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- Job Application Documents
How to Write a Job Application Essay
Last Updated: May 28, 2021 References
This article was co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 171,338 times.
Many employers now require a writing sample, or job application essay , to accompany all applications or résumés — even if writing is not a significant part of the position. The goal of the job application essay is to ensure that applicants have the right communication skills for the position offered. Sometimes, potential employers will provide a specific topic or series of questions for your essay to respond to. However, you may also be asked to provide an essay with no guidance whatsoever. Either way, approach the essay seriously so that it highlights the skills and assets you could bring to the company. [1] X Research source
Outlining Your Essay
- If you don't know much about the company, do a little research on it before you start writing. You might look at their website or do a general internet search with the name of the company to see if any news articles or other reports come up. Go beyond the four corners of the job listing so that you understand who will likely be reading your essay.
- If there's anything in the job listing or essay requirements that you don't understand, contact the employer and ask about them. Employers are often impressed by applicants who clarify the employer's intent rather than making assumptions.
- For example, if you're applying for a position in sales, you might want to write an essay about your ability to tailor your pitch to specific clients and close the deal. If you have the ability to be more creative, you might tailor your essay to "sell" yourself directly to the employer.
- For each of your points, think of a specific example you can relate briefly that illustrates the point. For example, if you've described yourself as a "team player," you might include an example of how you came in on your day off to complete some of the more monotonous tasks that no one else wanted to do so a project could be completed ahead of schedule.
- It's a good idea to have more than one example in your outline for each point, even if you only end up using one. That way, if you start writing something and it ends up not working as well as you thought it would, you'll have a back-up handy.
- Brainstorming can be difficult. If you find yourself churning over the same thoughts, stand up and take a break for a few minutes. Step outside or go for a walk to clear your head, then come back to it.
- For example, if you want to describe how you increased sales in a specific quarter, you would want to state specifically how much you increased sales. Your former employer may have sales figures that you could ask them for. You might also have that information in your records.
- Wherever possible, use specific numbers and dates rather than making general statements. It's okay to estimate, but make sure your estimate is conservative. Saying you led your sales team to the highest sales in a quarter is impressive — but only if it's true.
Completing Your Rough Draft
- Think of this paragraph as telling the hiring manager what you're going to tell them in the essay. Outline the points you're going to elaborate on in the essay that back up your theme or thesis statement.
- Sometimes it's best to go back and write your introduction after you've written the body of your essay. That way, you can make sure the introduction provides an outline that matches the body.
- If the employer listed specifically what should be included in your essay, follow their order, since that's what they'll be looking for when they read the essay.
- Write in the first person and make yourself the star of any anecdote you include as an example. Use action verbs to focus on what you did rather than focusing on what happened and how you reacted to it. [9] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
- For example, if you're writing about your skills as a team player, you might note that you discuss doing routine work that others found monotonous so they had time to work on other parts of a project. You could use that detail to move on to a section describing how you're detail-oriented.
- For example, you might write "My business school education, skills as a team player, and focus on detail make me the best candidate to lead your sales team."
Finalizing Your Essay
- For example, you might start by looking solely at punctuation, then read through again focusing on spelling.
- If you find that you tend to repeat a particular error, go through your essay looking for that error specifically.
- If your grammar isn't particularly strong or you're writing in a language other than your native language, have someone else read over your essay as well.
- If you find that you stumble over a sentence while reading aloud, that's a sign that your writing could be clearer. Work with your text until you have something that you can read aloud with ease.
- If the prospective employer did not specify a length, try to keep your essay under 2 double-spaced pages. Remember that hiring managers are busy and don't have a lot of time to read a long, rambling essay.
- Eliminate all unnecessary words or sentences that aren't relevant to the subject of your essay. The majority of your sentences should be short, declarative sentences with action verbs.
- Apps such as Hemingway ( http://www.hemingwayapp.com/ ) or Grammarly ( https://app.grammarly.com/ ) can help you identify portions of your essay that are more difficult to read. Both of these apps have a free version that you can use to edit your text.
- Working backward is particularly helpful for noticing spelling mistakes, especially hard-to-catch homophone errors, because you're seeing the word out of context.
- It may also help to print your essay in a different font or font size than what you used to type it. This breaks your brain's familiarity with the text, which can make typos and other errors more noticeable. Just remember to change the font back after you print it.
