how to start you essay

Every Saturday morning, I’d awaken to the smell of crushed garlic and piquant pepper. I would stumble into the kitchen to find my grandma squatting over a large silver bowl, mixing fat lips of fresh cabbages with garlic, salt, and red pepper.

Why It Works: In this intro, the author paints a very visceral picture of waking up in the morning to the smell of her grandmother’s traditional Korean cooking. Through the careful word choice (“piquant pepper,” “fat lips of fresh cabbages,” etc.), we get a sense that something important is happening, even if we don’t know what it is yet. But this one can be difficult to pull off if you don’t help the reader understand why you’ve described what you’ve described. Read the rest of the essay here .

Which brings us to...

An image-based description, perhaps 1-3 sentences in length, that focuses on a particular moment and then follows up with a sentence that explains, comments on, or somehow provides context for what is being described.

Take a look at how this can happen by just adding one sentence to the example above (see bolded line below):

Every Saturday morning, I’d awaken to the smell of crushed garlic and piquant pepper. I would stumble into the kitchen to find my grandma squatting over a large silver bowl, mixing fat lips of fresh cabbages with garlic, salt, and red pepper. That was how the delectable Korean dish, kimchi, was born every weekend at my home.

Why it Works: This single sentence hints at some of the author’s core values—culture, ritual, family—without giving too much away about where the essay is headed. Like any good intro, this one creates more questions that answers. (Read the rest of the essay here .)

Another example:

They covered the precious mahogany coffin with a brown amalgam of rocks, decomposed organisms, and weeds. It was my turn to take the shovel, but I felt too ashamed to dutifully send her off when I had not properly said goodbye. I refused to throw dirt on her. I refused to let go of my grandmother, to accept a death I had not seen coming, to believe that an illness could not only interrupt, but steal a beloved life.

Why It Works: The author drops us right into the middle of something we know nothing about, yet it invites us to care. How? The specifics. The details she notices and the resistance she’s feeling help to put us in her shoes. This means we don’t just feel sympathy, we feel empathy . And that empathetic connection heightens the stakes for us by raising questions: How did her grandmother die? Why can’t the author let her go? Why is she angry? (Spoiler: It turns out she’s more angry at herself than anyone else. Read the rest of the essay here .)

The author begins with information that creates certain expectations about them before taking us in a surprising direction.

Growing up, my world was basketball. My summers were spent between the two solid black lines. My skin was consistently tan in splotches and ridden with random scratches. My wardrobe consisted mainly of track shorts, Nike shoes, and tournament t-shirts. Gatorade and Fun Dip were my pre-game snacks. The cacophony of rowdy crowds, ref whistles, squeaky shoes, and scoreboard buzzers was a familiar sound. I was the team captain of almost every team I played on—familiar with the Xs and Os of plays, commander of the court, and the coach’s right hand girl. But that was only me on the surface. Deep down I was an East-Asian influenced bibliophile and a Young Adult fiction writer.

Why It Works: We’re introduced to the author as a basketball superstar, the queen of the court, a sports fanatic—and at this point the reader may even be making assumptions about this author’s identity based on her initial description of herself. However, in one sentence, the writer takes us in a completely unexpected direction. This plays with audience expectations and demonstrates that she has a good degree of self awareness about the layers of her identity. After having our expectations thrown for a loop, we can’t help but wonder more about who exactly this person is (and if you want to know like I did, read the rest of this essay here ).

Another example:

I am on Oxford Academy’s Speech and Debate Team, in both the Parliamentary Debate division and the Lincoln-Douglass debate division. I write screenplays, short stories, and opinionated blogs and am a regular contributor to my school literary magazine, The Gluestick. I have accumulated over 300 community service hours that includes work at homeless shelters, libraries, and special education youth camps. I have been evaluated by the College Board and have placed within the top percentile. But I am not any of these things. I am not a test score, nor a debater, nor a writer. I am an anti-nihilist punk rock philosopher. And I became so when I realized three things:

Why It Works: He basically tears up his (impressive) resume in the first few sentences and says, “That’s not me! Here’s the real me…” and as a result we wonder, “How does one become an anti-nihilist punk rock philosopher? And what are the three things??” (Read the rest here .)

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Ask a question that you won’t (and probably can’t) answer in your essay. This gives you a chance to show how your brilliant brain works, plus keeps us hooked as you explore possible answers/solutions.

