How To Start an Introductory Paragraph

It is extremely important that you start your essay or article with a bang.No matter what you are writing, it is important to be clear and engaging.There are many helpful tips for starting an essay in this article.One great tip is to save your last introduction so you can make it perfect.

Step 1: The whole of your introduction is the gateway into your essay.

In your introduction, you need to identify the topic, provide context, and give your thesis or major focus.The start of the introduction needs to catch the reader's attention and flow into what follows.But don't worry!Every word counts if you use efficient, engaging writing.It's a good idea to start your introduction with an attention grabber.Scene-settings, anecdotes, and quotations are some of the good options in the rest of this article.Continue with a few sentences that give some context for the essay topic and the thesis or main focus you are about to identify.A single sentence that clearly lays out your primary argument or point of focus is what you should finish with.

Step 2: The reader should be taken into the world of your writing.

Take the reader right into the action instead of setting the scene from a detached point of view.The introduction to a war story like this could be: "Craters scarred the landscape."There was a smell of gunpowder in the air.After describing the aftermath of the battle, zoom out to describe the reasons behind it, the long-term impact, and so on.Setting the scene is a great way to start a news article, historical essay, or fiction writing.

Step 3: Readers can connect with both informational and analytical essays with the help of anecdotes.

An anecdote is a short story that relates to the topic you are writing about.If you are writing about how extremists have been infiltrating a political party, you might start the paragraph with a quote from Homer's "Iliad."You could give a more direct anecdote.If your topic is the ecological crisis, you can give a short story about how quickly a certain species is going extinct.

Step 4: The reader should be surprised to see them in your essay.

A bold statement can startles or amuse readers.It could be a fact like 7 people under the age of 20 are shot every day.Sand shark embryos eat their gestating counterparts while still in the womb.A great start for an introduction is anything that instantly hooks readers.

Step 5: Use an authoritative source to lend weight to a research-based essay.

Pick a relevant person or quote that carries authority on the topic and don't just name-drop or use a random quote.You can run internet searches for quotes from well-known people.Politicians, captains of industry, religious leaders, scientists, scholars, artists, and athletes can often provide quotes.If you start your opening paragraph with a quote, you may want to include a reference to it in your closing statement.An ending hook that addresses the meaning of your quote will bring the argument full circle.

Step 6: This helps readers understand the topic of a scholarly essay.

The best place to lay out how people think about a topic is the introductory paragraph.For instance, say your research topic is about tattoos.In this case, you could start your paragraph with some background information about Maori society, a reference to the larger body of scholarship on them, or quotes from the first historical accounts about them.If readers are not well-versed on the topic, you can use your introductory paragraph to give more context.They can better understand the points of the topic that you debunk, refine, or expand upon in your essay.

Step 7: In a news article or informative essay, give clear, concise details.

Readers can decide if they should continue reading with the help of the 5 W's.Instead of writing an introduction that is jam-packed with 5 W's details, strip them down to their essential components.Give readers the information they need, but do it in a way that is efficient and effective.You could write, instead of writing, that President Jones declared in a joint session of Congress that he will work with his counterparts abroad to reorganize international fiscal policy and lending practices, making it easier to distribute international aid.She took the kittens in because it was the right thing to do.

Step 8: Your story can be set apart by this change-of-pace move.

You can explore the ramifications of a well-known story or a story that has been covered elsewhere if you start your paragraph with a bit of analysis.Instead of giving the five W's, you focus more on the "how" of the topic.The start of your introductory paragraph should be used to explain how the policy will change society or the lives of those affected.An analytical lede might include information about who benefits and why, but the primary focus should be on explaining how a news item or event works.

Step 9: Don't make statements that are too broad or hackneyed.

It is possible to resist the urge to use clichés like "There are two sides to every issue" and "For many years".When relevant, cite a specific historical range or specific cultural conditions, and keep your writing focused on the subject or issue.You could say that the prehistoric Egyptians were producing high-quality linen cloth as early as 5000 BC.

Step 10: This type of introduction is usually uninspired and trite.

It seems like a good idea at first, but the dictionary definition's introduction is so over the top that it almost always pushes the reader away.Don't use the dictionary definition for your own reference, but aim for an introduction that's more creative and challenging and offers your reader new information.If you feel obligated to clearly state what you are writing about, that is fine, but do it without referring to dictionary definitions.It may be helpful to start with a dictionary definition once in a blue moon.If you are writing about the meaning or origin of a word, for example, you might do so.First, consider alternatives.

Step 11: Readers like writing with confidence.

It is a good idea to state the facts, lay out the case, or set the scene with a convincing, authoritative voice that makes it clear that your writing is.You should trust in your writing and your reader.Take note of how 3 little words can make a huge difference in how authoritative and confident each sentence is.

Step 12: Wait until you have a killer introduction for your essay.

If you don't want to write a generic one, fill out your body paragraphs and analyze what you have.You have more time to consider the connections between your own writing and other material on the topic, or the many elements within your article or essay.The first impression that the reader will get is how you write after that.Take your time and make it count.The conclusion should be written next-to-last or last.They need to connect and relate perfectly.

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