Job Application Essay
Expert Q&A
- Give yourself plenty of time to work on your essay. Ideally, you should plan to work on it over the course of at least two days, so you have the time to set it aside after writing before you move to the editing and proofreading stage. [17] X Research source ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
- Unless you're applying for a position in a political or religious organization, avoid including anything in your essay that identifies your political or religious preferences or beliefs. [18] X Research source ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
- Avoid using humor, especially sarcasm or ironic humor, as it can be misconstrued in text. Additionally, humor may lead the hiring manager to believe that you aren't serious about the position. [19] X Research source ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
You Might Also Like
- ↑ https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/writing-sample-job-application
- ↑ https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2012/04/30/essay-how-write-good-applications-jobs-or-grants
- ↑ Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM. Life & Career Coach. Expert Interview. 25 May 2021.
- ↑ https://careersblog.warwick.ac.uk/2016/03/14/looking-at-a-person-spec-how-to-make-the-employer-interview-you/
- ↑ https://www.govloop.com/community/blog/government-job-application-essays-made-easy/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/application-essays/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
- ↑ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/proofreading-tips
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/career-transitions/200906/the-dreaded-writing-sample
About This Article
Job application essays can seem scary, but they’re really just an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and explain why you’re suitable for the role. Read the job listing to find out what traits and skills the company is looking for, like time management, working under pressure, and leadership. If you don’t know much about the company, read through its website and do an online search to find articles about its work. In your introduction, you’ll want to to describe yourself and introduce the main points you’ll be making. Then, write a paragraph for each trait or skill. Use real life examples from previous jobs, your recent studies, or extracurricular activities to support your points. For example, you could highlight your leadership skills by talking about a time you led a group project that exceeded your targets. For more tips, including how to write a compelling conclusion for your job application essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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Application Essays
What this handout is about.
This handout will help you write and revise the personal statement required by many graduate programs, internships, and special academic programs.
Before you start writing
Because the application essay can have a critical effect upon your progress toward a career, you should spend significantly more time, thought, and effort on it than its typically brief length would suggest. It should reflect how you arrived at your professional goals, why the program is ideal for you, and what you bring to the program. Don’t make this a deadline task—now’s the time to write, read, rewrite, give to a reader, revise again, and on until the essay is clear, concise, and compelling. At the same time, don’t be afraid. You know most of the things you need to say already.
Read the instructions carefully. One of the basic tasks of the application essay is to follow the directions. If you don’t do what they ask, the reader may wonder if you will be able to follow directions in their program. Make sure you follow page and word limits exactly—err on the side of shortness, not length. The essay may take two forms:
- A one-page essay answering a general question
- Several short answers to more specific questions
Do some research before you start writing. Think about…
- The field. Why do you want to be a _____? No, really. Think about why you and you particularly want to enter that field. What are the benefits and what are the shortcomings? When did you become interested in the field and why? What path in that career interests you right now? Brainstorm and write these ideas out.
- The program. Why is this the program you want to be admitted to? What is special about the faculty, the courses offered, the placement record, the facilities you might be using? If you can’t think of anything particular, read the brochures they offer, go to events, or meet with a faculty member or student in the program. A word about honesty here—you may have a reason for choosing a program that wouldn’t necessarily sway your reader; for example, you want to live near the beach, or the program is the most prestigious and would look better on your resume. You don’t want to be completely straightforward in these cases and appear superficial, but skirting around them or lying can look even worse. Turn these aspects into positives. For example, you may want to go to a program in a particular location because it is a place that you know very well and have ties to, or because there is a need in your field there. Again, doing research on the program may reveal ways to legitimate even your most superficial and selfish reasons for applying.
- Yourself. What details or anecdotes would help your reader understand you? What makes you special? Is there something about your family, your education, your work/life experience, or your values that has shaped you and brought you to this career field? What motivates or interests you? Do you have special skills, like leadership, management, research, or communication? Why would the members of the program want to choose you over other applicants? Be honest with yourself and write down your ideas. If you are having trouble, ask a friend or relative to make a list of your strengths or unique qualities that you plan to read on your own (and not argue about immediately). Ask them to give you examples to back up their impressions (For example, if they say you are “caring,” ask them to describe an incident they remember in which they perceived you as caring).
