What is the Significance of an Essay’s Introduction?
Getting started is probably more difficult than writing other parts of an essay. This is why many students leave their essays and other writing assignments for the last few hours. It is said that a good start is like half of the work done.
This is how important a good and engaging essay introduction is.
It is the most challenging part of an essay and takes more time than other parts. So, the most basic question that nearly all of the students ask is,“why is it important to have a good essay start or introduction?”
Well, here is the answer.
There are two main reasons to write an excellent introduction;
- To inform the reader
- To motivate the reader
A good introduction informs the readers about the essay’s subject without giving complete and unnecessary details. It sets the readers’ expectations.
Besides informing, it motivates and encourages the reader to move forward and read the entire essay. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that a strong and engaging introduction takes you a long way.
How to Start an Essay Introduction In Easy Steps?
'How do you begin an essay?'
Here are some easy and simple steps on how to start an essay writing.
1. Find an Interesting Topic
It is the very first step of writing an essay.
For a start, brainstorm and write down all the ideas on a paper and research them one by one. Choose an attention-grabbing topic. A good essay topic has a wide scope and extensively available research material, but it should not be too wide.
2. Begin with a Catchy Hook
The essay hook is the first sentence of your introduction. It sets the tone for your essay and grabs the reader’s attention. Stay brief and stick to the main point only.
3. Add Background Information
“How to start an informative essay?”
Add some background information about the essay’s topic. These details depend on the kind of topic that you have chosen.
For example, the details could be the historical background, the geographical information, or the social context of the topic.
4. Review the Important Points of the Essay
Talk about the important points that you will discuss in the essay. Be brief, and do not try to add all the details here. It could be difficult but do not haste and spend reasonable time writing this essay section.
5. Add a Strong Thesis Statement
Add a strong and focused thesis statement. It should be brief and not more than two to three sentences. It is an important part of the introduction and is added at its end.
A good thesis statement is more than just a statement. It is a claim that you will discuss in the essay's body.
6. Create the Outline of the Essay
After you have written the introduction and thesis statement; you need to create an outline of your essay. Without a proper outline, you will not write a good and strong essay. Here is a sample essay outline.
- Introductory paragraph
- Thesis Statement
- 1st Body Paragraph
- 2nd Body Paragraph
- 3rd Body Paragraph
- Essay conclusion
The body paragraphs could be more than three, and each paragraph will start with a topic statement.
How to Start an Essay? - Examples
Below are some great examples of starting your essay in different ways.
How to Start an Essay With a Hook?
'What is a good hook sentence?'
The best way to start an introduction is with a hook. A good hook sentence grabs the readers' attention and makes them want more information about what's going on in the story.
You are writing your essay for an audience of people. To ensure they stay interested, it is important to promote their interest with powerful hooks. Hooks that draw them into reading further about the topic and how it applies within today's society!
So, make the first sentence of your opening paragraph captivating to hook readers right away!
There are several different types of hooks used in academic writing. Each essay asks for a different kind of hook, so it can be difficult to track which type you should use and when.
Look at some good hook examples that might inspire you to write something great.
How to Start an Essay With a Question?
“How to start an argumentative essay?”
Starting your essay with a question is the easiest way of beginning with your essay. This is especially true for argumentative essays.
The idea is to ask the audience a question to engage them. This will pique the readers’ interest and encourage them to find the answer in the essay’s body.
Below is an example of starting an essay with a 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.” (Emily R. Grosholz, "On Necklaces." Prairie Schooner, Summer 2007)
How to Start an Essay With a Quote
Quotes strengthen your essay or any other assignment. They could also be used as a hook for your essay and increase your readers’ interest. However, you must use relevant quotes and get them from reliable and credible sources.
Below is an example on how to start an essay with a quote format.
"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,...." (Betty G. Farrell, Family: The Making of an Idea, an Institution, and a Controversy in American Culture. Westview Press, 1999)
How to Start an Essay About Yourself
Usually, this kind of essay is the one that you write for an application. In this, the writer speaks about himself, his family, achievements, and aspirations.
Here is an example of how you can start an essay about yourself.
“Among all the creatures on Earth, the human being is definitely superior. Writing a few lines or words to introduce myself, I feel myself to be a tiny part of this entire world filled with the human beings around me. I am a human. I myself am humble, kind, caring, and courageous. I am the most respected, loved, and responsible human being. Though it is quite hard to write about yourself yet, I have tried my best to express all about myself.”
How to Start an Essay on Climate Change?
Climate change is a global phenomenon, and everyone is aware of it. Topics related to climate change are quite common in both schools and colleges but writing one could be difficult and time-consuming.
Here is a sample of starting your climate change essay.
“Climate change in the world can be caused by various activities. When climate change occurs, temperatures can increase dramatically. When the temperature rises, many different changes can occur on Earth. For example, it can result in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves.”
How to Start an Essay With a Fact?
Stating an interesting and lesser-known fact at the beginning of the essay is an excellent way of grabbing your readers’ attention and keeping them with you throughout the essay. People are interested in interesting things, especially those that they do not know about.
Here is an example of starting your essay with a fact.
"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………. The hat was imagined, constructed, and then forthrightly worn by the ornithologist as he patrolled this loitering ground, singing, Cheer-up! Cheer-up!.........” (David James Duncan, "Cherish This Ecstasy." The Sun, July 2008)
How to Start an Essay With an Anecdote
An anecdote is an interesting and short story or setting. This setting is used to discuss and bring to light the important factors about the chosen essay topic.
Here is a sample.
"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)
How to Start an Essay About Yourself?
This kind of essay is one that applicants are required to write for applications. It provides them with an opportunity to speak about themselves and their family, achievements or aspirations in detail
Below is an example of how you can start an essay about yourself.
“Among all the creatures on Earth, the human being is definitely superior. Writing a few lines or words to introduce myself, I feel myself to be a tiny part of this entire world filled with the human beings around me. I am a human. I myself am humble, kind, caring, and courageous. I am the most respected, loved, and responsible human being. Though it is quite hard to write about yourself yet, I have tried my best to express all about myself.”
How to Start an Essay About Yourself for College?
This essay is an important part of the college application process because it allows students to show off their writing skills and personality.
Below is the best sample to know how to start your essay for college.
How to Start an Essay About Women’s Rights?
Here is a great sample on how to start an essay about women’s rights.
How to Start an Essay on Climate Change
Learn how to start an essay on climate change with these perfect examples.
Engaging Tips to Start an Essay
Here are some engaging tips for beginning your essay effectively.
- Have a compelling and concise thesis statement in your introduction paragraph.
- Ask an intriguing question and begin with answering it. You can also add a rhetorical question.
- State an interesting and lesser-known fact about your chosen topic. It will be good to grab the attention of the readers.
- Discuss the setting of your essay. It could be a historical or social context.
- Add and recount an incident that would set the tone of your essay.
- Build your readers’ interest and do not disclose the main object of discussion in the beginning. It will grow their interest in reading to learn about the main topic.
- Use a past incident in the present tense as you have transported back in time, and the incident is happening in real life.
- Discuss the steps involved in the process if you are writing an essay about a process. For example, an essay writing process.
- Open the essay with a secret or an unknown detail. It could be a personal observation also if you are writing a personal kind of essay.
- Start with a humorous fact or a joke. However, make sure that the joke is relevant to your topic and sheds light on a relevant concern.
- Present a contrasting picture about a fact or information. It could be a contrast between the past and the present or between a picture and reality.
Different types of essays will ask for different kinds of content. For example, an argumentative essay will be different from a compare and contrast essay and will need different kinds of content.
You must design your writing skills according to it.
Be creative and think of more ways you could excellently start your essay.
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