Staring at a blank page, not knowing how to start your essay introduction can certainly be daunting! You may spend hours pondering over the introduction of your essay, while the deadline draws closer each day. However, the formula for a great introduction paragraph is not that complex.
Different types of essays use different forms of introductions. But a good introduction should grab the reader’s attention from the get-go! It should also equip the reader with essential background information and acquaint them with the main idea of your essay.
In this article, we’ll guide you on how to start off an essay with a bang. We’ll also brief you on a few essay introduction examples. Let’s start by understanding how to write an introduction for an essay.
Starting an essay can be intimidating. Staring at a blank page wondering how to begin is often the hardest part of writing an essay. Fortunately, there are many effective strategies to kickstart the essay writing process.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 different ways to hook the reader and start your essay off right. Keep reading to learn how to craft an engaging introduction that sets the tone for your piece.
Share a Shocking or Amusing Fact
Starting with an interesting fact captures attention right away. Look for little-known trivia or statistics that provide insight around your topic.
For example, on an essay about lowering the voting age you could say: “Believe it or not, even North Korea has a lower voting age than the United States.” Make sure your fact provides context later in the essay.
Ask a Rhetorical Question
Posing an intriguing question causes readers to think and keeps them wanting more. For a paper about banning plastic straws you could ask: “Are disposable straws an example of human ingenuity or hubris?” Let the essay explain.
Dramatize a Relevant Scene
Set the stage by imagining a scenario that illustrates your topic. An essay on concussions in football could begin: “The crowd goes silent as the star quarterback lies motionless on the field after a brutal hit.” Vividly depict the moment.
Kick It Off With a Relevant Quote
Find a compelling quote related to your topic and let it speak for itself. For instance, on an essay about the power of community service you could use: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” − Charles Dickens.
State Your Thesis Directly
Don’t be afraid to explicitly state your key argument upfront. For example, in an essay evaluating a new restaurant you could be direct: “The new vegan restaurant Zen Bistro provides tasteless dishes at outrageous prices.” Then back it up.
Provide Historical or Scientific Context
Give background to frame the discussion. An essay about endangered pandas could start: “Pandas have roamed earth for over 3 million years, but their time could soon be up.” Draw readers in with perspective.
Pose Thought-Provoking Questions
Get creative to prompt curiosity An essay about lowering the drinking age could start “Would lowering the drinking age really lead to more responsible alcohol consumption? Or would it simply enable more harmful behavior?” Let your essay explore
Zoom In on a Pivotal Detail
Describe a revealing visual or thought. An essay about Michelangelo’s sculpture David could begin: “Under the 20-foot marble colossus’s confident stance, his slingshot hand remains at rest.” Then pull back to the bigger picture.
Share a Vivid Personal Anecdote
Briefly tell a relatable story to emotionally connect readers to your topic before expanding. For instance, an essay on the importance of family could start “My parents’ drawn-out divorce in my youth shattered my notions of family forever.” Link it to your focus.
Launch With a Relevant Dialogue
Imagine a provocative exchange. An essay on gender roles could kick off: “‘Act more lady-like!’ my brother snapped when I beat him in basketball. His words stuck with me for years.” Let the significance unfold.
Foreshadow With an Intriguing Snapshot
Give a glimpse of a compelling scene to come. An essay about a rafting trip could begin “Staring down the raging rapids I doubted my brother’s insistence that this sport was ‘fun.’” Provide a window into your experiences.
Contrast the Ordinary With the Extraordinary
Compare expected and surprising elements. On an essay about Amish cultures use of modern tech you could contrast: “Rather than lamplight, the soft glow of an iPad lit up the girl’s face as she read in the hayloft.” Then connect these observations.
Start With a Warning
Caution about high stakes to capture interest. An essay against texting while driving could start: “Reading this in traffic? Doing so gives you a 23 times higher chance of an accident.” Inform readers to alter behaviors.
Pick the Perfect Tone
Match your essay’s tone to your subject matter. Satirical, warm, authoritative, poetic, introspective – your style sets the mood. For instance, an intimate memoir requires a more personal tone than an academic argument. Let your voice reflect your purpose.
With the right approach, your essay’s opening lines can become one of the most powerful parts. Use these techniques as inspiration when sitting down to start writing. Remember, your beginning sets the stage for everything to come. Craft an engaging introduction and you’re off to a great start.
Provide a general overview
Although this step is optional, it is a good idea to provide a general overview of your essay in the introduction paragraph. This is especially beneficial for longer essays. It gives the reader a gist of what is to be expected and the points that you will be covering.
Let’s take a look at a few examples:
The following overview is for the topic “Life in the Victorian Era”.
The essay begins with a discussion of social segregation and class division in the Victorian era. It then highlights the impact of the industrial revolution on Victorian society. Finally, it discusses the influence of Victorian morals, values, and art on modern society.
Now that we’ve figured out how to write introductions for essays let’s take a look at a few introduction examples for essays. Also read:
To guide you in your essay writing journey, we’ve also provided a few good introductions for essays. Since different essay types have different types of introduction paragraphs, we’ve provided examples of how to start an essay for the four main essay types (narrative, descriptive, argumentative, and expository essay).
How to start an essay
In order to understand how to start an essay, we need to first take a look at its different components. The introduction to an essay consists of three main parts:
1. Hook: Attractive opening line that draws the reader’s attention
2. Background information: Relevant information that revolves around the thesis statement
3. Thesis statement: The main argument or idea of your essay
You can also provide an overview, which gives the reader a glimpse of what is to come. But make sure that this structure is very brief.
There are several ways to start an essay. But, any changes to the content of your essay may lead to significant revisions in your introduction. Also read:
We suggest that you simply develop a rough thesis statement and save the essay introduction paragraph for the end. Once you have completed the rest of your work, you can use the following steps to understand how to start an essay introduction:
How to Write an Essay: 4 Minute Step-by-step Guide | Scribbr
How to write an essay introduction?
Avoid new information or arguments. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: Start with a Hook: Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading.
How to write a good essay?
It is divided as follows: 2 Introduction: The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay. Body: The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis.
How do you start an essay?
Take a look at these common ways to start an essay: 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.
How to write an academic essay?
The writer of the academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence. The beginning of the essay is a crucial first step in this process. In order to engage readers and establish your authority, the beginning of your essay has to accomplish certain business. Your beginning should introduce the essay, focus it, and orient readers.
