Writing Creative Introductions in Informational Essays
Option 1 – Open with a related quote. Pull a quote from the prompt; use it to
introduce the topic.
- This option is great if time is a concern.
- Be sure to introduce the speaker or source of the quote before using it.
- Explain the quote in your own words.
- Punctuate correctly (see example below).
Example: Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” In
other words, a hero is not a selfless individual, but one who sacrifices himself or herself for others and thus contributes to the
greater good. Heroism is a human quality characterized by courage, selflessness, and determination.
Option 2 – Open with a creative narrative. Explore an imagined scenario, offer a hypothetical situation, or
briefly give a personal account.
- Keep in mind the topic you are introducing.
- Make everything relevant.
- Be brief. Creative introductions do not need to be any longer than a standard introduction.
- Use lively, descriptive language.
Example: The night is warm and dry with a slight breeze; it feels as if God has wrapped a blanket over Northern Iraq and
every once in awhile cool air comes through. A beautiful young girl sits on the ground and looks up at the millions of stars. She
daydreams about becoming an astronaut. She has her eye on one star that is brighter than all the others; it seems to be moving
closer to her. She closes her eyes to makes a wish, but instead is met with a deadly explosion. Just like that, her dreams are gone.
This scene depicts Saddam Hussein’s attack on Kurdish villages in the late 1980s and 1990s. Hussein and other dictator like him
infringe on human rights everyday. The world must protect and understand the concept of human rights, which includes the
rights to life, liberty, and security.
Example: Walking into school for the first time since Christmas break, I can immediately see all the North Face jackets, the
Coach purses, and the Burberry scarves appear in the hallways. Out goes the board games, bicycles, and playing cards and in
came the i-Pods, digital cameras, and Chanel perfumes as society switches from traditions to possessions and money becomes
central to our lives. New polls show that the obsession with material possessions is growing with many negative effects . . . .
Option 3 – Introduce an extended metaphor. Choose a symbol or situation to represent the central topic of your
paper. Refer back to this symbol or situation throughout the paper.
- This is a tricky way to open a paper but very effective if done well.
- If you create the metaphor, you must extend it. Refer to it in the body of the paper. Definitely refer to it
in the conclusion.
Example: As I crane my neck out the window to get a glimpse of the freshly fallen snow, I think of the old adage, “No two
snowflakes are alike.” Every snowflake forms under different conditions, at different times, to result in a completely unique
formation that can never be duplicated. Like those early morning snowflakes, individuals grow up at different times and mature
under different conditions. As a result, no two individuals can be alike. Individuality is . . .
Option 4 - Use distinct and catchy syntax (sentence structure). Add repetition and parallel structure in your
introduction.
Example: Responsibility is a virtue some students forget when they enter high school. Instead of remembering this
important trait, they do reckless things that have unintended consequences. Whether they crash their car, forget their
homework or cheat on a test, they must take responsibility for their actions. Responsibility is accepting and atoning for the
consequences of one’s actions. Even if the results are unintended or unpleasant, we must still take credit for them and make
up for any damages.