Does every life matter? Because it seems like certain lives matter more than others, especially when it comes to money.

Why it Works: It raises a complex, interesting question and poses a controversial idea: that we treat some lives as though they matter more than others. We wonder: “Is that true? Could it be? Say more…” Heads-up: This one can veer into the “Overly Grand Ambiguous Statement” opening if you’re not careful. Click here to read the rest of the essay mentioned above, which by the way took him a long time to refine—as this approach is not easy to pull off.

Begin by admitting something you might be judged (or judge yourself) for.

Example:

I have been pooped on many times. I mean this in the most literal sense possible. I have been pooped on by pigeons and possums, house finches and hawks, egrets and eastern grays. (Read the rest here .)

Why it Works: Shows vulnerability, but also in many cases intrigues us to learn more.

Here is a secret that no one in my family knows: I shot my brother when I was six. Luckily, it was a BB gun. But to this day, my older brother Jonathan does not know who shot him. And I have finally promised myself to confess this eleven year old secret to him after I write this essay.

Why It Works: This is a super vulnerable to admit and raises all sorts of questions for us: Why did he shoot his brother? Why hasn’t he confessed it to him? What will his brother say once he tells him? (Fun fact: This essay actually breaks the “don’t start with a quote” rule. Here’s the rest if you wanna’ read it.)

A contextualizing 1-2-sentences (often at the end of the first paragraph) to ground the essay by giving us a sneak peek at what’s to come in the essay—but that do NOT give away the ending.

Example (I’ve marked it in bold below at the end of the first paragraph):

Six years ago, a scrawny twelve year old kid took his first steps into Home Depot: the epitome of manliness. As he marched through the wood section, his eyes scrolled past the options. Red Oak? No, too ubiquitous. Pine? No, too banal. Mahogany? Perfect, it would nicely complement his walls. As days went on, the final product was almost ready. 91 degree angles had been perfected to 90. Drawer slides had been lubricated ten times over. Finally, the masterpiece was finished, and the little boy couldn’t help but smile. A scrawny 12-year-old kid had become a scrawny 12-year-old man. This desk I sit at has not only seen me through the last six years, but its story and the story of the objects I keep on it provide a foundation for my future pursuits.

Why It Works: As we read the first few sentences of this paragraph we might wonder, “Where is this going?” But this sentence sets us at ease and—again, without giving too much away—gives us a sense of what’s to come. We know that we’re going to learn about the author and his future through the objects on his desk. Great! It also signals to the reader “Don’t worry, you’re in good hands. I’m still aware of the task at hand.”

Begin with a concept that’s unusual, paradoxical, and/or marked a turning point in your thinking. This is often followed up with context explaining where the concept came from and why the author is considering it.

Crayfish can turn their red blood cells into precursor neuronal cells, I read in shock. The scientific paper, published in Cell 2014, outlined the process where crayfish could regenerate lost eyestalks or olfactory (smell and odor) nerves with their blood – they could see and smell again! It seemed unfair from an evolutionary standpoint. Humans, who were so much larger than a 7-ounce crayfish, couldn’t use their abundant blood to fix their brain damage.

Why It Works: This opening signals to the reader that the author is: a) someone who has read quite a bit, b) curious, and c) knows, as I like to say, “some stuff about some stuff.” In this case, she knows some science stuff.

Do you know some stuff about some stuff? If so, a little geeky language can help signal this to the reader. Don’t overdo it, though, or it can seem showy.

FYI: I see this more often at the start of great essays than personal statements, as this can often lead to an essay that’s more heady/intellectual and less vulnerable/personal. A variation on this that’s a bit more personal is the...

Begin with a strange fact about yourself to grab our attention. Then go on to say why it’s meaningful. Example:

I subscribe to what the New York Times dubs “the most welcomed piece of daily e-mail in cyberspace.” Cat pictures? Kardashian updates? Nope: A Word A Day.

(Read the rest here .)

Why It Works: It pulls us in by making us think, “Oh, that’s cool!” and then wondering, “Okay, where is this going?”

Grab our attention with an incredibly specific and arresting image or sentence. Then tell us why it matters.

Smeared blood, shredded feathers. Clearly, the bird was dead. But wait, the slight fluctuation of its chest, the slow blinking of its shiny black eyes. No, it was alive.

