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How To Write A Compelling Introductory Paragraph 1

The document provides tips for writing a compelling introductory paragraph, suggesting to outline the thesis and main points first before writing the introduction. It advises incorporating a bit of intrigue with a relevant fact or observation and linking it to the thesis statement. The introduction should avoid obvious statements and broad generalizations and instead hint at what's to come without giving away every detail.

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16 views2 pages

How To Write A Compelling Introductory Paragraph 1

The document provides tips for writing a compelling introductory paragraph, suggesting to outline the thesis and main points first before writing the introduction. It advises incorporating a bit of intrigue with a relevant fact or observation and linking it to the thesis statement. The introduction should avoid obvious statements and broad generalizations and instead hint at what's to come without giving away every detail.

Uploaded by

justcallmebrig
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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How to Write a Compelling Introductory Paragraph

Sometimes, the beginning isn’t the best place to start—at least when it comes to writing essays.
Composing a great first paragraph is important, but tackling it before your ideas are fully formed
can lead to trouble. Don’t let your essay start with a whimper. Instead, put it on the fast track to
success with these four tips for writing compelling introductory paragraphs:

1. Don't write your introduction first

Maybe you have the perfect anecdote in mind for your introduction, or maybe you’re
experiencing the anguish of a stubbornly blank computer screen. Either way, a wiser approach is
to outline your thesis statement and your main points first—then you can flesh out your
introduction. End your first paragraph with a strong thesis statement that summarizes the central
idea of your essay clearly and succinctly. Once you know where your destination is, it’s much
easier to decide on the direction for your opening paragraph.

2. Incorporate a bit of intrigue

What was the most interesting thing that you learned while studying this topic? Is there a way to
use this information to introduce your essay? Starting off with a “wow” factor that’s relevant to
your overall argument can be a powerful writing strategy.

However, no matter how interesting your topic is, resist the urge to cram too many ideas or facts
into your first paragraph. Your introduction is vital because it frames your writing as a whole. It
should hint at what’s to come without giving away every detail. Try these two simple steps to
lead into your thesis sentence at the end of your introductory paragraph:
● Start with one compelling fact or observation that will keep the reader engaged enough to
read more.
● Then, add another sentence or two to show how you are linking that introductory idea to
your thesis statement.
It’s that simple. Don’t try to make it more complicated. You have the rest of your essay to fill in
the details and give the broader context.
3. Avoid obvious statements
Don’t use broad generalizations that tell the reader nothing about where your essay is headed.
Avoid clichés like, “Since the beginning of time... ” or, “The dictionary defines (term)as …” or,
worst of all, “This essay will cover…” Those statements don't tell your audience anything new,
and worse, they can appear unoriginal.

4. Finally, revise your work

Once you have your introductory paragraph drafted, it's time to review it with a critical eye. Try
doing a word count of your paragraph, and then cutting that down by 20 percent. Your
introduction may be longer or shorter depending on the overall length of your essay, but for an
essay that’s a few pages long, challenge yourself to keep your first paragraph to 100 or fewer
words.
Consider this example:

Original draft: The residents of the island of Puerto Rico have been U.S. citizens for 100 years,
yet they do not have the right to cast their votes for the nation’s president every four years. Twice
in the past five years, people who voted in elections in the Caribbean territory have favored the
idea of statehood, yet a deep divide remains over what is the right course of action. The decision
to make Puerto Rico the 51st U.S. state would help to stabilize the island’s dire financial situation
while benefiting the nation as a whole, both in terms of the economy and the culture. (104 words)

After editing: Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens for 100 years, yet they do not have the right
to vote for their nation’s president. Twice in the past five years, voters in the Caribbean territory
have favored the idea of statehood, yet a deep divide remains over the right course. Making
Puerto Rico the 51st U.S. state would help to stabilize the island’s economy, while benefiting the
nation as a whole financially and culturally. (74 words)

See how much stronger self-editing can make your introductory paragraph, just by cutting a few
extra words? The faster you can get to your interesting facts and your overall point, the more
grateful (and impressed!) your readers will be.
Author: Lora Wegman

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