detailing interesting facts and figures and perhaps include some charts in an effort to get a good grade. But many students aren’t sure how to write an essay introduction. The beginning of an essay is instrumental in getting your work noticed and most importantly, earning a high grade. That is why we are here to help you. You can buy essay papers at our service to improve your grades and be confident in your writing.
Without a strong beginning, all your hard work could be in vain. So instead of putting it all at risk, we’ve included a guide to get you started – Literally. Our tips from professional writers will build your confidence in putting pen to paper. So read on to find these secrets to starting an essay.
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How To Write Introduction Paragraph For An Essay
The first paragraph of an essay can make or break your great so be sure to put much thought into each part. First, there are a few ways to open an essay. The main idea is to develop a good hook to have your audience asking for more. If you need to know how to write a good hook , take a look at our essay writing tips and state an interesting fact or ask a question that’s on everyone’s mind. Once you’ve accomplished this you want to give some background information to further involve the reader in your topic. Finally, once they are informed about what you’re writing about, you can put a quality thesis statement that gives purpose to your paper.
Examples On How To Start An Essay
You can apply this basic template according to any academic essay. In the following, we’ll give you some ideas of opening lines for many popular homework assignments you may come across. Use our essay writing tips and put yourself in the readers' seat. Lead off with some valuable information or a quotation that respects your target audience's time and they are sure to take an interest in your work. So let’s look at some examples of lead-ins for common papers.
In an argumentative essay, you need to convince the audience you are right on a hot essay topic. These papers can be familiar with political topics such as Roe vs Wade or your position on gun control. They can involve complicated subject matter such as testing mechanisms in an analytical essay.
- They say that a person’s blink rate indicates their level of honesty, but science shows that women blink twice the rate as men. Does this mean men are more honest than women?
An opinion essay is just that, a point of view on a particular topic. Often times you’ll find these topics can be debated either way without a concrete answer. You can have some fun with these topics by merely finding a never-ending pool of points to throw into the paper. Just be sure to backup your points with reasons and data to avoid a low grade.
- Legalizing marijuana makes better college students. Discover how this popular herb impacts student performance to focus on assignments.
The world is full of skeptics and what better way to show them the truth than to write a compelling paper showing them why a particular theory is correct. These papers will teach critical skills to build your emotional intelligence. Particularly if you need to know how to start an analysis essay , you’ll need to gauge your audience to find the best strategy to appeal to their rationale mechanisms. In this case, we’ll begin an essay with a question to persuade the audience of the need to promote a clean environment.
- What would you do if you found out the world only had 10 years before climate change became irreversible?
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Writing essay about yourself is never easy. You may be a bit shy or uncomfortable disclosing your personal life to others. Also, it’s hard to find the right tone to not come off as bragging and to be objective about your own experiences. But such tasks are very common, particularly when finding a job or entering university (see application essay below). Also, be sure to make yourself interesting without sounding like a megalomaniac. One piece of advice is to turn the focus on how another individual had an influence on you. In this case, we’ll demonstrate writing about yourself and how to start off a quote in an essay.
- “A penny saved is a penny earned”, this famous quote from Ben Franklin was advice that allowed me to pursue my dream of getting an education.
Your goal in an expository essay is to give further clarification on a particular issue. This could be a follow-up on another’s work that wasn’t as clear or to give comments on an investigation of a case study. With these papers, you want to ensure you first ask yourself what questions people may have and provide a succinct answer to fill in the gaps. An example of good essay beginnings for this task could be as follows:
- Have you considered joining the flat earth society? This group has often been ridiculed for their theories but what if there were science behind it?
A popular topic in university is when you have to examine two subjects and detail how they are similar or different. These papers illustrate a student’s ability to analyze data and research details to come to conclusions. So if you are wondering how to start a compare and contrast essay being a bit controversial in the beginning may help. In our example we can begin with a common argument we can see anywhere in our daily lives.
- The argument of Android vs iPhone is as old as the technology itself, so which device is the most practical?
We all know the financial burdens college tuition brings. In fact, it can ruin a student if they fail to do well with their studies as they may not find a good job after leaving college. A word of the wise is if your grades are in jeopardy, enlist the help of custom essay writing services to protect the investment in your future. Applying for a scholarship is also a prudent move to reduce costs. These essays can vary in topic and are typically one page in length. The key is to demonstrate you will be successful in college so the sponsor has confidence in helping you succeed. Let’s take an example for an essay on how education is important in the world.