Why It Works: This style subtly highlights the writing talent of the author without drawing attention away from the content of the story. In this example, the staccatoed sentence fragments convey a sense of halting anxiety and also mimic the movement of the bird’s chest as it struggles to breathe. All sorts of questions come up: What happened to the bird? What will the author do? (Read the rest of the essay here .)

February 2011– My brothers and I were showing off our soccer dribbling skills in my grandfather’s yard when we heard gunshots and screaming in the distance. We paused and listened, confused by sounds we had only ever heard on the news or in movies. My mother rushed out of the house and ordered us inside. The Arab Spring had come to Bahrain.

(Read the rest of the essay here .)

Bowing down to the porcelain god, I emptied the contents of my stomach. Foaming at the mouth, I was ready to pass out. My body couldn’t stop shaking as I gasped for air, and the room started spinning. (Read the rest of the essay here .)

There are, of course, many more kinds of openings—and I’ll add to this post as I discover new ones.

We get it, writing a standout introduction is easier said than done. Hopefully though, after seeing some examples of dynamic and thoughtful intros that used our techniques, you’re inspired to brainstorm some of your own . You’ve got this. DTDT has never looked so good.

Have a great college essay opening or a new type of opening you’d like to suggest? Share it in the comments below!

This post was co-written by me (Ethan) and Luci Jones (Brown University, CO ‘23). Luci took my How to Write a Personal Statement course last year. The essay that she produced was so good and her writing was so beautiful, I’ve asked her to help me co-write this blog post with me, create a few techniques for writing a great introduction, and analyze why they work so well.

WANT HELP writing YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT? CHECK OUT A FREE TRIAL OF MY STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO COURSE HERE

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How to Start a College Essay Like a Boss

Here’s how to start an essay:.

In this article, we’re going to tell you how to start a college essay.

Indeed, it’s the most challenging part of essay writing for many students. They doubt everything here: how many sentences to write, what to include in the very first sentence, how to mention a thesis, what essay hook to choose, etc.

It’s time to clear up this matter once and forever.

Ready? Let’s get it started!

Table of Contents:

What is an Essay Introduction?

Here’s the mistake of most students: When searching for the information on how to start a college essay, they suppose a thesis statement writing. Many overlook a helpful tool that makes essay writing easier, such as an essay maker .

Do not confuse an essay introduction with a thesis. A thesis is a part of the introductory paragraph, and it closes rather than substitutes it.

An essay introduction is the first paragraph of your work where you grab a reader’s attention, give context on your topic, and set up the purpose of your essay.

In other words, you inform readers about what they’ll see in your essay and motivate them to keep on reading to learn more about the topic and the problem you’re addressing.

Why You Need to Know How to Start a College Essay

Students write tons of essays in college, and most of their A-worthy works fail because of poor introductions. The introductory paragraph is the first thing a professor evaluates, so a mistake in the very beginning can cost you a high grade. (Even if the rest of your essay is fantastic!)

An introduction demonstrates how well you understand a topic. It shows your critical thinking skills, your ability to separate main points and emphasize on specific issues, and your writing skills. Reading your essay introduction, a teacher sees if you can logically express your thoughts.

More than that:

Once written, your essay introduction simplifies further work for you.

Look: You’ve figured out the core issue, expressed it in a clear and brief thesis statement, overviewed the points you’ll cover – so, the following paragraphs of your paper are much easier to write now, agree?

The purpose of an introductory paragraph of your essay is to give a clear idea of what you’ll cover, provide some context (background info) on the problem you’ll address, and state your thesis (position, contention, main argument).

Yeah, we know it sounds too challenging, and that’s why some of you ask our writers for help with essays . But believe us, it’s not that difficult as it seems. All you need to remember is what to include in the introductory paragraph.

And here it goes!

The Structure of the Essay Introduction

As a rule, an introductory paragraph of your essay should have three elements: a general opening statement (a hook) to engage readers, a thesis statement (your position, response to the problem), and a brief outline of the arguments you’ll use.

With that in mind, here’s how to start an essay:

1. Write a Catchy Hook

It’s the first one or two sentences to grab a reader’s attention and provide them with some context on your topic. It sets the tone of your whole essay, so don’t hurry up and spend some time writing it.

Think of a statement that would give some background information to your topic so readers would understand what’s the problem and why it’s worth their attention. Stay brief and relevant yet intriguing: Your hook should make the audience want to keep on reading.

