Want to ace your next essay with flying colors? Start with a strong, attention-grabbing introduction! Check out these expert tips for writing compelling essays.
What makes an introduction compelling?
When it comes to writing an effective essay introduction, students essentially have three components to consider:
- Beginning with something to interest the reader from the start
- Building curiosity to encourage the reader to continue
- Previewing the basic themes or topics of your writings
In an academic setting, students will often find themselves writing essays on research-based topics, whether it’s a scientific subject or a literary analysis. Either way, the same rules apply – students should aim to draw the reader in, pique their interest with rhetorical questions, and briefly outline what’s coming next.
Start your introduction with a hook
A “hook” has one main purpose: to draw the reader in and grab their attention from the get-go. An expert tip is to begin with a fact or statement your reader is likely to be familiar with, followed by a thought-provoking question which builds on the prior information.
For example, let’s say a student is writing an essay about earth’s oceans and what fellow students can do to protect them:
Familiar fact: You have probably heard that most of our planet is covered in water – about three-quarters of the earth’s surface.
Hook: But did you know that the oceans themselves make up almost 98% of the water on our planet?
At this point, the writer has accomplished two goals – the first statement provides a familiar context for the reader, while the second shares a lesser-known fact about the aforementioned topic.
Continue to build interest
The student’s next step is to continue building interest in the topic at hand by offering additional details and facts while providing further relevance for the reader:
Building context: And while many people think of the oceans as a home to fish and sea creatures, these bodies of water play a much larger role in our lives than most people realize.
Additional curiosity: Oceans play a central role in Earth’s water cycle by providing rainwater and distributing heat around the globe.
Additional fact: In addition, we rely on the oceans to breathe – 50% of our planet’s oxygen comes from these vast waters.
At this point in the introduction, the student has piqued the reader’s interest with contextual relevance and interesting facts. The final step is perhaps the most crucial, though – to motivate the reader to continue with the rest of the essay!
Preview basic themes
The student’s next step is to give an outline of their essay’s main theme while continuing to encourage the reader by providing additional context and relevant information.
Preview of topic: But despite the critical role oceans play in maintaining Earth’s delicate balance, they are in grave danger.
Expanding further: From microplastics to toxic chemicals, the world’s oceans are facing a global pollution crisis.
Outline of subjects: Fortunately, there are things we can do to help. From water conservation projects to energy reduction goals, here are some methods that students can use to live a sustainable lifestyle that benefits the oceans we all share.
At this point, the student is ready to jump into the “meat and potatoes” of their essay! Depending on their grade level, some students may also be tasked with writing a topic sentence. This is similar to the outline described above, but a bit more in-depth – often listing each of the key topics that will be discussed.
