There is just something about essay assignments that seem intimidating at first, especially for beginners.
The issue for many students is actually a question:
How do I begin writing an essay?
If starting seems to be the hardest part for you, I have a few tips to share that will help you start writing a winning essay—without the stress.
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How to Write a Phenomenal Introduction Paragraph
Writing a good introduction for an essay gives you access to a door in your reader’s mind. A poorly written introduction slams that door shut, but an engaging one encourages your reader to stay a while.
That’s why it is so important to clearly introduce your topic.
(Need help choosing an essay topic?)
You get one chance to nail that first impression and open the door of engagement.
As you write an essay introduction paragraph, it needs to accomplish three things:
- Present the point you will make in the body of the essay.
- Provide brief background information for your topic.
- Capture the reader’s attention, so he’ll continue reading.
That last point—capturing your audience’s attention—means you should carefully consider your choice of words as you start your essay introduction.
The success of your essay hinges on your ability to keep the reader reading. If that feels a little intimidating, don’t worry.
Below, you’ll find helpful tips for how to start writing an essay that encourages your reader to stay for your grand finale.
9 Ways to Start an Essay That Encourages Readers to Keep Reading
If you thought you were limited to a dull presentation, think again. There are many intriguing ways to begin an essay.
First, we’ll talk about how to use each style to get your foot in the door. Then, we’ll discuss which introductions work best for different essay types.
We’ll also share how to start an essay with examples.
Let’s begin with the most direct type of introduction.
1. State Your Thesis in a Straightforward Topic Sentence
There are many ways you can write a topic sentence, but there’s nothing wrong with a simple thesis statement.
Addressing the heart of your topic informs the reader of your essay’s purpose from the very beginning.
This type of introduction works well for persuasive and analytical essays.
Example of Starting with Your Thesis:
“When it comes to high-functioning autism, an early diagnosis and intervention by trained professionals can greatly improve the chances of a child’s independence when he reaches adulthood. Autism spectrum disorder testing and evaluation should be part of every child’s wellness visits.”
2. Start with a Question
If you don’t want to lead with a thesis statement, try starting your essay with a question.
By asking the reader a question, you’re giving him a chance to interact with your writing. Participating in the discussion—even if just in his mind—engages the reader.
Example of How to Start an Essay with a Question:
“Has the number on your bathroom scale ever sent you to the kitchen for comfort food—followed by regret and resolve to diet tomorrow? Since this is a common issue for many, it’s important to educate the public about the brain’s neural pathways. It is the key to breaking the overeating/starvation cycle for perpetual dieters.”
3. Start with a Hook
Have you heard your essay needs to start with a hook? If you’re not sure how to write a hook, it boils down to the intriguing aspects of your essay.
Think of your essay’s hook in terms of a fishing hook with a fat, juicy worm on it. Using a good hook sentence for an essay simply means dangling interesting “bait” in front of your reader to get them to bite.
There are several types of hooks you can use:
- Thought-provoking questions
- Anecdotes
- Shocking statistics
- Moving quotes
- Powerful statements of fact
Here’s an example of using a surprising statistic to hook your reader.
Example of Starting with a Hook:
“Every night in cities, towns, and suburbs across America, 10 million children go to bed hungry because their parents can’t afford groceries—yet do not qualify for public assistance.”
4. Start with an Impactful Quote
Another way to start off an essay is by using a quote.
When you start an essay with a quote, you’re basically letting an established—likely famous—author or spokesperson do the hard work of writing a hook.
Example of Starting with a Quote:
“As Mark Twain once said, ‘Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.’ Eating an actual frog may be an unsettling thought (and even less settling for your digestion), but tackling a dreaded task early in the day can help you avoid procrastinating.”
By the way, if you need help going from “to do” to “done,” check out Don’t Eat That Frog!
5. Start by Painting a Dramatic Scene
Have you been assigned a narrative essay? A narrative essay is like a story. If you’re baffled by how to start a narrative essay, try setting a captivating scene.
Here’s an example of using descriptive words to invite the reader into your story.
Example of Starting with a Setting or Scene:
“The soaring, glowing embers from our family campfire quickly disappeared among the flickering fireflies on that unforgettable July night.”
6. Start with a Personal Story, Experience, or Memory
College essay prompts, in particular, may ask about the effect of an important event on your life. If you need to know how to start an essay about yourself, consider sharing a personal story, memory, or experience.
Actually, a personal anecdote is an effective hook, so this type of introduction can be effective in other essay types as well.
Example of Starting with a Story:
“I remember the day my mother’s words took my breath away. Due to my questionable behavior, the only constant I had left in my life said I could no longer live under her roof. I knew I was headed down a rocky road toward a life that I didn’t want.”
7. Start with a Fact or Statistic
As previously shown, significant statistics can shock a reader into continuing with your essay. Statistics play well with essays that seek to provide information on an important topic.
For this reason, stats are a great way to start an informative essay.
Example of Starting with a Fact or Stat:
“Over 36 million adults in the United States cannot read above a third-grade level. Let’s talk about how this happened in a country where education is free and school attendance is mandatory.”
8. Start by Stoking the Reader’s Curiosity
Another way to introduce an essay and captivate your reader is to begin with a mystery.
When we talk about starting an essay with a “mystery,” this doesn’t mean setting up a whodunnit or posing a riddle.
When you start an essay with a mystery, you’re offering an interesting fact that requires further explanation. Naturally, the reader will want to find out more.
This is an effective way to start a compare and contrast essay when you’re discussing the difference between what the reader previously thought was true and the reality you are about to present.
Example of Starting with Mystery:
“Long seen as an anticipated rite of passage for teens, it’s puzzling to older generations to see teenagers across America opting out of obtaining their driver’s licenses.”
9. Start by Contrasting Popular Opinion
Sometimes known in journalism as an editorial, an opinion essay is the result of an author taking a stance on a topic, rather than straddling the fence.
Looking for ways to start an opinion essay? One unforgettable way is to defend a viewpoint you have that contrasts that of the general public.
Introducing your essay in this polarizing manner can make it stand out from the pack.
Example of Starting with a Contrast or Deviation from the Norm:
“Contrary to popular opinion, fast food can serve as a primary component of a healthy diet.”
Do You Have a Better Grasp on How to Start an Essay?
The key to writing a good essay starts at the beginning. The introduction to your essay is arguably the most important part.
If your introduction is boring or confusing, it will be tough to persuade your reader to stick around and read the body of your essay. (This is especially important if you are writing a persuasive essay.)
But that’s nothing to worry about, is it?
You are now equipped with nine ways to start an essay that hook the reader from the very beginning.
It’s just a matter of choosing the introduction style that best suits your essay’s purpose.
Try to relax and have fun. Your essay will be better for it!
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