The opening paragraph of your essay is vital and deserves careful consideration. The first paragraph must arouse the reader’s interest. It works to push the reader out of a neutral mindset into one of curiosity concerning the direction of your essay. This can be done in a variety of ways:
-
Ask a provocative question,
-
Develop a philosophical stance,
-
Offer an interesting and relevant quotation,
-
Present a vivid scene,
-
State an opinion,
-
Relate an episode or anecdote,
-
Attack a general misconception,
-
Make an assertion, etc.
Whatever opening strategy you select, make sure it accomplishes three vital things:
-
It must stimulate interest,
-
It must establish the tone of your essay,
-
It must in some way point out the method you are going to use to develop your main idea.
Examine your introduction with a scrutinizing eye. Is it sincere? Is it energetic? Is it crisp and to the point? Is it decisive? Is it interesting? Too many essays fail before they really begin.