2. State Your Position

It’s a thesis statement of your essay — a sentence or two summarizing your focus and overall argument.

This part of an essay introduction is the most important one as it explains to the reader which aspect of the topic you’ll address and how you will answer to the problem.

In other words, establish your position and purpose of the essay.

3. Outline the Main Points of Your Essay

Provide a short overview of how you’ll approach the essay and what arguments you are going to use. It will show readers what to expect to see in your work.

And, next time when you think about how to write an introduction, feel free to use this template from Bid4Papers:

How NOT to Start a College Essay

The first impression is most lasting, and that is why the beginning of your essay should be compelling. Sure, you’ll say a final word in the essay conclusion , but your hook and thesis need to be strong enough for the audience to read your work till the end.

Here we’ll cover the writing techniques to avoid in essay introductions. They aren’t that awful but overused. Most of them have become so cliched that they make teachers roll the eyes heavenward.

So, try not to start a college essay with:

A quote. As we mentioned in the article on essay hooks , quotes aren’t bad themselves. The problem is that students use them so often, choosing too obvious or irrelevant sayings to start essays, that teachers stop taking it seriously. They want to hear YOUR thoughts.

But, if you still want to use a quote from famous people in your essay introduction, find a rare, witty, and relevant one. Don’t copy-paste the first available from quotations websites.

A definition. Opening your essay with a description from online dictionaries, you’ll make readers yawn. No one needs introductions such as “ Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘truth’ as…;” most of us have Internet access after all.

But, if you still want to use a definition in the introduction, think of rephrasing it so it would sound bold, outrageous, or exaggerated. It will help to hook readers.

A too-obvious thesis. Avoid spoilers in your essay introduction. Who needs reading a 2,000-word paper if you reveal everything in its first paragraph? Leave explanations and details for your essay body to make it sound persuasive .

Essay Introduction Examples

Okay, it’s all good and well, but what about the real-life examples instead of a theoretical blah-blah-blah, huh?

First, let’s recap the introductory paragraph. (Here we’d like to thank Laura Randazzo , an experienced English teacher who shared the below template in her YouTube blog.)

Second, keep watching her video to find the essay introduction sample from her students with explanations. That’s the sample itself:

Third, check the example from the University of Newcastle experts. They took the assignment, such as “Discuss how media can influence children. Use specific examples to support your view,” and that’s what they have:

Frankly speaking, we disagree a bit with the type of hook they used: It’s a too general statement, not intriguing enough for a reader to become curious about the details. Also, this essay introduction could be shorter: Its outline part reveals the details about the arguments a student will use in the essay body. We would also avoid passive voice in this introduction.

But despite tiny nuances, this introduction is an excellent example to get the idea of how to start an essay.

And finally, what about the essay introduction example from the University of Leicester ? They address the topic, “ What is the importance of imitation in early child development?”

FAQ oh How to Write an Essay Introduction

Our writers get tons of questions from students on essay introduction writing. We’ve taken the top five most frequently asked, and here go the answers:

How to write an introduction paragraph for an essay?

An introductory paragraph of your essay needs to have the following elements: a hook, a thesis, and a summary of what you’re going to discuss. Be concise, keep your summary brief (no more than three sentences), and make sure your thesis is clear and including the subject of the essay and your opinion on the topic.

How to start an essay introduction?

The first sentence of your essay introduction is a hook. It’s a so-called attention grabber, allowing you to get readers interested in your essay topic. Types of essay hooks are many, but the most popular ones include a famous quote (relevant and rare; avoid too distinct variants which are overused and boring), a metaphor, and some interesting fact or shocking statement.

How many sentences should be in a paragraph?

An average length of your introductory paragraph is five sentences: one for a hook, two or three for a summary (overview), and one for a thesis statement.

How to write a research paper introduction?

As well as any other essay introduction, the one for a research paper should include a context (introduce your topic and tell about the research you are going to cover) and a thesis (state your hypothesis and rationale). Also, add a sentence about why this research is essential.

Here goes the structure of a research paper introduction from Wordvice:

How to start a college essay about yourself?

In personal essays, your main goal in introductions is to hook readers and get them interested in your story. That is why focus on a killer first sentence. Ethan Sawyer, aka College Essay Guy, shares nine creative techniques on how to start a college essay, and you might want to consider some of them. For example, start a personal essay with a strange fact about yourself, a confession, a philosophical question, or a shocking image.

