The morning shows the day,’ can aptly sum the topic at hand. Yes, as a sunny sky might prep you up to smile and say, “Good morning, world.’ Or as the cloudy and dull morning drag you back to the comfort of your sheets, so can the introduction of your essay either arrest the attention of the reader and make him want to read more or might make him skip it entirely as another routine write up.
While writing an essay, one must make sure that the introduction paragraph is interesting enough to arouse the curiosity of the reader and make him crave for more. The introduction paragraph sets the tone of the essay, highlights the importance of what is discussed, and, most importantly, impresses upon the readers’ mind.
What makes a good introduction paragraph? Is an article that summarizes what is to follow; an excellent beginning to an essay? Can a section that addresses the issues discussed in the paragraphs make a good introduction? The answer to the questions can be ‘yes,’ but the style and tone in which the ‘summary’ is written or the issues are ‘addressed’ only.
An introduction paragraph ideally provides an outline of the essay. So what is that, which makes an introduction paragraph better than the rest? Most readers will agree that the first few lines of any article are the benchmarks on which one decides whether to read or not to read an essay.
Read More: How To Start a College Essay?
An introduction that blandly states the objective of the piece cannot help but dampen the reader’s zeal to read further while an anecdote or a saying relevant to the topic will surely make the reader want to learn more.
Thus, the manner and tone in which a subject is introduced hold the key to a good introduction paragraph. While writing an essay, one has to make sure that the introduction paragraph has the following ingredients:
- A great start
- Uniqueness
- Vivid picturing
- Element of mystery
- Concrete facts
- Element of surprise
- Individualism
Let’s elaborate on each and create the most appealing introduction paragraph.
A Great Start
The first few words or the first line of an essay determines the tone and sets the depth of an article. Consider the following range,
Example 1: “My experiences at various institutions have helped me realize that volunteer work and extracurricular activities are as important as academic achievements.”
The line explains what the essay is all about and fails to incite the imagination of the reader. It does little to hold the attention of the reader to read the rest of the essay.
Whereas, mentioning any experiences that promoted the writer to conclude might have worked wonders to arouse the curiosity of the reader.
Uniqueness
An evaluator or a reader, while scouring through numerous essays is most likely to read the one that grabs his attention. Specificity is achieved only when the starting is unique.
Most seasoned writers and readers are of the view that highlighting the most relevant experience and structuring the essay around it is a sure recipe to grab and hold the attention of the reader. The expertise, in addition to being connected to the topics discussed, adds to the uniqueness of the essay.
Example 2: “While filling up the admission forms of Junior High, I realized the importance of community work and extracurricular activities.”
Vivid Picturing
Arousing the imagination of the reader is what any writer strives to achieve. A vivid picture, well painted with the right words, grabs the attention of the reader and holds it. It makes a good read and is most likely to impress the reader.
One has to keep in mind that a detailed description is the only means to achieve that. While presenting the facts or describing the experience, emphasis on the surrounding and detailed description will surely incite the imagination of the reader.
Example 3: “While filling up the admission form of Junior High, the blank space and the clean dotted line of the extracurricular activities section stared at me. The empty dotted line on the sheet made me realize the importance of community work and extracurricular activities”.
The Element of Mystery
An introduction paragraph, while outlining the essay, must have a part of the puzzle. In an attempt to provide a detailed summary, one must refrain from elaborate discussion of the topics. The paragraph, while introducing the subject, must avoid drawing inferences and conclusions.
Concrete Facts:
The right amount of data and relevant events, and grabbing the attention of the reader, highlights the depth of research. A well placed statistical analysis or quoting the correct statement from a reliable and renowned source can work wonders for the essay. Beginning an article with the proper anecdote or a finding from a published journal is often considered a good start.
Example 4: “While filling up the admission form of Junior High, the blank space and the clean dotted line of the extracurricular activities section stared at me.
The empty dotted line on the sheet made me realize the importance of community work and extracurricular activities” According to a survey published by the US Census Bureau,’ … forty-seven per cent of children participate in at least one after school extracurricular activities.’
The Element of Surprise
The portion of surprise is considered a vital ingredient to make any writing success, and introductory paragraphs are no exception. To set the right impetus for the remaining part of the essay, the element of surprise can be a useful tool.
Example 5: “While filling up the admission form of Junior High, the blank space and the clean dotted line of the extracurricular activities section stared at me.
The empty dotted line on the sheet made me realize the importance of community work and extracurricular activities” According to a survey published by the US Census Bureau,’ … forty-seven per cent of children participate in at least one after school extracurricular activities.’ I was increasingly becoming desperate to scribble something on that dotted line.
Individualism
A good essay bears the mark of the writer. The introduction paragraph can be exciting and will stand out when the subjects discussed in the piece are localized by directly referring to the matter discussed in the composition concerning one’s individual experiences.
It will enable the reader to know that the essay is not just a structured statement of facts but an account based on personal experience.
An introduction paragraph determines the quality and acceptance of the essay. Make sure it has all the ingredients to make an exciting and compelling read.
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