Now, write a draft
This is a hard essay to write. It’s probably much more personal than any of the papers you have written for class because it’s about you, not World War II or planaria. You may want to start by just getting something—anything—on paper. Try freewriting. Think about the questions we asked above and the prompt for the essay, and then write for 15 or 30 minutes without stopping. What do you want your audience to know after reading your essay? What do you want them to feel? Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, organization, or anything else. Just get out the ideas you have. For help getting started, see our handout on brainstorming .
Now, look at what you’ve written. Find the most relevant, memorable, concrete statements and focus in on them. Eliminate any generalizations or platitudes (“I’m a people person”, “Doctors save lives”, or “Mr. Calleson’s classes changed my life”), or anything that could be cut and pasted into anyone else’s application. Find what is specific to you about the ideas that generated those platitudes and express them more directly. Eliminate irrelevant issues (“I was a track star in high school, so I think I’ll make a good veterinarian.”) or issues that might be controversial for your reader (“My faith is the one true faith, and only nurses with that faith are worthwhile,” or “Lawyers who only care about money are evil.”).
Often, writers start out with generalizations as a way to get to the really meaningful statements, and that’s OK. Just make sure that you replace the generalizations with examples as you revise. A hint: you may find yourself writing a good, specific sentence right after a general, meaningless one. If you spot that, try to use the second sentence and delete the first.
Applications that have several short-answer essays require even more detail. Get straight to the point in every case, and address what they’ve asked you to address.
Now that you’ve generated some ideas, get a little bit pickier. It’s time to remember one of the most significant aspects of the application essay: your audience. Your readers may have thousands of essays to read, many or most of which will come from qualified applicants. This essay may be your best opportunity to communicate with the decision makers in the application process, and you don’t want to bore them, offend them, or make them feel you are wasting their time.
With this in mind:
- Do assure your audience that you understand and look forward to the challenges of the program and the field, not just the benefits.
- Do assure your audience that you understand exactly the nature of the work in the field and that you are prepared for it, psychologically and morally as well as educationally.
- Do assure your audience that you care about them and their time by writing a clear, organized, and concise essay.
- Do address any information about yourself and your application that needs to be explained (for example, weak grades or unusual coursework for your program). Include that information in your essay, and be straightforward about it. Your audience will be more impressed with your having learned from setbacks or having a unique approach than your failure to address those issues.
- Don’t waste space with information you have provided in the rest of the application. Every sentence should be effective and directly related to the rest of the essay. Don’t ramble or use fifteen words to express something you could say in eight.
- Don’t overstate your case for what you want to do, being so specific about your future goals that you come off as presumptuous or naïve (“I want to become a dentist so that I can train in wisdom tooth extraction, because I intend to focus my life’s work on taking 13 rather than 15 minutes per tooth.”). Your goals may change–show that such a change won’t devastate you.
- And, one more time, don’t write in cliches and platitudes. Every doctor wants to help save lives, every lawyer wants to work for justice—your reader has read these general cliches a million times.
Imagine the worst-case scenario (which may never come true—we’re talking hypothetically): the person who reads your essay has been in the field for decades. She is on the application committee because she has to be, and she’s read 48 essays so far that morning. You are number 49, and your reader is tired, bored, and thinking about lunch. How are you going to catch and keep her attention?
Assure your audience that you are capable academically, willing to stick to the program’s demands, and interesting to have around. For more tips, see our handout on audience .
Voice and style
The voice you use and the style in which you write can intrigue your audience. The voice you use in your essay should be yours. Remember when your high school English teacher said “never say ‘I’”? Here’s your chance to use all those “I”s you’ve been saving up. The narrative should reflect your perspective, experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Focusing on events or ideas may give your audience an indirect idea of how these things became important in forming your outlook, but many others have had equally compelling experiences. By simply talking about those events in your own voice, you put the emphasis on you rather than the event or idea. Look at this anecdote:
During the night shift at Wirth Memorial Hospital, a man walked into the Emergency Room wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. He seemed confused and was moaning in pain. One of the nurses ascertained that he had been swinging from tree branches in a local park and had hit his head when he fell out of a tree. This tragic tale signified the moment at which I realized psychiatry was the only career path I could take.
