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How to Write an Essay Introduction that Makes People Read
You’ve been told that an essay introduction is a crucial part of any paper. But how long should it be? What should you include? This article will give you the secrets to writing a successful essay introduction.
First, let’s define the golden standard of the introduction length. It shouldn’t be too long, as your reader will just skip reading the paper. And it shouldn’t be too short, as the reader should understand what the text is about. The introduction length will vary depending on the overall essay scope. For example, the introduction will take 2-3 sentences for a one-page essay. At the same time, you should write a one-page introduction paragraph for more profound work.
Now, when we have figured out the desired length of the essay, it’s time to explore the most robust methods to start an introduction. Here we will discuss introduction ideas and how to use them appropriately.
Include a Quote at the Very Beginning
Incorporating a quote at the beginning is a quick and easy way to intrigue the reader. It usually works best when you use passages that evoke memories or have a negative tone. What feelings and thoughts do you experience after reading quotes? Typically, it should arouse your previous experience and reconnect with the essay plot.
When readers see quotation marks, they start thinking about why the author has chosen this specific quote, what the passage means, and how it will relate to the forthcoming text. Quotations attract attention because the reader sees something that has a bit of credibility that someone already has said.
How to use quotes better?
For example, you are writing about the impact of the Internet. Sure, you can open your essay with a bland sentence that says technology has impacted our everyday lives, and the Internet has become accessible to a lot of people.
“The entire Earth will be converted into a huge brain,” said Nikola Tesla many years ago, and he was right. This quote is meaningful, as more than 5 billion people use the Internet worldwide today. This quote will give you a chance to approach the topic from a historical point of view, overview how scientists and writers thought about the Internet, look over its development through the years, and explore tendencies and perspectives.
Consider that quotes should be properly cited, and the author should be mentioned directly near the section. The reader should easily understand who is the owner of the quotation, and your words are credible. If you can’t find a good idea to start your paper, you can always ask professional writers and pay for essay. You will get not only unique ideas and text but also works cited list, proper format, and a good example to follow. Expert writers always know how to catch the reader’s attention and will find the best starters for your essay introduction.
Start with a Question Right Ahead
If you were standing behind a time machine, what would you choose: live your life or change it to another one? Always ask yourself before using a question as a starting sentence for your introduction. Carefully pick it, as including overused questions may ruin your essay. A good question will make your reader think about the topic deeper and create an imaginary accent to your text. A reader should quickly stick to their answer and then relate it to the information you will provide. Concerning the question we asked at the beginning of this part, you need to consider whether your life is good enough or if you wish to change something.
How to use questions better
Unfortunately, many students and bloggers overuse this great instrument. They typically ask intriguing questions and don’t answer them in the leading part of the text. While an ordinary reader will just close the website, the teacher will just give you a low mark. Make sure that you answer the question and relate it to the overall topic of your essay.
The other pitfall is that the question may be too broad or have no answer. It may happen that your reader will freeze at the very beginning and mechanically look through the other text. The reader will come up with that question over and over again without giving further details to the essay context.
Add a Bit of Statistical Data
A study from Stanford’s School of Business states that only 5% of people remembered statistical data, while 63% remembered the story. Does it mean that we shouldn’t use numbers at all? No. But we should use them wisely. Incorporate numbers to show the tendency or reveal a striking difference between the two issues. Add more credibility to the text and make the story more diverse.
If you use statistics at the very beginning, you will apply the Von Restroff effect. When you list ordinary things and add one extraordinary thing, the reader will more likely remember those extraordinary ones. It doesn’t mean that you will definitely remember about that 5% of people, but keep in mind that stories are better than cold statistics.
How to use statistics better
Always pick credible sources and mention them in the text and the works cited list. Accompany numbers with a vivid description of what, when, who, and how the numbers are related to the essay topic.
Take some time to find impressive statistics that every reader can relate to. People are more sensitive and attentive to the content that can directly affect their well-being or correlates with their previous experiences. For example, stating the number of people using Instagram or TikTok every day won’t have the same effect as statistics of car crashes in your region.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, you have chosen an attention-grabbing sentence for your essay to please your reader. We hope you understand the importance of writing powerful introductions if you need to complete a 500-word essay. Think carefully about your audience, the issue, and how you can relate to the reader’s feelings right in a couple of first sentences.
