AP Essay Introductions
Where should you begin?
The Opening Is an Asset
Answer
the question quickly (thesis)
Do NOT use ideas that do not directly
relate to the prompt.
What NOT to do . . .
All
people at some point in time have
encountered a great deal of trouble in
their lives. I know of so many people who
have been embarrassed by parents that
will wave at your from across a room. I
have a friend who told me that after her
parents did that very thing.
This sounds like you don’t have anything
of substance to say!
One-sentence introductions . . .
ARE
BAD!
Suggests that the student isn’t
particularly interested.
Your introduction should . . .
Earn
a five (5) all by itself.
Answer the entire prompt.
These two things set the paper up for
upper-half by nature.
Remember all papers start at a five (5),
then work down or up.
Find . . .
What
the author is trying to say about the
human condition, about shared
experiences, about fears, sorrows, etc.
The “so what.”
“I am going to write what I think . . .
Begin
with this assertion and go with it.
Do NOT worry about what you believe
the reader wants to see.
Just write.
Restate the question, not repeat wordfor-word.
Include your thesis.