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How to Grab the Reader’s Attention for Writing An Essay Introduction Paragraph | Practical Ways and Examples
How to Grab the Reader’s Attention for Writing An Essay Introduction Paragraph | Practical Ways and Examples
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You've likely heard the age-old advice to Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them. While this approach can work in certain situations, when it comes to writing an essay, it's essential to grab the reader's attention from the very beginning.
Introductions are essential for setting the tone of your essay and letting your reader know what to expect. An engaging introduction should be short.
Things to Focus on while Preparing for the Introduction
1. Start with a Strong Hook
The first few sentences of your essay are referred to as the "hook." This is because they aim to hook the reader's attention and keep them engaged. A strong hook is typically a shocking statistic or a thought-provoking question.
For example, imagine that you're writing an essay about domestic violence. A strong hook might be like, "1 in 4 women will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetime." This statistic will grab readers' attention and make them want to learn more about your topic.
2. Use Vivid Language.
No matter what topic you're writing about, using vivid language is always a good idea. Readers who come across bland or uninteresting language are much less likely to want to continue reading. On the other hand, if you can transport them into your world with your words, they'll be more likely to stick around until the end.
3. Be Original
Let's face it: there are only so many ways to start an essay. As a consequence, it can be tempting to fall into cliche openings such as quoting someone famous or describing the scene around you.
However, if you really want your essay to stand out from the rest, it's important to be original. That doesn't mean that you have to reinvent the wheel—simply avoid any opening that's been overused and try something new instead.
4. Highlight What's at Stake
When readers start your essay, they should know what they can expect to gain from reading it—in other words, what's at stake for them if they continue reading.
For example, if you're writing an argumentative essay, clarify what position you're arguing for and why it matters. This way, even if readers disagree with your position, they'll at least appreciate knowing what's at stake and why it matters enough for you to write about it.
Free Premier Essay Writing Topics
Essay Writing is an essential part of academics which presents the ideas, arguments, opinions, or positions of the writer regarding the topic. The writer supports his claims using facts, evidence, or survey studies.
- Clear presentation or understanding of the type of essay
- An appealing introduction with an unambiguous thesis statement
- A well-defined structure of body paragraphs supporting the thesis
A prospective conclusion with an optimistic tone
What to Avoid?
- Don't start with a dictionary definition. It might be tempting, but it's a bit overdone and not very original. Your professor has probably read dozens of these essays and will be bored by the time they get to yours. If you do want to use a quote, make sure it's from someone notable and that it will fit well with the rest of your paper.
- Avoid starting with a scene or flashback from the middle of the action. It might seem like an excellent way to engage your reader, but it's often difficult to do without sounding cheesy or overdramatic. A better choice would be to start with something more low-key, such as describing the setting or giving some background information on the characters.
- Steer clear of cliches. This includes things like "In today's society," "Throughout history," and "From my perspective." These phrases are overused and don't add anything new or exciting to your essay.
- Don't begin with a rhetorical question. This typical opening can quickly become trite if not done correctly. If you made your mind to take this route, make sure you have a good answer to the question before you start writing!
- Finally, try to avoid starting your essay with a quote from someone else. While this can sometimes be effective, it's often seen as lazy or unoriginal writing. If you want to use a quote, make sure it adds something new to your paper and that you can tie it well to the rest of your argument.
