How To Write An Opening Paragraph For An Essay

The opening paragraph of an essay is called the introduction. Writing a great introduction is easy if you know what you are doing. In this article we are going to explain the how to compose a great first paragraph by using a clincher, summarizing your main points, and introducing your paper’s theme with a thesis. By combining these three things you will be able to write an excellent first paragraph for your essay.

The first step to creating a great introduction is catching the reader’s attention with a good clinching sentence. This can be done in a few different ways. Some people begin with an antidote or thoughtful question. While others choose to begin their essay by including an interesting fact or piece of trivia. You may also choose to jump right into your essay by describing your topic. No matter what you choose the first sentence should be written to intrigue the reader and encourage them to continue reading.

Once you have the reader’s interest, the next step is to let them know what the essay is actually about. Because writers use different techniques to grab the reader, the first sentence isn’t always that informative. However, you don’t want to drag on the suspense too long. The second sentence should reveal your essays main subject and should lead into the thesis.

The thesis, for those who do not know, is the main thematic statement about the subject. It is usually a single idea or opinion that can be proven with examples and evidence points that are discovered through research. The thesis, is an important part of the first paragraph- it should come at the beginning of the paragraph and should be obvious to the reader.

Following the clincher sentence and the thesis the first paragraph may also include a summary of main points that will also be described in the essay. These can be reduced to a single sentence, in point form. They may also be described in longer for, receiving a full sentence each. It is important to describe the main points so that the reader is aware of how the thesis will be discussed.

Learning how to write a strong first paragraph may require some practice. However, it isn’t too hard to do if you know the three important components: clinching sentence, thesis, and three supporting points. Once you have these down you’ll always know how to tackle that tough opening paragraph.