An interesting tale, yes, but what does it tell you about the narrator? The following example takes the same anecdote and recasts it to make the narrator more of a presence in the story:
I was working in the Emergency Room at Wirth Memorial Hospital one night when a man walked in wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. I could tell he was confused and in pain. After a nurse asked him a few questions, I listened in surprise as he explained that he had been a monkey all of his life and knew that it was time to live with his brothers in the trees. Like many other patients I would see that year, this man suffered from an illness that only a combination of psychological and medical care would effectively treat. I realized then that I wanted to be able to help people by using that particular combination of skills only a psychiatrist develops.
The voice you use should be approachable as well as intelligent. This essay is not the place to stun your reader with ten prepositional phrases (“the goal of my study of the field of law in the winter of my discontent can best be understood by the gathering of more information about my youth”) and thirty nouns (“the research and study of the motivation behind my insights into the field of dentistry contains many pitfalls and disappointments but even more joy and enlightenment”) per sentence. (Note: If you are having trouble forming clear sentences without all the prepositions and nouns, take a look at our handout on style .)
You may want to create an impression of expertise in the field by using specialized or technical language. But beware of this unless you really know what you are doing—a mistake will look twice as ignorant as not knowing the terms in the first place. Your audience may be smart, but you don’t want to make them turn to a dictionary or fall asleep between the first word and the period of your first sentence. Keep in mind that this is a personal statement. Would you think you were learning a lot about a person whose personal statement sounded like a journal article? Would you want to spend hours in a lab or on a committee with someone who shuns plain language?
Of course, you don’t want to be chatty to the point of making them think you only speak slang, either. Your audience may not know what “I kicked that lame-o to the curb for dissing my research project” means. Keep it casual enough to be easy to follow, but formal enough to be respectful of the audience’s intelligence.
Just use an honest voice and represent yourself as naturally as possible. It may help to think of the essay as a sort of face-to-face interview, only the interviewer isn’t actually present.
Too much style
A well-written, dramatic essay is much more memorable than one that fails to make an emotional impact on the reader. Good anecdotes and personal insights can really attract an audience’s attention. BUT be careful not to let your drama turn into melodrama. You want your reader to see your choices motivated by passion and drive, not hyperbole and a lack of reality. Don’t invent drama where there isn’t any, and don’t let the drama take over. Getting someone else to read your drafts can help you figure out when you’ve gone too far.
Taking risks
Many guides to writing application essays encourage you to take a risk, either by saying something off-beat or daring or by using a unique writing style. When done well, this strategy can work—your goal is to stand out from the rest of the applicants and taking a risk with your essay will help you do that. An essay that impresses your reader with your ability to think and express yourself in original ways and shows you really care about what you are saying is better than one that shows hesitancy, lack of imagination, or lack of interest.
But be warned: this strategy is a risk. If you don’t carefully consider what you are saying and how you are saying it, you may offend your readers or leave them with a bad impression of you as flaky, immature, or careless. Do not alienate your readers.
Some writers take risks by using irony (your suffering at the hands of a barbaric dentist led you to want to become a gentle one), beginning with a personal failure (that eventually leads to the writer’s overcoming it), or showing great imagination (one famous successful example involved a student who answered a prompt about past formative experiences by beginning with a basic answer—”I have volunteered at homeless shelters”—that evolved into a ridiculous one—”I have sealed the hole in the ozone layer with plastic wrap”). One student applying to an art program described the person he did not want to be, contrasting it with the person he thought he was and would develop into if accepted. Another person wrote an essay about her grandmother without directly linking her narrative to the fact that she was applying for medical school. Her essay was risky because it called on the reader to infer things about the student’s character and abilities from the story.
Assess your credentials and your likelihood of getting into the program before you choose to take a risk. If you have little chance of getting in, try something daring. If you are almost certainly guaranteed a spot, you have more flexibility. In any case, make sure that you answer the essay question in some identifiable way.
After you’ve written a draft
Get several people to read it and write their comments down. It is worthwhile to seek out someone in the field, perhaps a professor who has read such essays before. Give it to a friend, your mom, or a neighbor. The key is to get more than one point of view, and then compare these with your own. Remember, you are the one best equipped to judge how accurately you are representing yourself. For tips on putting this advice to good use, see our handout on getting feedback .
After you’ve received feedback, revise the essay. Put it away. Get it out and revise it again (you can see why we said to start right away—this process may take time). Get someone to read it again. Revise it again.