Your Checklist on How to Start a College Essay

So, let’s make this long story short. Here goes your step-by-step checklist on writing essay introductions :

And now, over to you:

Are there any tips or practical tricks you have on how to start a college essay? Share with your peers in the comments! And remember – you can always use a pro essay maker to get a good example 😉

Our Writing Guides

One thought on “ how to start a college essay like a boss ”.

Thank you! The beginning is really important as it determines whether your essay will be read further. How about starting your essay with an intriguing question and then answering it? I think it’s quite an interesting trick that will be appropriate in some works.

How To Start An Essay: Top Foolproof Techniques!

by Kerri-Anne Edinburgh | Jul 29, 2022

Often the most difficult stage of essay writing is just getting started . You’ve got a blank page, perhaps a jumble of notes, maybe even an outline. But … inspiration isn’t striking, and the words aren’t flowing.

So how can you be systematic about starting an essay?

Whether you’re struggling to start writing at all, or just can’t figure out that all-important introduction (the start ) of your essay – don’t panic! We’ve got a fool-proof technique to get you writing AND seven strategies for kicking off your intro with style.

Your essay will be complete in no time at all!

Some tips on essay writing

There’s nothing quite like writing an essay. They demand structure, evidence, analyses, and ordered paragraphs . You’ve usually got to know what you want to say before you start writing.

It’s a unique process, sure. But it’s one you can learn the rhythms of, and soon be churning out top notch essays for your school or college in no time!

So before you start writing your essay, make sure you’re prepared and have:

There are several types of essays, and each comes with its own challenges, expected structures and language. Knowing what is required of you is pretty important!

But whether you’re writing an analytical, argumentative, interpretive, creative, persuasive or expository essay – we’ve got plenty of advice for you below.

If you want to learn more about how to structure an essay effectively , check out our article full of tips and tricks!

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How to get started with writing an essay in 5 easy steps

We probably all know the Sound of Music song that goes “ let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start … ”.

But when it comes to essays, that’s frankly terrible advice.

If you’re struggling to start your essay and don’t know what to write, the introduction is not what you should worry about first!

The intro of your essay should contain and set out the main thesis of your essay. So it’s often best to write it last once all your points are in place. Otherwise, you’ll risk having an unclear argument and confusing your reader.

Yep, that’s right! You should start your essay in the middle and leave the start of your essay until the end . Trust me, it sounds silly, but it will make your life much easier !

A foolproof technique to get writing:

So, if you’ve got blank page terror, what you really need to do is take a deep breath . And then follow this simple five-step technique and get those words flowing!

Why does this technique work so well?

When you start an essay, your thoughts are probably still pretty muddled. So, working through your them as you write can be a great way to develop your argument and spot connections. Your outline, structure, signposting and paragraphing can be polished much more easily after your first draft !

Tip : If you know where your essay is headed ( the conclusion you want to make ) but not how you’re heading there, why not start right at the end with the conclusion, then develop some points for the body of your essay as your ideas develop?

How to start an essay: the introduction

Every essay should begin with a killer introduction that sets up your topic clearly for the reader and explains why it’s significant.

The introduction is often the hardest section of an essay to write. So take it slow, and ensure that you start out your essay strong !

What’s in an introduction?

So how do you actually set up your topic for your reader? What do you need to include?

There’s not an exact formula that covers every type of essay, but the essentials are the same:

Keep it concise and relevant – an introduction doesn’t need to be long!

Start your essay with a strong first sentence

To get top marks and really engage your audience, it’s important to really capture their attention from the first sentence . Make them care about your topic and the argument you’re making.

How, you ask?

There are several different techniques and rhetorical devices for starting an essay. Not every technique will work with every type of essay – so pick carefully!

Every first sentence ( your “hook” ) should be concise and catchy, and interestingly written to spark your reader’s curiosity. Don’t be dry, and definitely avoid dictionary definitions!

It’s all about getting the right tone . Your intro should match the tone and style of your essay – and especially that first sentence! (Hint: it’s best to avoid humour if you’re exploring a serious topic.)

Let’s explore the seven top strategies for how to start an essay introduction (with examples!):

1. Start your essay by stating your thesis directly

And sometimes the best way to start an essay is to simply set out your thesis, very clearly, right from the start. Be simple and direct.

