Wondering how to start an essay but don't know where to begin? There is a lot of talk about writing great headlines and essay titles, but people often forget that a great introduction is also essential. Of course, you need great titles to capture your readers' attention, but without a great introduction to back it up, even the best essay will not help.
According to Chartbeat analysis of visitor behaviors on a website, out of every person who landed on a page, 70% only saw the top; they did not scroll down to see the rest. Far from websites, over ten professors we interviewed reported that by reading the introduction, they could tell the grade category a student would get. This shows that writing a captivating introduction is one way to hook the readers into your essay.
An introduction is the first impression you give to readers. Think of it as a signpost of what to expect. Writing a great introduction that compels readers to read your content is an art. If you do not do it right, you will miss out on many, including subscribers.
In this article, we will show you how to start an essay with a compelling introduction by covering the following:
There are no strict rules to how long your introduction paragraph should be. Seasoned writers typically set the number of words in their introduction depending on the length of paper they are writing.
Even though there are no specific guidelines for how long they should be, the length of these essay starters will depend on your field of study and the type of paper you are writing. For this reason, it is best to discuss with your professor what is expected before getting down to it.
Most introduction paragraphs or pages are 10-15% of the overall paper word count. Therefore, if your essay is 2000 words long, the introduction should be 200 words.
A good introduction includes a hook, context, and thesis statement.
A hook is an opening statement, usually, the first two sentences, intended to spark curiosity and draw readers into reading an essay. A strong hook guarantees that readers will be engaged right from the word go. If you are wondering how to write a hook for an essay, the following techniques should help you.
Use a Rhetorical Question
A rhetorical question is a type of question asked to spark a dramatic effect among readers instead of getting answers. The answer could be obvious to the readers or immediately provided in the following sentences. You could combine the question with a pun for a comedic effect. The aim is to get the reader thinking about a particular thing.
A Fact or Statistics
Beginning an essay introduction with a fun and shocking fact or statistic is another way to grab your audience's attention. Everyone loves a fun fact; using it in your essay will get them to read. Just make sure the facts you are using are accurate and reliable. You do not want to mislead your readers by providing unsupported facts.
Use a Strong Statement
A strong statement is a confidence about the topic in discussion. This is a great way to capture a reader's attention because regardless of whether they agree, they will want to see how you support your argument.
Provide a Story
Sharing a personal story is an excellent way to grab people's attention because who doesn’t like a good story? Take note that these types of hooks require inspiration to spark creativity. Your aim is to create a connection between you and the readers. Additionally, a story should create questions and raise curiosity among readers, like the following examples.
After providing a hook, you have to provide context for the introduction. Context is what helps the reader understand the topic you are going to discuss. It refers to additional details that will provide a focus for the topic. Therefore, whereas a hook captures the reader's attention, a context provides background information that begins to narrow the essay's focus.
Note that academic papers are written for uninformed readers, so providing context for your topic is a way of informing them.
A context consists of the following: background information, the scope of the topic, and other essential items. Background information addresses the history of the topic or cause of the research problem. Scope answers the Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?
The bottom line is that a context aims at establishing why you are writing the essay and its significance.
This part of the introduction could be anywhere between one or several sentences depending on the given instructions or your paper's length.
A thesis statement is the final part of an introduction and is responsible for conveying the paper's main argument in a clear and concise manner. This part of the introduction is usually situated at the end of the paragraph. A thesis statement will tell the reader which idea (s) will be discussed in the essay.
Now that you are aware of the important parts of the introduction, it’s time to get down to the practical details. An introduction can be challenging but not impossible, but with the I.N.T.R.O method, you will be on your way to constructing the perfect piece.
I.N.T.R.O is an acronym for Interest, Notify, Translate, Report, and Outline.
We will go through each of these steps and explain what is expected.
This is where you woo the readers by first grabbing their attention with an exciting hook. Your first sentence should tell readers why they should care about your topic. Show them that the topic is an everyday issue that affects them in one way or another. The aim here is to show the relevance of the topic. Doing this also shows that you are knowledgeable about the topic and thus are in a position to explain it well to the readers. Use the following tips to guide you.
Nonetheless, do not disclose too much at this point. Leave that juicy stuff for the body part. Also, try to avoid emotional and exaggerated statements, which are sometimes perceived as deceptive.
Notifying readers involves giving them background information or the context of the topic. This will show readers that you are expertly aware of the topic in discussion.
For example,
Topic- Autoimmune disorders
Contextualized sentence- There has been a rise in cases of autoimmune disorders, with reports showing that 24 million people already suffer from them.
The above example shows that you are already knowledgeable about the topic provided.
Two or three sentences are enough to show context for your topic without borrowing too much information from the body part.
When writing an essay about a topic, it is essential to paraphrase the topic. This will show that you have read widely about the topic and are, therefore, able to articulate it well in writing. Ensure you are not just repeating yourself to add more words to your essay.
Show the stance you have taken on the topic: this is your perspective. This is common when writing argumentative or persuasive essays. Make it clear which stance you are taking; otherwise, you will leave the readers confused. Readers should always know what will be said next in the essay. Leave surprises for creative writing.
Your introduction should also highlight what points you will discuss in the body paragraphs. This signposting technique is used explicitly for long essays, term papers, and research papers. If you struggle with this, develop an essay plan and gather the critical points. The outline is the last part of the introduction. It is usually two sentences long.
Use the following examples to show your outline,
"Firstly, the following essay will talk about…..then ... .and lastly…."
“This paper opens up with …then….and ends with …."
Notice how these outline the issues you are going to cover in order. It is essential to do this, so the reader can know what to expect.
