How Do I Start an Essay?
A lead (or a hook) is a journalist’s term meaning opener. It can be a sentence or several short
paragraphs. It is preferable to topic sentence or thesis statement since these two terms assume
only one standard or acceptable beginning. The lead has several functions:
 To introduce the subject by telling what the writer is going to say or to introduce a
situation which the writer will develop. It is a way to focus and limit a subject.
 To indicate the direction the writer intends to take: persuasion, how-to, argument, etc.
 To lure or attract the reader; to get his initial interest.
 To suggest the tempo of the writing (how it will move along) and the tone (the writer’s
attitude, stance, or bias).
There are a dozen or more standard leads. They are seldom found in their pure form, and a
combination may not produce the best results. Here are 12 leads:
 Anecdote. An anecdote is a brief story, usually with a point. This lead is especially
adaptable to personality sketches or to accounts of personal experiences.
 Startling Statement. This is designed to rouse the reader by grabbing his attention with
an arresting statement. Be careful of this one; you have to prove your statement to your
reader.
 Narrative. This differs from the anecdote principally because it does not usually have a
climax or a point. It’s like “Once upon a time…and then…and then”
 Summary. A few sentences or a short paragraph summarize what the rest of the writing
develops in detail.
 Quotation. An appropriate quotation is often a useful starter. If you use more than one,
be sure they are brief and closely linked.
 Question. One or more questions which lead naturally into the body of the writing. Like
the striking statement, questions can often be provocative.
 Description. The saying “I’ll draw you a picture” has sense when applied to some leads.
Description, sharply focused, of a situation, place, or person can get the reader off to a
good start. This lead should be right, brief, and contain specific images or facts.
 General Statement. This should have no doubt in the reader’s mind about what is to
come. For example, “The brewing of strong drink is as old as man himself.”
 Analogy. An analogy is a comparison, often an image, used to describe or compare. For
example, a French traveler, early in the nineteenth century, said, “American society is
like a glass of beer: foam on top, dregs on the bottom, and clear, settled brew in the
middle.”
 Direct Address. We always like to be talked to directly. Use “you” in the lead and body
of the piece, but use the pronoun only when you want to establish a one-to-one tone with
the reader.
 Statement of Purpose. The statement of purpose is usually used for how-to articles or
for information you want your reader to have quickly and succinctly. Simply begin by
saying flatly what you are going to write about.
 New Lead. This is found in any straight new story or publicity release: who, what,
when, where, and how. Leads are usually rewritten several times, often when you have
“finished” a piece of writing. To get started, invent several leads and pick the one closest
to your intentions.