Learning how to start your essay can be tricky. Sometimes, it's hard to know where to begin. But with these eleven clever techniques, you'll be on your way to an engaging and interesting introduction.
2021-12-28
There are many different ways that you can start your essay. Whether it be with a quote, an anecdote, or even just some statistics about the topic, there is no wrong way to get started.
But one of the most important things to remember when starting an essay is that you need to have a strong introduction. This will catch your reader's attention and make them want to read on!
In this blog post we'll explore 11 clever ways for how to start your next essay!
This is great for essays where you don't have much personal experience in order to draw on, but want to get started right away by talking about something else instead.
Oftentimes people use quotes because it gives them an opportunity to introduce some of their own thoughts without sounding too biased.
The quote can work as a great opener for your essay, but make sure that the quote you choose is really relevant to the topic and fits well with the rest of your essay.
For example, if you're writing about the importance of staying in school, you might use a quote from Albert Einstein that says
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
This type of intro can help to set the tone for your essay and show your reader that you take this topic seriously.
These kinds of stories can be very simple and make for great introductions to essays where your own experiences will play a large role throughout the rest of it.
People also love reading about other people's experiences and it helps them relate to what you are writing about.
For example, you could write about a memory from your childhood or an event that has stuck with you over the years.
In this type of situation it is usually best to start out with what happened before going into detail as to why it was significant and how it affected your life moving forward.
If someone else were reading this post they would then be able to understand why that particular experience is so important to you.
These kinds of questions may be rhetorical, but they still allow for some room for discussion within the rest of the paragraph or paper itself!
This is a great way to get your reader on board and ready for what you have in store.
For example, if you're discussing a controversial topic, you could ask your reader what they think about the issue.
This will help to set up the rest of your essay and give your reader something to think about before you provide your own argument on the matter.
Another option is to ask your reader a question that is relevant to the topic at hand. This will help to keep them engaged and focused on what you are saying.
It can also act as a springboard for the rest of your essay, giving you a chance to provide your own thoughts and analysis on the matter.
If you're writing about something that can be supported by lots of data, like social issues or science, this may be the best option for how to start your essay!
It allows you to present your argument in a more factual way and it can be really convincing for readers who are looking for concrete evidence.
For example, if you're trying to argue in favor of gun control, you could begin your essay with some statistics about gun violence in the United States. This will help set the stage for your argument and make it clear that you have done your research.
This will introduce some of the big ideas that you'll be exploring later on. Now your reader can see what kind of a discussion they are in for and it will get them excited about the essay!
For example, if you're writing about the environment, you could ask:
"What does it mean to be human?" or "How do we define success?"
If you want to get your reader thinking more concretely, start with a story or an anecdote. This will help them relate to the material on a personal level. It can also set up the problem that you'll be discussing in the essay.
For example, if you're writing about climate change, you could start with a story about your last vacation to the beach. You might talk about how the weather was different than usual and how it made you feel. This will help your reader understand why climate change is such an important issue.
This allows you not only to give people some perspective but also to show how much work has been done on this subject before. You can also use this as a way to introduce your own argument by showing how it connects to what has been said in the past.
For example, I might start by saying:
"In the past, many other great minds have mentioned this same idea. However, no one has explored it as much as I plan to."
Then you can move into what your argument is going to be about and why people should care about it. That establishes that you are not just all talk and gives readers a reason to keep reading.
This will lighten the mood and make people more inclined to read on. It can also show that you're not taking yourself too seriously and that you're open to exploring different perspectives.
For example, if you're writing about the death penalty, you could start your essay with a joke about someone being executed.
This will show that you're not afraid to approach sensitive topics with humor.
Alternatively, you could start your essay by introducing the topic in a unique way. For example, if you're writing about the death penalty, you could begin by talking about how it's used in different parts of the world.
This can help people understand the topic better and it can also make the essay more interesting.
This will help people understand where you are coming from and it can make them more receptive to your argument. This is a great way to start an essay if you're writing about something that people may be sensitive too and need some time to get into it before they read on!
For example, you might write something like:
"When I was a kid, my friend and I were playing in the woods when we found an abandoned kitten. We decided to keep it as our own pet".
This will help to introduce the topic of your essay in a way that is personal and relatable. It can also make readers more likely to stick around until the end!
This will help people stay up-to-date on what is going on in the world and it can show them how these problems are still relevant today. Additionally, it can give people some ideas on things they can do to help make a difference.
For example, the #metoo movement has been gaining a lot of traction lately. This is a social media campaign that allows people to share their stories of sexual assault and harassment in order to show the magnitude of the problem.
It can be difficult to talk about these things, but it’s important that we do so that we can work towards fixing them.
You can start your essay by using this strategy by introducing your topic and then delaying the resolution of the story until later in the essay.
This will keep your reader engaged and interested in what you have to say.
For example, You can also use the Narrative Strategy of Delay to create a feeling of mystery and intrigue in your essay. By withholding information from your reader, you can make them want to keep reading in order to find out what happened. This strategy can be used to create suspenseful scenes and powerful revelations.
This will make your audience feel more connected to you. For example, if you're writing about the importance of being on time for class, confess that you are always late!
Or maybe tell a funny anecdote where someone else was late. This helps keep the reader engaged in what is otherwise just an academic subject matter or dry topic.
Your essay can also be more engaging by using strong images and concrete examples.
For example, if you're writing about the importance of recycling, don't just say that it's important because it helps reduce landfill waste. Say that recycling saves energy and resources that would otherwise have to go into producing new materials from scratch.
This makes your argument more convincing and makes for a more engaging read.