education

How to Start an Essay

An essay introduction sets the mood for the paper. It’s the part that welcomes the reader to the discussion and thus plays a significant role in gluing the reader to the paper. For this reason, essay introductions are often a nightmare for most students due to the precision they require. Once you understand what starting an essay entails, it will be easier to get everything right. So, let’s review some top tips on how to start introduction in essay.

Start with a Unique Fact

How to Start an Essay

Sometimes, we overlook the fact that capturing a reader’s attention may not be as simple as it sounds. Therefore, one must come up with various creative ways that will leave the reader curious to take in more information from the paper. One of the best ways to achieve this, like how experts at RoyalEssays writing service do, is by using outstanding facts. Starting an essay with a fact gives the reader more reason to continue reading the paper. Including facts in the introduction of expository or persuasive essays can help you lay the basis of the arguments that will be presented in the paper. Noteworthy, the fact used should be relevant to the prompt given or topic of discussion.

Use Questions

Asking questions in the first part of an essay is another way to write a good introduction to an essay. Questions are often an invitation for the reader to engage with the content of the paper. They make the reader an active participant in your paper and not just a consumer. Starting your introductory section with a question is particularly suitable for a persuasive essay since it will prompt the reader to be part of the work and, if possible, take sides. Questions can be used in any other essay; however, they best suit essays that require the reader to reflect on the discussion.

Start with a Quote

Have you gone through various introduction essay examples but still can’t figure out how to write yours? Try to open with a quote. Quotes generally capture our attention. Thus, using one as part of your essay introduction is among the best ways of making your introduction powerful. When choosing a quote to use, ensure it is direct and relevant to the paper. Also, the reader shouldn’t spend time dissecting the meaning of the quote. Here is an essay introduction example of a quote: “It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.” This quote by Voltaire suggests that if someone questions a ruling class and their interests, the person would inevitably be putting themselves in danger. They do not like it when people point out they are being oppressed.

Describe a Scene

An easy tip on how to start an essay is to describe a scene. Describing a scene is particularly suitable when writing a personal statement, creative, or literary essay. The descriptive language used is meant to immerse the reader in the paper and give them a vivid picture of certain occurrences. For example, you can describe what a typical morning or rainy day looks like or a certain situation you have been in. Descriptions make an essay more interesting and engaging. The reader will be looking forward to seeing how everything turned out.  

Set the Right Tone From the Beginning

Another grand secret on how to start an introduction for an essay excellently is to use the right tone. Starting your paper with the right tone is essential since it determines the voice that will be used in the discussion. It is also important to acknowledge the type of paper you will be writing to ensure you apply the relevant tone. Certain papers require a serious tone compared to others, thus the need to stick to them. For example, starting an argumentative essay with a funny quote may not be appropriate. Also, starting an expository essay with a statistic may indicate that you have already taken sides instead of elaborating on various facts.

Use Simple Words

A simple yet elaborate introduction makes your comprehension of your paper easier. Sometimes, we may assume that one of the good ways to start an essay is by using complex words and phrases. It may not be easy to draw the line between using straightforward words and taking a simplistic approach. The best solution to this is to be more selective with your words. Most students may not understand how to blend in simple words while still maintaining the quality of the paper. To achieve a less complex layout, focus more on using simple phrases and sentences. Using filler words and other phrases that are not relevant may make the introduction look vague, yet it’s supposed to be catchy.

Precise Thesis Statement

The thesis statement sheds light on the essay’s topic from the introduction and sets the official tone and trajectory of your essay. Sometimes, it may be hard to understand how to open an essay, but once you get your thesis statement, you can build your introduction around it. The reader will be more aware of what the essay’s body entails without diving deep into the paper’s content. Although it is obligatory to place your thesis statement in your introduction, it should not be the opening sentence of the first paragraph. Instead, this statement should appear as the last sentence in the intro. It should be transitional between the introduction paragraph and the essay body. Also, it should be straightforward, preferably in one sentence.

Closing Remarks

With the right skills and outline, crafting an essay introduction will be much easier. A good introduction combines several factors, from creativity to formatting and using the right language. Once you master the best way to start an essay, it will be easier to apply such factors to your paper. The major challenge for students when writing an essay has been balancing between presenting their ideas in a less complex way without being too simplistic. However, it will be easier to develop straightforward points and arguments without oversimplification using the points mentioned above.

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