Introductory Paragraphs

Start with a lead (or hook) - A first sentence/group of sentences designed to get the reader’s attention  and generate interest.  The type of lead you use depends, in part, on the type of writing you are doing.

Some suggestions that can be used as hooks for essays include the following:

1.     An analogy

2.     A description using sensory language

3.     Dialogue

4.     A real situation

5.     A fact or statistic

6.     A hypothetical situation

7.    A rhetorical question (Do NOT use unless you are CERTAIN you are using it correctly!)

The hook in an essay needs to be related to the main topic of your writing (your thesis). 

A hook can be a few sentences long, but be careful not to go too long!  The final part of your intro paragraph should clearly state what the essay will focus on (this is called the thesis statement).

For a story, a hook could be...

 

· starting in the middle of some action.

· starting with the climax.

· starting in the middle of a conflict.

· starting with a mysterious event.

· starting with a humorous event.

· starting in the middle of dialogue.

· starting with a shocking situation.

· starting with unusual phrasing/vocabulary that the reader will need to keep reading to understand.

· starting with a very emotional scene.

· starting with a problem.

· starting with a rhetorical question or a question that will get answered during the story.

Every year, there is a contest to choose the worst opening line of a novel.  They are usually made up by people especially for this contest, rather than being from existing works, although the contest was inspired by a real book.  You can see some of the winners and runners up here, so you know how to NOT write an opening.