Often, the hardest words to write in an essay are the opening ones. When you’re doing the first draft, I’d suggest just writing your way through the introduction without worrying too much – you’ll want to come back to it when you’ve got the body and the conclusion of your essay firmly decided upon.
But when you’re revising your essay, you should concentrate on making the opening paragraph as strong as possible – the person marking it will inevitably start forming an opinion of your essay’s worth within the first few words.
If you want to go beyond the standard, rather bland, introduction of “In this essay, I am going to…” you might want to try out some of these openings for your essay:
Quote someone in your field
My favourite way to start off an essay is with a pithy quote. I don’t recommend picking one of the hilarious quotes listed on your Facebook profile, though; instead, try to find something as relevant as possible.
If you’re writing an English essay, a good opening might be a line from one of the plays or books that you mention in the essay – particularly if that line sets up the angle that you’ll be taking on the question.
If you’re studying Politics, a quote from a politician can work very well. Again, make it relevant to the essay (if you’re writing about Thatcherite Britian, “There’s no such thing as society” would be fine, but less so if you’re writing about the Middle Ages…)
When you can’t quite find a subject-specific quote that works, a famous proverb or saying (particularly one which might make your tutor smile) could work well.
The best source of quotes are the textbooks you’re using, but if you’re still stumped, try:
Define key terms
Another good way to open an essay is to define any key terms in the question. This might seem a bit of a bland opening, but it’ll show your tutor or examiner that you know what you’re talking about – and it sets the parameters of the discussion.
For example, a word like “ideology” can be very loaded: if it appears in the question, you’ll want to make clear what definition you’ll be using throughout your essay.
Try not to spend too long defining terms, though; whilst an indepth discussion of one word can be fruitful, doing this for every single word in the question will just indicate that you’re not quite sure what your argument is…
Famous example - A.D. Nuttall’s A Common Sky:
This book is about solipsistic fear; that is, the fear that the external world of trees, tables, bricks and mortar may not exist at all.
Make a bold statement
If you’re feeling brave, you could open your essay with a bang by making a bold statement. (An easy way to do this is to completely disagree with the question or prompt that you’ve been given.)
Make sure you can actually pull this one off by constructing a solid argument throughout the rest of the essay that backs up what you say in the introduction – you can use the essay and the conclusion to modify your starting point slightly, but you don’t want to do a complete U-turn.
A slight variation on the bold statement would be to take two diametrically opposed points of view (perhaps two critics in your field), find a good snappy quote from each, and start off your essay with both these quotes, one after the other.
Famous example – Jean Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract
Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.
Use an anecdote
Depending on how formal an essay you’re writing, you might be able to open with an anecdote. This could be from your own life, or a brief story or parable that you’re quoting. It can be an effective way to draw the reader into your essay and, if you’re writing an essay for a competition or for a wide audience, it can be attention-grabbing.
If you do choose to use this opener, be careful not to waffle, and be particularly wary when you’re writing about yourself! Three sentences is probably the maximum you should spend on any anecdote.
Famous example – George Orwell’s The Lion and the Unicorn
As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.
Pose a question
Essay titles are often statements rather than questions, like “Politics today is dominated by pragmatic concerns, not ideological ones. Discuss.” If you have a title like this, try starting off by posing your own question. In this case, I might start with “Has politics ever been free from pragmatic concerns?” and use the essay to argue that ideology and pragmatical considerations have always both been part of the political landscape.
Using a question as the start of your essay can help give you focus and direction, particularly if the title is broad or doesn’t automatically lead you towards a strong line of argument.
Famous example – Friedrich Nietzsche’s preface to Beyond Good and Evil:
Supposing truth is a woman—-what then?
Over to you
If you’re not quite ready to write the opening lines of your essay yet, try some of these articles…
Further reading:
The Challenge of Affluence: Great Academic First Paragraphs – some inspiration from famous works.
Fifty Orwell Essays from Project Gutenburg. Orwell is a fantastic, easy-to-read yet profound essayist who writes very engagingly.
Ten minute research - if you’re putting off starting your essay, get going here.
Got a great way to start an essay? Ever tried out what you thought was a great way only for your tutor to scribble red-pen comments in the margin? Let us know in the comments…
i found it quite help full..
yes, yes….indubitably.
haha but really
this was really helpful.
Any thoughts on starting a fairly scientific essay with a quote? Word count is quite tight and i think the marker could see a (40 word) quote as a waste or even irrelevant.
It’s an undergraduate Psychology essay on consciousness.