When you think it is totally finished, you are ready to proofread and format the essay. Check every sentence and punctuation mark. You cannot afford a careless error in this essay. (If you are not comfortable with your proofreading skills, check out our handout on editing and proofreading ).
If you find that your essay is too long, do not reformat it extensively to make it fit. Making readers deal with a nine-point font and quarter-inch margins will only irritate them. Figure out what material you can cut and cut it. For strategies for meeting word limits, see our handout on writing concisely .
Finally, proofread it again. We’re not kidding.
Other resources
Don’t be afraid to talk to professors or professionals in the field. Many of them would be flattered that you asked their advice, and they will have useful suggestions that others might not have. Also keep in mind that many colleges and professional programs offer websites addressing the personal statement. You can find them either through the website of the school to which you are applying or by searching under “personal statement” or “application essays” using a search engine.
If your schedule and ours permit, we invite you to come to the Writing Center. Be aware that during busy times in the semester, we limit students to a total of two visits to discuss application essays and personal statements (two visits per student, not per essay); we do this so that students working on papers for courses will have a better chance of being seen. Make an appointment or submit your essay to our online writing center (note that we cannot guarantee that an online tutor will help you in time).
For information on other aspects of the application process, you can consult the resources at University Career Services .
Works consulted
We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.
Asher, Donald. 2012. Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice , 4th ed. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.
Curry, Boykin, Emily Angel Baer, and Brian Kasbar. 2003. Essays That Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays That Helped Students Get Into the Nation’s Top Colleges . New York: Ballantine Books.
Stelzer, Richard. 2002. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School , 3rd ed. Lawrenceville, NJ: Thomson Peterson.
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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.
Give your essays extra polish Grammarly helps you write with confidence Write with Grammarly
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.
Polish your essays until they shine
Got a draft of a great essay? Awesome! But don’t hit “submit” just yet—you’re only halfway to the finish line. Make sure you’re always submitting your best work by using Grammarly to catch misspelled words, grammar mistakes, and places where you can swap in different words to improve your writing’s clarity.
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- Writing Guides
How To Write An Essay About Job Opportunities
How to write an essay about on opportunities.
- How to start an essay on job opportunities
- How to write body for an essay on job opportunities
- How to conclude an essay on job opportunities
- Outline example
Theme actuality
The job market has been widely discussed and talked about in newsrooms, classrooms, homes, etc. Despite its popularity, ‘job opportunities’ is a good topic for students to learn about the job market and help them prepare adequately for it. The topic educates students on their prospective career future directly and indirectly. Its familiarity should not be taken for its simplicity and therefore, it requires astute writing skills to write a perfect essay on job opportunities. An essay on job opportunities is broad but it highlights the fundamental things about the job market
This article focuses on helping students to write good essays on job opportunities. It also helps them to sharpen their writing skills. The topic is apt in sharpening the essay writing skills of the students whilst equipping them with skills to navigate the employment sector. This article, therefore, seeks to offer a guideline on how to write a perfect essay about job opportunities .
How to start an essay about job opportunities
It is important to capture the attention of the reader and maintain it until the end of the essay. To do that, you need to write an interesting introductory paragraph. An interesting introduction sets the ground for the reader to proceed to the later parts of the essay to understand what the reader has to pass across on job opportunities. To capture and maintain the attention of the reader, consider including the following in your introductory paragraph.
Start the introductory paragraph with a hook. The hook can be interesting statistical information on job opportunities, quotes, etc. The hook compels the reader to go through the rest of the paragraph. Add a few supporting sentences to elaborate the hook further. In the latter parts of the paragraph, introduce the thesis statement. Carefully put the thesis statement in a way it elicits more desire to read the rest of the essay. Ensure the thesis statement is relevant to the topic and carries the main idea about job opportunities. The last sentence of the introductory paragraph should introduce the reader to body paragraphs and create a smooth transition. To have an effective introductory paragraph, keep it simple, short, and interesting.
How to write body paragraphs for an essay about job opportunities
The main paragraphs carry the main points of the essay. Each important point/idea on job opportunities is discussed in detail here. Each point/idea has to go to its point and should be started with a lead sentence. The topic sentence should be followed by a few more support sentences elaborating the information harbored by the topic sentence. An example can be included to further explain the point in detail. Each example should be relevant to the paragraph content it is put under. Ensure each paragraph introduces the subsequent one to maintain the attention of the reader. It is recommended to bring out the strong points first and carefully put them across. Avoid filler information that dilutes the content of the essay. Keep the essays short by ensuring their sentences are short and straightforward. Lengthy sentences often have more errors and lower the quality of the essay. Explaining job opportunities need factual information and therefore needs citations. Ensure you properly format the citations appropriately.