This technique is great for the type of analytical essays you might write in school. It packs a no-nonsense punch that sets the tone for a concise, well-crafted essay:

This essay will explore the complex socio-political factors that contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire between the reign of Constantine (312-337AD) and the fall of Rome in 476AD.

2. Start with an interesting fact

Shock or amuse your reader with an unexpected fact to immediately hook their attention from the first sentence.

This can work great for expository and persuasive essays, by piquing interest in the data or opinions you’ll be exploring. You can include a significant statistic, or pick a niche detail, but avoid broad claims .

But remember – it must be relevant to your topic ! Don’t shoehorn a random fact it – you’ll just confuse your reader.

Here’s an example:

If we unravelled the entire DNA of a single human, it would stretch 10 billion miles: long enough to reach Pluto and travel back again.

3. Begin with a powerful quote

Borrow a little wisdom from an expert in your field or an influential writer!

This is a great technique for any type of essay and can make for a powerful introduction when done well. It adds a stamp of authority to the argument you’re going to make, and it’s an easy method to choose.

But remember – as with interesting facts, the quote you pick must be relevant to your topic and argument ! It’s got to add something useful to what you’re saying or provide a springboard for your main exploration.

For instance:

In her seminal novel Frankenstein , Mary Shelley wrote, “nothing is so painful to the human mind as great and sudden change”.

4. Start by suggesting the common interpretation

If you’re writing an analytical or interpretive essay ( think literary analyses ), this can be a great technique for a subtle start.

Opening your essay by alluding to the mainstream interpretation sets the stage for you to develop your critique or novel perspective.

If you want to be more direct, adding a “ contrary to popular opinion ” statement, or simple “ however ” immediately points your reader in the direction of your argument.

For example:

Shakespeare’s popular tragedy Romeo and Juliet has classically been interpreted as an exploration of love and loyalty.

5. Open your essay by asking a question

This is a technique common to lots of writing (like blog posts!). It’s effective because directly addressing your reader it helps them to relate to your topic and feel invested in your answers.

It’s an engaging way to start a persuasive essay and get your reader to reflect on your argument and pick a side.

With such a vast and growing market for video games over the past decade, and despite evidence to the contrary, why does the myth that video games cause violence persist in popularity?

6. Set up a mystery to be solved

A great way to pique your reader’s curiosity is by starting your essay with a mystery ( that you’re hopefully going to solve ). This is a great technique for interpretive and creative essays, although it can be tricky to get right.

It works well if your topic deals with change – has something disappeared? Have (popular) opinions altered over time?

An inventory of common phrases of the past reveals a wealth of strange gobbledegook that slowly vanished from conversational use without the public’s notice.

7. Get started by setting up the scene and stakes

Here’s a technique that works best for creative essays ( think personal statements) .

Set the scene and tell a story with a little drama. Invite your reader to stand in your shoes (or those of your central character) in a situation directly relevant to your topic .

It’s a technique that works best if there are significant stakes or conflict in the situation. Think of it a little like the technique above (asking a question that places the reader into your topic) – but with more drama and creativity!

You’re trying to show them why this topic, and your argument , matters! Show them that your essay is not just about data and facts, but real people and situations.

On the 23rd July 1944, a dedicated audience of music-lovers listened with rapt attention to the uninterrupted beauty of Schumann’s Carnaval, whilst V2 bombs fell close enough nearby to make the doors of the Lyric Theatre rattle.

Let’s get started on that essay!

Now you’re all set to get both your essay and your introduction started with ease, it’s time to get writing!

But don’t forget to check off all the steps in the essay-writing checklist before you submit it – you might miss out on easy marks if you don’t! Luckily, we’ve got plenty of helpful writing guides to help you polish your essay at every stage. You can learn:

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How to Start an Essay

Essay introduction is the most important part, a determinant for readers of whether they are going to read it till the end. That is why every student should know how to start an essay. There is no universal introduction template but many teachers and scholars suggest open an essay with a hook followed by background info that concerns the main idea to bring readers up-to-date. Then mention why topic under discussion is so crucial and finish with an arguable thesis statement.