Tricky one, Chris … I think if the quote is relevant to the piece (perhaps tying in with your argument, or summarising the essense of what you want to say), it would be fine.
Is there a tutor or lecturer you could run it by before handing it in, just to check?
Good luck with the essay!
I’m starting an essay on Ambition and Power but the introduction has been the hardest part. This and the sites listed, have helped me out.
Thanks~
omg.. thanks so much. i am a college student. and i ready was stuck on the first word with my essay. thank you so much.. i will diffently save this website to my favorites list on my computer.. thanks again..
Hey rae’kelli,
Glad to have helped! It absolutely sucks being stuck at the start of an essay. Hope you enjoy the rest of the posts on Alpha Student!
This is really helpful thank you !!
I found it very dumb and nerdy. Wait till everyone hears about this.
Very helpful; thanks!
But I was wondering, do English teachers like essays starting with quotes? I was under the impression that it is way to cliche and obvious, and they thus don’t recommend it.
Hi Kathryn,
The advice was from one of my English tutors, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will suit all tutors!
I think that so long as the quote is relevant to your topic and argument, and you refer to it in your essay, it’s unlikely to come across as cliched. The trick is in picking a great and relevant quote rather than just turning to a directory of “100 Famous Quotes” or something!
Ali
Pose a question
Essay titles are often statements rather than questions, like “Politics today is dominated by pragmatic concerns, not ideological ones. Discuss.” If you have a title like this, try starting off by posing your own question. In this case, I might start with “Has politics ever been free from pragmatic concerns?” and use the essay to argue that ideology and pragmatical considerations have always both been part of the political landscape.
Using a question as the start of your essay can help give you focus and direction, particularly if the title is broad or doesn’t automatically lead you towards a strong line of argument.
Famous example – Friedrich Nietzsche’s preface to Beyond Good and Evil:
——————————————————————————————
I learnt never to pose a question in an argumentative essay or even acknowledge the other side and the arguments they have or their merits.
Thanks Adam, I agree that posing a question can be a very good way into an essay when faced with one of those “Discuss” titles!
I think I’d disagree with you regarding an argumentative essay, though; I’d say that you *should* acknowledge the other side but explain why your argument is better.
There is a temptation to set up and knock down “straw men” here, though.
I am having a very hard time starting an essay about me! I don’t know how to do it without starting if off saying “My name is Nicole…” I am the absolute worst at writing essays and if I can’t even seem to manage to write an essay about myself, I’m honestly very worried! Please, someone help me with advice.
thanks you helped me a lot
This helped a lot. Great ideas here! Thanks!
this sucks
you are all gay ass mother fuckers
I’m doing an essay about Gay marriage and i don’t have an idea for the start… i don’t wanna make an statement with a quote because my teacher don’t let us but i need something strong to make her keep reading my essay… :S can u help me..
It has helped me solve one of the most difficult problems in my essay writing. Very useful! Thank you.
im actually having a hard time starting my essay for this scholarship… it would be about my long term goals and why i should be consider in the scholarship..can you give me tips?
Hi
it was really helpful
Thank you for the great advice
Although i was wondering how i would start and essay about someone, a famous person and they’re journey through life to achieve what they wanted out of life.
thanx
You are a life saver! I have been struggling to find a way to start out my essay on acting styles, and your guide was just what i needed to get the words out of my head and onto the paper. thank you so much!
This helped so much. ONE LOVE
they asked me to write an essay that i choose !!!!!! how can you help me ??
heyy thanx ali!!!!!!it has helped me so much……….my problem got solved easily…
this is really helpful, but i dont think i can start with any of these. i want to make an autobiography essay on future problem solving, but none of these really go. but thank you anyways!
Thanks. I am writing a geology essay and found the suggestions very helpful.
Hey, I am writing an essay on the Chinese gold-miners of 1860s in NZ and I am having trouble starting my essay. Any thoughts?
OMG!!!! this was really helpful on how to begin my essay. I followed their advice. I took it to the teacher, and I got an A++. Thank you, ALPHASTUDENT!!
hello! i am writting this essay for and admission at a fashion school and I really have no idea how to start, since they give me good ideas in this web site i cant decide. could you please help me? THANK YOU!!!
thanx
thank you sooo much…this helped me a lot on a history essay!!!
It was all really helpful!
These tips helped me out a lot.
essays about jewellery
Thank you so much! I was stuck on the intro for my GCSE Romeo and Juliet topic (Act 3 Scene 1). You helped me out quite a bit!!!
Hi Thanks for teaching me about how to start off a essay
yawn
That was suprisingly helpful!!!! But i still hate writing essays!!!!