- “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”. These words from Nelson Mandela have a deeper meaning than the study of books and theories but demonstrate a true dedication to having purpose and reaching one’s potential.
Universities include an essay as part of the application kit to not only get an idea if you can write but to get some inside information about yourself. This is often in the form of a personal statement and typically takes the form of an English Essay. Here you want to hammer away that you are ready for higher education and you’ll apply yourself to do good in the world. It’s not easy to differentiate yourself from the pack which is why a strong lead-in is vital.
- As Shakespeare had stated “The pen is mightier than the sword”, and with a proper education students can unlock their future potential and bring new innovations to the world.
A pitfall many students fall into is that they don’t take these seriously. In fact, you may start laughing when your teacher gives some example topics to write about. The idea of this work is to be fun and allow students to show their creative sides. But be creative in an educated way. Be sure to include facts and reasoning and not just random words on paper for the sake of reaction.
- In the event of a pending zombie apocalypse, have you considered which 3 friends you’d have by your side?
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Do and Don’t For a Good Essay Beginning
Writing a good intro isn’t rocket science but it is a skill that can always be developed. Professional academics recommend drafting a few intros to your work and selecting the one you like best. You can rework the passage, adding and rewording parts to give it strength.
Another tip is to ask your friends their opinion. Get some honest advice to see if they are interested in what would follow. In the beginning, be sure to be on point. Try not to water down your meaning with unnecessary details and always be serious. If your paper comes across as comedy, you won’t be laughing when you get your grade.
How To Start Each Part Of The Essay
So taking in this information, along with the examples of how to begin an essay examples let’s look at your paper as a whole. After all, the beginning is the start of something that must be consistent throughout your work. We’ve laid out some basic essay writing tips to put together a standard 5 paragraph essay. Follow this guide, and at the end, remember to review your work to spot any typos or mistakes.
How to start an essay introduction
The easiest way to write an essay introduction is to do it last. Once you finish with your body you can make a powerful start to your text as you’d have a better understanding of the main points you hit on best. Begin with a quote or fact and follow up with a catchy phrase to work as a hook. Then you are ready to place the thesis statement for the reader to keep in mind as they go through your work.
Write the second paragraph
On longer papers, you may have a multiple-paragraph introduction to set up the paper. In the second paragraph, you build off the thesis statement and supply some background information or common questions that exist around your topic. Be sure they are relevant and will be answered later in your work.
Starting essay body paragraph
Your transition into the body is important to maintain the flow of the paper. Hopefully, by now your audience is captivated and hungry to know more. Depending on the paper it’s time to state your research or show your teacher you understand the topic. You want to give your most important findings first. But don’t cram in all the interesting details at once or the rest of your paper may get boring. Structure your paper in a cycle of ups and downs alternating between interesting facts and mundane details which are important.
How to start a conclusion for an essay
In your conclusion, you need to re-engage the reader as they’ve likely forgotten some key elements by now. Write in a brief summary of the takeaways of your work and why it’s important. If your paper requires any type of decision you want to state it clearly so whoever reads your paper knows your perspective. You may also encourage the readers to take action or to further investigate areas that were beyond the scope of your work.
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Motivate Yourself To Start Writing An Essay
Good essay beginnings have a mixture of passion and determination. Your working environment is of the utmost importance to produce quality work. Have a clear head when you start to write. If you have something on your mind, try to find a way to focus. You may find luck listening to certain music or vegging on the couch for a bit. Also, take some breaks during the writing process. You’ll be able to sort through your ideas and think about things you could have missed. Another recommendation is to get away from distractions and ensure you have a productive environment. Whether it be in a library or a different room. And be sure to detach yourself from your smartphone and social media. The number one time killer.
The college will pile on a lot of homework and can be quite demanding at times. Fifty percent of the battle is getting started. So get into gear by setting yourself up to succeed and you’ll get the results you’re determined to get. Remember if you need assistance, our team is available anytime you need us, so reach out at any time.
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I am a proficient writer from the United States with over five years of experience in academic writing. I comfortably complete given assignments within stipulated deadlines and at the same time deliver high-quality work, which follows the guidelines provided.
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Looking for Easy Words to Use as Good Essay Starters?
- Include a good hook sentence that provides a hint of what the essay is about. A good hook sentence keeps readers intrigued to the end.
- Understand your subject/ reader: Each generation varies in language. It’s good to know your subject well, whether old or young.