Begin with Understanding of Essay Basics

If you’ve spent any amount of time around anyone over the age of forty, you’ve likely heard the phrase ‘there is more than one way to skin a cat’, meaning that there are many ways to achieve a certain goal. Same ideology may be applied to writing an essay. In fact, there are over a dozen different types of essays, most of which can be grouped into these major categories:

Just as there are multiple essay kinds, there are also multiple ways and steps to complete an essay. Hamburger essay structure is used very often. Depicted in hamburger format, concluding paragraph is simply a reiteration of introductory statement. The most pertinent information is placed in body section. Think of introduction and conclusion as of hamburger buns and meat of the burger represents crucial facts and statements found in body paragraphs.

Good Ways to Start an Essay

Prior to starting an essay, it’s necessary to create an outline as a roadmap of what you’ll write about. It helps not only stay on topic and organize thoughts but also ensure that they are touching on all of key elements and follow the right intent in delivering their message.

Here is an example of an essay outline:

As soon as you grab an idea of it, you may continue reading about how to begin an essay.

Develop Your Essay Right

Now that you’ve determined your topic and key points, it’s high time to create your essay. It might surprise that when it comes to essays and other academic papers, it may actually be a benefit – writing body before starting with an introduction. Why so? It allows developing a better grasp of content, supporting facts, create an introduction that strengthens argument and peaks readers’ interest, drawing them to the body of paper. Also, consider starting an essay way before your deadline so that there is more time for composing and revising everything. If you are not sure that you’ll cope on time or whether completed outline is correct, just ask a professional for help. There exists a professional college essay writing service that is always ready to assist students.

Essay Introduction With Ease

Purpose of an introduction is to grab readers’ attention and lays groundwork for an upcoming argument. A solid introduction should be viewed as a first impression that is significant. Consider an introduction that is riddled with misspelled words or that is a jumbled mess of disorganized information – no one would like to read it. Objective of introductory paragraph is not only to engage audience but also present viewpoint or argument on discussion topic. Here is the best way to structure an introduction:

Final sentence should help guide readers into the first body part. Most introductory paragraphs should be no longer than three or four sentences. Here you can find a guide on how to write research paper , follow requirements to achieve better results.

Introduction Writing Strategies You Should Know

There are several ways of how to start off an essay and complete an introduction. All of them are different and it’s up to you which strategy to choose and successfully implement in your text. You may try each of them and then select that very one that works the best for you and your writing style.

How to Start the Body Paragraphs

As mentioned earlier, essay’s body serves as ‘meat’ of burger and exists for clarification and support of thesis. Ideally, it consists of three paragraphs, the first paragraph should support the strongest argument. The first sentence is called topic sentence. It should provide an argument to underpin thesis and give brief description of paragraph. Then, provide evidence, from an outside source. It can be direct quote or paraphrased info but do not forget to indicate the source. Once this has been done, illustrate why exactly this particular example proves the point that you are making in your thesis. The merit of this step cannot be overlooked – this is, for all intents and purposes, why you have offered an example to start with. Interpret this evidence, explain how they are significant for your argument, how they help support your point. Finally, add paragraph with concluding sentence, summarize topic idea of paragraph.

Other paragraphs should follow the same pattern. Deliver five relevant facts about subject that clearly explain why they are crucial. Move along from the second most important to the third or least important in the second and third body paragraphs. Transitional phrases such as ‘furthermore’ or ‘in contrast’ can be used show where one paragraph, or section, ends and where the next starts. This can be helpful when introducing new sets of ideas. Essentially, they direct reader from one section to the next. But, if you really need excellent paper and cannot deal with writing on your own, do not hesitate and use Academic Essay Writing Service .

How to Start a Conclusion in an Essay

Just because conclusion, or closing statement, is at the end of paper that does not mean that it should be viewed as ‘the end’. Closing statement represents your final opportunity to prove your point and, as such, should follow a highly methodical format. More often, conclusion is reiteration of opening statement because it contains the same information. It’s easy to get carried away when writing closing remarks, ideally, conclusion should be no longer than four sentences. Remember to start concluding sentence with a transition phrase such as ‘in conclusion’ or ‘in summation’ to relate it to the hook that was used to bait reader in the opening paragraph. Next, tie everything up by restating your thesis.

Since you may have your thesis already restated four or five times, be cautious not to repeat it verbatim. Instead, use a variety of verbiage to deliver the same message but in a different format. Repeating thesis will help not only reinforce an argument but also serves as a lead into the next element of a conclusion paragraph – a brief two or three-word highlight of chief facts taken from body.