Omg this was incredibly helpful I was lost but now Im found in finding a way 2 start my essay
Thank You! KEEP UPDATING ALPHA!!!
thank you so much!
helloooo , taaar for all the great ideas but ,
i am doin and i still really dont know what i am doin because my teacher has provided a writing frame for my essay but i dont really know how to carry on from it ???
good luck everyoneee
xx
sammy-jo austin , 14 , plymouth x
exactly what i was looking for. thanks
awesome!!!
Heyy that really helped me. Because I have a Essay do on Friday
January 7th.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
heey i did really good on the essay. Thank you ali for the tips.
Thanx (: this is great- got me started
The disadvantage for using quotes is when your doing a Writing Assesment. While most take place in the seventh and eight grade year of school, most teachers don’t allow quotes at the beginning, because some it “might confuse the reader.”
Mostly when using quotes, it’s at the beginning of a book, not essay. Most Universitys don’t encourage using quotes, however, therefore it could lower a grade or making your chances of getting into a University not as good.
If your writing a book, novel, etc. I encourage this, mainly on what you were feeling writing the pages and what the book is about, not just because you “liked the quote.”
I made the mistake of putting a quote at the beginning of a Seventh Grade Essay and points were counted off.
I need a good start for an opinion essay on Obamas state of the union address… my goofy ass professor is into the politics ……. HELP
Hey Ali, I have a compare and contrast essay due tomorrow but i have no idea how to get started. Im supposed to compare and contrast the impact of literacy in my life to the impact of literacy on Malcolm X’s. Any suggestions? I was thinking maybe starting with a Malcolm X quote but what do you think?
hey how i`m going to begin this essay cause it`s so difficult “celebrities should be allowed to keep their private lives private, without the invasion of the media” discuss
ummm…what if you had to write about the advantages and disadvantages of school…i cant find a good opining sentance to start with…
I am doing a essay for legal studies that has the topic ‘To what extent does the functioning of our society depend on the existence of rules and effective laws?’ how do i sart an essay like this?
I got an A+ so i thought it waz pretty helpful.
Yo, this didn’t help me one bit. It just made me more stupider. Sorry for getting an F using this.
I am have to write an essay on The most important Person in my life and how they influenced me This may sound silly but i cant get it started if anyone can throw some ideas this way I would so grateful I am writting on about son and how he changed my life around.. I get soo stuck when i have to write something personal!!
Thx! I liked all the different ways!
the tips are very helpful….thank you
I’m a freshman and I have to write a transactive piece on abortion. I never can do the opening sentence to an essay. I’m wanting to say some thing like “abortion is one of the mot common medical procedured performed in the United States each year.” However, I feel that I’m jumping into my essay to fast. I don’t know what to do. Help please?
i think this really helped because im not doing the greatest in english so i needed to improve my writing. thankssss.
Nyc HeLp iT Is !!!
This opened my eyes! Wow! It has been a long time since I have had to write an essay and the one I have to write about is as boring as they come. But some of the pointers you give will help me get thru it as fast as possible yet hopfully acceptable to pass. Thanks!
thank you thank you thank you!!!
ur a life saver. i was about to destroy my computer!
thank you!
this article helps for the first timers but not that quite helpful
hey how do you start out a essay for a final project so it dosent sound stupid or like a crock of crap. (pardon the language.)
the topic is the plauge, this paper is for medival history class and i need help fast.
thank you for your help!!!
~jessica
Ok, I have to do an essay on the different professions that use the Pythagorean Theorem. How do i start my essay for this? im totally lost and cant think of anything good! Please help me!
Im really struggling to start off my first paragraph, i haev written my introduction, but just can’t get a starting line for my first paragraph, the essay question is one of those statment one. really stuck the essay is about about how dress affect age gender status in the french rev period!! Please help!!
Dear Ali,
I want to sleep with you because you’re so friggin smart. Lemme know, m’kay?
Mickey (xoxo)
But what if you’re writing the essay in APA format? what would be a good start then? it’s my first essay in many years for my medical class!
Thanks!
this really helped!
the quote thing was nice..
in my case how can i start my opening essay about the places i want to go…like new york….please help me
i find it really helpful!
worst site i have ever gone thru
Thank you so much, this honestly did wonders for my brain. It was about to explode with sublime annoyance.
Thank you this really help me alot on my college work i think everyone should use this method on their work YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Yeah. Helpful.
omg! thanks! im using the anecdote! just getting a head start at an anual essay that takes forever! school in just 2 days! yah!
wow thanks alot…. really helped with my summer reading!