How to conclude an essay about job opportunities
The conclusion of an essay on job opportunities is critical. To write a great conclusion essay for a job opportunity essay observe the following tips:
- The reader needs a recap on the information he/she has just read to emphasize it. Highlight the main points of the essay and rewrite them concisely.
- Restate your thesis but word it differently without changing its meaning. Keep the conclusion short and interesting.
- Ensure you wrap the entire content and capture the main points drafted in the essay.
Concisely, writing a great essay about job opportunities needs a lot of meticulous planning and effort. If need be, you can find enlist writing help from essay writers and have professionals deliver high-quality papers for you. Nevertheless, essay writing skills on topics such as the one described above need practice and open-mindedness.
Outline sample
The following is an outline of an essay on job opportunities. It is a 5-paragraph essay demonstrating how the above tips on writing essays can be applied.
Job opportunities
Introduction
- Start with a hook related to job opportunities or the job market
- Include three or four sentences elaborating the hook
- Include a thesis statement
Body paragraph 1
- Start with a hook/lead/ topic sentence
- 3-4 support sentences
- An example if applicable
Body paragraph 2
- 3-4 support sentences
Body paragraph 3
- Restate your thesis statement
- Highlight the main points discussed in the essay
- Include an interesting finality tone to finish the 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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How to Write a Job Essay
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How to Address a Cover Letter When the Name Is Unknown
How to send a letter of intent for a possible job, good salutations for cover letters.
- Alternative Approaches to Cover Letters
- How to Upload a CV for Jobs
In an age of instant communications, job applicants are often surprised -- perhaps even overwhelmed -- by requests for a writing sample during the search process. Whether you are writing a cover letter for your resume or an actual essay, the skills you learned in your high school or college composition class will get you through the process painlessly, with a few “tweaks” to pitch to your intended audience.
Typically, a job essay is actually a letter sent to introduce yourself when submitting a resume or an application. Business letters should include your return address, the date, and the address to which the letter is being sent at the beginning, with a 2-inch top margin. Traditionally, if you do not know the name of the person receiving the letter, the salutation should be “Dear Sir or Madam,” followed by a semi-colon, although taking the time to get the name is better. A simple “sincerely,” followed by a comma, works best as the closing.
Appropriate Language
Again, this is a business document, so it should not read like a letter to your best friend. Write more formally, rather than being overly familiar or casual. Avoid all slang terms or idioms, as well as most industry jargon. You may use a few “insider” terms to indicate an understanding of the job, but don’t lard the letter to impress. Phrase sentences to avoid the use of second-person pronouns.
Conciseness and Efficiency
Human resources personnel are often inundated with applications, along with many other responsibilities. Respect their time restraints by getting to the point quickly and concisely. Cut vague phrases, replacing them with tight, specific words. Combine sentences whenever possible. Instead of saying, “I worked in the research department. I provided information about the XYZ event. I wrote about the facts of the event,” try “While employed in the research department, I wrote a briefing about XYZ.” Also, if it isn’t relevant to the job, leave it out.
Attention Command
With the flood of applicants for many positions, your letter needs to set you above the crowd. Start with a common issue or concern for someone in the position, and continue to explain how your skills or experience make you uniquely qualified to address that issue. For example, hook the reader with “When resolving customer service complaints, the ability to remain calm is critical, and my experience as an air-traffic controller has provided me the opportunity to practice that skill,” instead of “I am applying for the customer complaint position in your call center.”
Specificity and Relevance
Always address the responsibilities of the position specifically, matching yourself to the needs of the job. Rather than writing “I can use a computer,” describe how your skills at creating multimedia slide shows will allow you to provide stellar sales presentations. Describe examples of your creativity, reliability or team spirit, rather than regurgitating your resume. Keep the points directly related to the position, though. This isn’t the time to mention your medals for cycling, unless the job description includes riding your bicycle.