- Use good words that flow easily. These include: for instance, moreover, equally important, but also, and so forth.
- Set an appropriate tone.
- Include a thesis statement.
Make sure you grab the attention of the reader such that they’ll want more. Reach into their hearts. While doing this may sound easy, it is not, and you may require a lot of efforts so as not to become boring. However, learning these easy tips may change a lot. What is more pleasing, we offer essay writing services . If you feel you have inadequacies in using these tips you can always ask for assistance from us. We are an essay writing company whose job is to solve student’s writing problems. We offer different types of essays. Whether expository, narrative, descriptive, analytical, argumentative, persuasive, definition or critical essay is what you need, we have got you covered. Moreover, our writers are experienced and knowledgeable in different areas, including in the appropriate use of starters. They will ensure that your customized piece is interesting and your readers are left fascinated.
Table of Contents
Get to Learn More About Essay Sentence Starters in These Simple Steps
You may have a clue of the contents required to write about your topic of coverage. But do you know how to begin a sentence in each topic to cover? You need to know what essay sentence starters are meant for and how to use them. They include words and phrases that clue in the reader as to why and the meaning of content. They are generally used to:
- Welcome your reader’s attention.
- Add ideas to your writings
- Bring in comparison
- Emphasize on a topic
These starting words are in the form of:
- Rhetorical questions. Use a deeper meaning using questions to intrigue the person reading your content, making sure they are in line with the topic.
- Numerals & statistics. These tend to capture the reader’s attention. Note that it will not be advisable to guess numbers or select any number of statistics. Make sure that you have done ample research on the topic you are covering to avoid false statements.
- Another great starter is the highlight of your article.
- Quote, famous people you believe are wise and keep in line with the topic.
Are you still having difficulties with choosing appropriate starters for your essay and are worried that your essay will not be up-to-standard? Put your worries to rest as we have a solution for you. Ask us for assistance. We are always willing to help. Whether you need your essay to be written from scratch or want us to edit your draft, we will offer our assistance.
Learn More About Essay paragraph Starters
It is advisable to start every paragraph with a new word. More precisely, using words that will draw your reader’s thinking and how this word reflects the topic is a good vibe to use as essay paragraph starters. With this, you can choose your word perfectly, to bring out the best of your paragraph. For a topic paragraph, you will need some knowledge of your content determining your essays’ topic. Every time you are adding a sentence, use words that bring out the similarities. When emphasizing, use words that mean what you are trying to say. When comparing, use, on the other hand, in contrast and any other comparing pack of words. Make sure to use different kinds of words and do not keep on repeating them to capture the one reading fully. Use different variation and choose a tone when writing according to your subject. If you encounter hitches, you can always ask us for help!
Incorporate Effective College Essay Starters in Your Writing
Tired of gazing on a blank screen, empty and not knowing what to write or even where to start? Worry not, here are simplified and straight points as a solution to your worry. Firstly, you need to use effective college essay starters for your academic piece to be exceptional. Additionally, ensure that your paper adheres to the following standards:
- Introduction: It is a good idea first to introduce yourself here. Talk more on your personality, outlook on life experiences, passion, hobbies, trying to engage with the one reading, creating a perfect picture of who you are as they read through that essay. The introduction should impress your subject and get him intrigued to read to the very last word in your essay. Your introduction should start with a juicy sentence. To set up this sentence that should grab your reader’s attention, point out your ideas for the story, and finally choose a flow of word transition that will reveal your essay. If you still gaze to a blank screen, it is a good idea to try brainstorming ideas with your friends and put down the best ideas from your discussion.
- Be creative: Be very creative in your use of words, in your topic, in your ideas and most importantly write something that will keep the reader glued to your essay, an example is trying to jog around the reader’s mind with a joke here and there.
- Get the best hook for your essay: having in mind that many others have a written essay to be read, learn how to outstand the rest. Engage the person reading inspiring that person to keep reading. Choose an outstanding topic, a very interesting topic that will not only intrigue the reader but also inspire him and even yarn to meeting with you.
- Ask a question: Asking a question at the beginning of your essay activates your reader’s critical thinking as they hunger for the answer.
These tips will make your essay exceptional and interesting.
What About Argumentative Essay Sentence Starters?