Having nearly completed conclusion, the final step is to create a ‘call to action’ that not only tells readers that argument has concluded but also leaves them with something to ponder. If you still struggle with assignments, choose a cheap essay writer and receive papers of the highest quality.

Essay Writing Tips

Now that you know how to start off an essay, check these useful tips. They’ll help make an outstanding paper and receive high grades.

Essay Introduction Examples

Given how many different essay formats there exist, understanding the best way to start your writing is key. Here is an overview of three different kinds of essays and the best structure for each.

Argumentative Essay

The argument requires author to deploy writing structure that allows them successfully argue that their stance on a controversial issue or topic is the right one. If you were working on this essay type, start by picking a topic that you can easily argue, investigate all possible reasons that are for or against an issue. Decide which position you will take, research and compile as much supporting evidence as possible and start working on your intro.

An Essay About Yourself

Writing about yourself is not as easy as it sounds. You would think you could call upon your achievements or experiences and simply start writing, but there is more to it. Start by making a list of your strengths and weaknesses; be they mental, physical, spiritual or even emotional and any special talents or qualities you may have, people you adore – all things that make you confident.

Next you should decide which format is best suited. More often five-paragraph essay will suffice. In a five-paragraph essay, there is an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. You should always check the uniqueness of your text using our free plagiarism checker .

Examples of Hooks

Here are some basic hook examples that you can use for inspiration while working on your own paper:

How to Start a Paragraph

When starting a new paragraph, it is helpful to use words or phrases for transition to alert readers that one point has ended and another has begun.

Examples of transition words are:

Learning how to start a paper is not hard. Pick your topic, research a few great introduction examples and get started! With the help of this guide, you will definitely succeed! Want a more perfect paper? Look through these essay writing services reviews from experts.

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How to Write an Essay

Last Updated: March 2, 2023 References Approved

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 37 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 7,745,558 times.

An essay is a common type of academic writing that you'll likely be asked to do in multiple classes. Before you start writing your essay, make sure you understand the details of the assignment so that you know how to approach the essay and what your focus should be. Once you've chosen a topic, do some research and narrow down the main argument(s) you'd like to make. From there, you'll need to write an outline and flesh out your essay, which should consist of an introduction, body, and conclusion. After your essay is drafted, spend some time revising it to ensure your writing is as strong as possible.

Understanding Your Assignment

Christopher Taylor, PhD

Christopher Taylor, Professor of English, tells us: "Most essays will contain an introduction, a body or discussion portion, and a conclusion. When assigned a college essay, make sure to check the specific structural conventions related to your essay genre , your field of study, and your professor's expectations."

If you're having trouble narrowing down your topic, your instructor might be able to provide guidance or inspiration.

Planning and Organizing Your Essay

Tip: In general, Wikipedia articles are not considered appropriate sources for academic writing. However, you may be able to find useful sources in the “References” section at the end of the article.

For example, if your essay is about the factors that led to the end of the Bronze Age in the ancient Middle East, you might focus on the question, “What role did natural disasters play in the collapse of Late Bronze Age society?”

Drafting the Essay

Tip: Some writers find it helpful to write the introduction after they've written the rest of the essay. Once you've written out your main points, it's easier to summarize the gist of your essay in a few introductory sentences.

For example, if you're arguing that a particular kind of shrimp decorates its shell with red algae to attract a mate, you'll need to address the counterargument that the shell decoration is a warning to predators. You might do this by presenting evidence that the red shrimp are, in fact, more likely to get eaten than shrimp with undecorated shells.

Revising the Essay

If you don't have time to spend a couple of days away from your essay, at least take a few hours to relax or work on something else.

Read over each line slowly and carefully. It may be helpful to read each sentence out loud to yourself.

Tip: If possible, have someone else check your work. When you've been looking at your writing for too long, your brain begins to fill in what it expects to see rather than what's there, making it harder for you to spot mistakes.

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About This Article

If you need to write an essay, start by gathering information from reputable sources, like books from the library or scholarly journals online. Take detailed notes and keep track of which facts come from which sources. As you're taking notes, look for a central theme that you're interested in writing about to create your thesis statement. Then, organize your notes into an outline that supports and explains your thesis statement. Working from your outline, write an introduction and subsequent paragraphs to address each major point. Start every paragraph with a topic sentence that briefly explains the main point of that paragraph. Finally, finish your paper with a strong conclusion that sums up the most important points. For tips from our English Professor co-author on helpful revision techniques, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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