Grammar and Syntax
Errors in spelling, word choice or other grammar or syntax rules tells a potential employer about more than just your education and writing skills. With that apparent lack of attention to details, the reader could assume that you won’t bother to check work done for the company carefully either. Don’t rely only on the spell checker in your word processing program, either. Read your letter aloud, preferably to someone else, to be sure that it flows smoothly and makes good sense. Proofread from the last word to the first, from bottom right to top left, to force your eyes to see what is -- or isn’t -- there, rather than what you expect to see. Finally, make sure that the essay is visually appealing, with an easy-to-read font and size, in clear, black ink on clean, white paper.
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Appropriate Language
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Conciseness
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Quick Content Tips for Cover Letters
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Quick Formatting Tips for Cover Letter
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Writing the Personal Statement
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Model for Follow-Up to an Interview Letter
Pamela Martin has been writing since 1979. She has written newsletter articles and curricula-related materials. She also writes about teaching and crafts. Martin was an American Society of Newspaper Editors High School Journalism Fellow. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching in elementary education from Sam Houston State University and a Master of Arts in curriculum/instruction from the University of Missouri.
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- How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples
How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples
Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 14, 2022.
A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay . It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect.
The main goals of an introduction are to:
- Catch your reader’s attention.
- Give background on your topic.
- Present your thesis statement —the central point of your essay.
This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.
The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by 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.
Table of contents
Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.
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. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact.
Examples: Writing a good hook
Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.
- Braille was an extremely important invention.
- The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.
The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly why the topic is important.
- The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities.”
- The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education.
Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.
- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a famous book from the nineteenth century.
- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement.
Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation.
Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:
- Historical, geographical, or social context
- An outline of the debate you’re addressing
- A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic
- Definitions of key terms
The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.
How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:
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Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about the topic. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument.
This is the most important part of your introduction. A good thesis isn’t just a statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.
The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point about a topic.
Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.
As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you learn more.
For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last thing you write.
When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion , you should return to the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.
It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.
You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything it’s supposed to.
Checklist: Essay introduction
My first sentence is engaging and relevant.
I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.
I have defined any important terms.
My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.
Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.
You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.
- Argumentative
- Literary analysis
This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.
This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this invention on European society).
In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
This introduction to a literary analysis essay , about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.
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 .
The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.
To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.
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.
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.
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Start with an introductory paragraph that describes you and your essay. Begin your essay by introducing yourself and the name of the position you're applying for. Then go into the thesis or theme of your essay. [7] Think of this paragraph as telling the hiring manager what you're going to tell them in the essay.
Personal essay: Many jobs and colleges require personal essays from their applicants. For a job, a personal essay explains how you meet the job's requirements and what makes you the best candidate. Related: How To Write a Personal Essay. 12 essay writing tips. Here are 12 strategies you can use to write a compelling, thoughtful essay: 1.
Here are eight steps you can follow when writing a personal essay to ensure it engages your reader and encourages them to learn more about you. Make preparations. Get organized. Choose your topic. Consider your tone. Include a lesson or moral. Write the introduction. Write the body. Write the conclusion. 1. Make preparations
One of the basic tasks of the application essay is to follow the directions. If you don’t do what they ask, the reader may wonder if you will be able to follow directions in their program. Make sure you follow page and word limits exactly—err on the side of shortness, not length. The essay may take two forms:
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.
My Dream Job Essay Example – 700 Word Long Essay. According to American author, Suzy Kassem, “A heart without dreams is like a bird without feathers” . This shows how important aim and ambition are in life. Our goals in life give us direction and purpose. A bird cannot fly without feathers and a person cannot flourish in life without any aim.
Start the introductory paragraph with a hook. The hook can be interesting statistical information on job opportunities, quotes, etc. The hook compels the reader to go through the rest of the paragraph. Add a few supporting sentences to elaborate the hook further. In the latter parts of the paragraph, introduce the thesis statement.
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.
Format. Typically, a job essay is actually a letter sent to introduce yourself when submitting a resume or an application. Business letters should include your return address, the date, and the address to which the letter is being sent at the beginning, with a 2-inch top margin. Traditionally, if you do not know the name of the person receiving ...
Table of contents. Step 1: Hook your reader. Step 2: Give background information. Step 3: Present your thesis statement. Step 4: Map your essay’s structure. Step 5: Check and revise. More examples of essay introductions. Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.