When writing argumentative essays, sentence starters are important. Considering that your entire argumentative essay hovers around your thesis statement, it is important to use appropriate argumentative essay sentence starters. You will need to use a hook to capture the attention of the reader. Your thesis should create a problem that you resolve in the body of the argumentative essay. It can either be a provocative or a rhetorical question, where you can define the thesis and challenge the accepted fact. You should start with a persuasive mechanism for your introduction, mention your research from the beginning as it shows your knowledge from the beginning.
Master what kind of audience is most comfortable with you. Learn to appeal the reader’s emotions with an enticing argument while capturing the reader’s emotions. For instance. Below is an example of how to start;
Have you ever felt invisible? Unwanted? But still very much vibrant? That’s what I felt when we moved, and I had to join my now new school. All eyes were focused on me, and I had to put myself together and tried to fit in if it were not for the armed bullies who wasted not even a fraction of a second to attack.
This is one of the many essay starters examples that begins with a question which strikes the reader to want to read on through the essay to get to know how the writer finally settled and mingled in the new school. Essay conclusion starters are when you are writing down the final thought about your thesis. Make sure that your conclusion must include the information that was discussed in the body. Certain words should be used when concluding, they include:
- I am concluding.
- As said above,
- As a matter of fact
It is important to note that in such cases, essay starters introduction mark the end of the essay.
In most cases, they appear as the last sentence in writing. Important characters to consider when concluding sentences are:
- Reviewing main points mentioned in the body
- Mentioning the topic sentence again.
- Do not add any new ideas or topics
- Make sure it elaborates about the topics discussed.
The essay body paragraph starters should also be mentioned in the conclusion as discussed, use words which are capturing with phrases for a new paragraph. Useful linking words are:
- As a result
- As we have seen
- Another factor
- Every part of this
- For this/that reason
- More to that,
Every paragraph ought to have a topic sentence that informs the paragraph’s main idea. The following are examples of essay topic sentence starters that can be used:
- Differences and similarities exist between….
- While …..presents with multiple benefits, some detrimental impacts may also occur.
- The causes of ….can be numerous.
I hope that this will help you as you tackle that essay paper and that your reader will not get bored. You should not use them all the time. This can also be used as personal essay starters, although in the body it contains activities, abilities, interests, and personal beliefs because this essay is more of an own testament for publication. Your focus is more on yourself, and you must be more open and flexible. You also need to have a hook just like any other essay. Focus on the reader who needs to be intrigued in your personal life. You need a memorable story that shouldn’t be boring. Use flowing words thinking how each word relates to the body.
Now that you have all the information of every starter mentioned above should help you get and intrigue your readers attention, use of great people stories and quoting famous people, knowing how to start an essay and where to get your research from should also stimulate the reader to be on toes and want to get the whole information of what you are writing. If you still aren’t sure what starters to use, when, and where to place them don’t be stressed up. We are here for you. Just place an order with us, and you’ll receive a piece with the most appropriate starters. Our experts have all it takes. They are experienced, competent, and proficient in what they do.
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COMMENTS
Here are some situations where a sentence starter works best: It’s unclear how one sentence is connected to others. You’re introducing a new idea, such as at the beginning of an essay or of a paragraph You’re presenting a conclusion or summary, for instance at the end of an essay. You want to add ...
Intriguing ways to start an essay Share a shocking or amusing fact. One way to start your essay is with a shocking, unexpected, or amusing fact about the... Ask a question. By asking a question in your essay opening, you’re directly inviting the reader to interact with your... Dramatize a scene. ...
Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook. Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity. The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s interesting.
The essay writing process consists of three main stages: Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline. Writing: Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
How to Begin an Essay: 13 Engaging Strategies State Your Thesis Briefly and Directly. But avoid making your thesis a bald announcement, such as "This essay is about... Pose a Question Related to Your Subject. Follow up the question with an answer, or an invitation for your readers to... State an ...
Sentence Starters: To Add Ideas Some essays scaffold the body by adding new ideas in each paragraph. Instead of separate ideas or contrasting concepts, the paragraphs build off each other....
The beginning of an essay is instrumental in getting your work noticed and most importantly, earning a high grade. That is why we are here to help you. You can buy essay papers at our service to improve your grades and be confident in your writing. Without a strong beginning, all your hard work could be in vain.
Looking for Easy Words to Use as Good Essay Starters? Get to Learn More About Essay Sentence Starters in These Simple Steps. You may have a clue of the contents required to... Learn More About Essay paragraph Starters. It is advisable to start every paragraph with a new word. More precisely,... ...