Remember that the last sentence of your introduction should be able to transition smoothly into the first paragraph of the body. In most cases, this transition will occur organically. Other times, you may have to provide a transitional sentence to flow into the next paragraph.
There are different types of ways on how to start an essay. You may choose any of these methods or combine them with other methods depending on the type of essay or style of writing of your choice.
Perhaps the most common type of essay introduction. It is referred to as the funnel method of introduction, which begins with a broad statement of the topic and follows it with something more specific until you provide a thesis. The funnel introduction aims to improve the flow and the connectedness of the ideas. As you gradually move from the initial statement, your focus is narrowed. The following is an essay example introduction to the funnel method.
Broad statement. The invention of Braille in 1942 changed the lives of those with sight loss.
Background information. Louis Braille developed the touch reading and writing system used by visually impaired persons. The system was developed in nineteenth-century France at a time when society looked down upon disabled people, including the visually impaired. The lack of appropriate reading and writing materials means that they were left out of public participation.
Thesis Statement. As soon as it was introduced, Braille became a game changer as the new accessibility tool. Besides the practical benefits, Braille changed how people who were blind were viewed in society.
In this introduction approach, you begin by briefly summarizing a viewpoint entirely different from your thesis statement. Then at the end of the introductory paragraph, you turn around and present your thesis statement. This type of approach is vital because it takes advantage of the element of surprise.
The following is an example of a turnabout introduction:
Building a wall around it is the best choice if you are looking for a strategy to secure your home. This also goes for protecting our country. Studies have shown that immigrants are the biggest perpetrators of criminal activities. Therefore, the best way to keep them out of the country is to build a wall around it. Right? While this reasoning seems flawless, history has shown that it is ineffective; remember the Great Wall of China? It did not stop the Mongolian invasion. Another thing, a bigger percentage of immigrants come legally into the United States but overstay their visas.
The above essay introduction example has provided an analogy of houses and countries to show that the same solutions can work in both cases. Then, a turnabout is introduced, showing the solution cannot be applied.
This type of method of introduction begins with a quote that leads to the thesis statement. You use this method when you borrow a quoted opinion you agree with. Take note that you only use a quote that is in line with the topic of your essay. A well-chosen quotation will add credibility to your essay because readers can relate.
Example of a Quotation introduction
Absences make the heart grow fonder. However, it can also make one see clearly. This is because it allows you to focus on one thing at a time, thus seeing something in a new light. If you have lived in one town all your life, you may not see it the way a visitor does. I moved back to my hometown, Canada, after years in Detroit. In addition, when I got there, I noticed things I had missed. I have discovered so many things that are part of Canadian life.
Another way to start an introduction is by posing a question to your target audience. Posing a question is a way to connect with readers, as you will get them to think about the topic. Ensure you address the answer throughout your essay, which is why you have to ask a question related to the issues in the discussion.
For example, if your topic is health, you may ask, "How would you feel if you lost your limbs because of diabetes?
With his questions, you may state the cause of diabetes, risk factors, and possible ways of preventing and dealing with it.
Provide a historical background of the problem or issue in discussion. Doing this grounds the readers to the facts of the topic and provide information readers need to understand better what you are talking about. You could also compare and contrast ideas to show how they relate to your topic.
Writing good introductions can be difficult, but with the following tips, you will be on your way to drafting great essay starters.
1. Understand the Target Audience
Before getting down to it, you have to consider your audience. This will help you write an introduction that the audience can resonate with. Think of their age, cultural and socio-economic background so that you can know how best to go about writing the introduction.
2. Be Specific
Do not beat around the bush. Just go straight to the point by addressing what your topic is about. Avoid repetition by choosing words and phrases that state the purpose of your essay.
3. Show the Importance of Your Essay
Readers like to know why they should take a moment of their time to read your essay. In other words, they want to know the relevance of your essay and how it will benefit them.
4. Show How You Intend to Help
Besides stating the importance of your essay, show how you intend to help. How do you intend to address the issue or problem raised? Let the readers know, loud and clear, the steps you will take to make the issue better.
5. Use the Word "You" At Least Once
You could know that your topic is vital to the readers, but they may not be aware of that. By using the word "you," the readers will connect to you and the topic.
6. Avoid Clichés
Some writing styles have been successfully used in the past but sound too evident in the present. An example of an introduction cliché includes starting an introduction with a definition.
An introduction is the first paragraph of your paper, which is responsible for letting readers know what the text is about. After the title, the introduction entices or interests the readers in reading your work to completion. It is a great selling point for your essay.
You can also check out these related readings, which are our expertly-written blog posts that further help you to advance your writing skills.
Related Readings:
An introduction is your opportunity to make an impression on the readers and get them to read the paper. For this reason, you must learn how to start an essay the right way.
First, you want to hook the readers with a grand opening sentence or an attention-getter. The next step is giving background information about the issue at hand and narrowing down the essay's focus by presenting a thesis statement.
Writing a great introduction is challenging. You may have to rewrite it a few times but do not let this cause you to give up. It is all worth it in the end.
We have expert writers who write great essays with engaging introductions, and you can hire our writers for your essays, research papers, term papers, and other school assignments.
To write a good introduction, use the INTRO guide, which stands for Interest, Notify, Translate, Report, and Outline.
Begin by creating interest among readers, followed by giving background information. Then show the topic's relevance and the stance you have taken. Finish by providing an outline of the essay, which includes all the points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.
A good introduction contains the following:
An introduction aims at:
The initial sentence you come across when reading the first paragraph of an essay is referred to as a hook. It is what convinces readers to read an essay. It is one of the most effective sentences to start an essay, so you must write it well.
A hook is the opening sentence in an introduction. A good hook has the following characteristics:
These are also known as best introduction-starters or attention-getters. They spice introductions, making them palatable to the readers.
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