The English Corner at Richland College
Interesting Introductions: Five Ways to Begin an Essay
Sometimes just starting an essay is the hardest part. How do you hook the reader and get his or
her attention without sounding too cliché? See the handout on Clichés for more information
about clichés. Introductions that are too broad or vague do not help the reader understand
background information on your topic, nor do they provide a roadmap to where you are headed.
No one wants to read, “Since the beginning of the computer age,” or “Humans have been
breathing air since the dawn of time.” If you wouldn’t want to keep reading, why would your
readers? Instead, take the responsibility of creating interest for your readers. Show them you are
interested in the topic you are writing about, and they will follow. Below are five ideas on how to
draw your reader in, with examples.
Interesting Fact
Begin with a little known or interesting fact about your topic to get your readers interested in
your topic.
Both founding fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew the hemp plant as
a source of income, harvesting the fibers for rope and fabric production (Johnson).
Be sure to cite your interesting fact with an in-text citation and a Works Cited entry.
Johnson, Gene. “A History of Pot, From George Washington to Legalizing Ganja.” U.S.
News. NBCNews.com, 6 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Revealing Statistics
Provide your reader with numbers that highlight unconventional trends in your topic.
According to AT&T’s teen driver survey, “97 percent of teens say texting while driving
is dangerous — but 43 percent admit to doing so.”
Just like the interesting fact, you need to cite your statistics with a Works Cited entry and an intext citation if necessary. The example above does not need an in-text citation since the author is
listed in the sentence.
AT&T. “Texting While Driving Facts.” ATT.com. AT&T Intellectual Property. 2014.
Web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Questions
Opening your essay with a series of questions can be intriguing for the reader. The questions can
be genuine questions that you plan to answer in the body paragraphs. Alternatively, they can be
sarcastic ones that introduce naysayers, like the following example:
Handout created by Justine White and Cameron Maynard www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner
Will girls imitate the new, kickass heroines in the Japanese animé Cardcaptors? Will the
impressionable 12-year-olds exposed to trailers for MGM's Disturbing Behavior forever
after associate good teen behavior with lobotomies? Did Nine Inch Nails and the video
game DOOM inspire the Trenchcoat Mafia's bloodbath at Columbine? Thousands of
studies have been done to try to answer variants of the question: Does media violence
lead to real-life violence, making children more antisocial and aggressive?
The previous excerpt is from Maggie Culter’s essay “Whodunit—The Media?” The first set of
questions is rhetorical and sarcastic. She has no intention of answering them. They are posed to
let the reader know her stance on the subject. However, the last question is answered throughout
the essay and is the basis for her thesis and claim.
Famous Quotes
Using the words of a famous person or celebrity can also be a way to draw in the reader’s
attention. However, be careful when using a famous quote. Make sure that it relates directly to
your subject matter and has a purpose in your essay.
Albert Einstein argued that “Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of
compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”
If your author and quote are well known, you do not need to include a Works Cited entry as long
as you identify the author in the sentence like the example above.
Personal Examples
Relating to your readers on a personal level can help the readers feel more comfortable with you,
bridging a more intimate connection between author and reader. Your personal narrative should
only be a small part of your essay, though—never longer than a half a page (and you need to be
sure a first person account is appropriate). Use transitions between your narrative and your
argument, so it is clear how your anecdote relates to your subject.
I remember growing up poor. Material things were not an option in my house. We didn’t
own a TV. As a single parent working two jobs, my mother only provided the bare
necessities. Bills came first, then food. Lunch was never guaranteed. I do not ever recall
feeling full. The dull ache of an empty stomach was ever-present throughout my
childhood. Unfortunately, the images and lived experiences of poverty have not changed
in the modern age, even with the advances in science and technology.
Since you are the writer of the essay and the personal anecdote, you do not need to include a
Works Cited entry. Using first person alerts the reader that the narrative is your experience, and
that is citation enough.
Remember
When you are constructing an introduction, you are constructing a platform on which the rest of
your essay will sit. The introduction should provide adequate background information on the
topic, possibly showing a different perspective on the issue, and should always lead towards the
thesis and body paragraphs. Read your introduction and ask yourself if you would be interested
in reading the paper. Ask yourself if it gives a fellow student enough information before the
argument begins.
Handout created by Justine White and Cameron Maynard www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner