examples to inspire you as you write.

Strong Introductions for Essays

Whether you're writing an essay for class, answering
an essay question on a test, crafting a college
application, or writing any other type of essay-style
work, your introduction paragraph is one of the most
important you'll write.

Use a Surprising Fact

You can capture the reader's attention with a

surprising fact or statement. Then, state your thesis
clearly and succinctly, as in this example:

With recent studies showing that, on

average, dog owners live up to 24%
longer than those without canine
companions, there's no doubt that a dog
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can have a range of physical and mental
health benefits for its owner. These
include a more active lifestyle, a social
network of other pet owners,
companionship, and a sense of purpose.

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Pose a Question

Another way to engage your reader in your essay

introduction is to ask a rhetorical question. This is a
good way to start a persuasive essay or even a
newspaper editorial. This example shows how you
must carefully choose this question to support your
thesis:

Global climate change is a crisis that

affects everyone, rich and poor, young
and old. From rising ocean levels to
increased temperature extremes, the
world is changing for everyone. How will
your life be different in the coming years?

Start With an Anecdote

A short anecdote is a good way to start a personal

essay, especially if it fits with your overall theme.
Consider this example:

When I got home from school that day,

my grandmother greeted me with a plate
of cookies and a worried expression. I
hadn't received the scholarship I needed ADVERTISEMENT

to go to ballet camp, and we'd need to

find another way to earn the money.
That's when I started my business giving
dance lessons to preschoolers, and it's
taught me a lot about how to solve
problems on my own.

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Great Report Introductions

Reports aren't always the most fascinating kind of
writing to read, so a really great introduction can make
a huge difference in your reader engagement. You
need to be clear about what you're discussing and
offer any background information your reader might
need.

Set the Stage

Give the reader important background information with

an introduction like this:

With our sales up 25% and more than

2,500 positive reviews online, it's safe to
say our product is embraced by
consumers. We're using this information
to project growth for the coming year.

State Your Point Clearly

Reports are about facts, but readers may not want to

wade through all the data to get to your point. A strong ADVERTISEMENT

introduction can give them a preview of what they'll

find inside:

The water quality in Smith County has

improved from a century ago, but there
are still a number of contaminants of
concern. Storm water run-off has been
the major contributor to water pollution in
the area.

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Strong News and Feature Article

Introductions
When you introduce an article, either online or in a
more traditional newspaper, it's essential to have a
"hook." Writing a hook takes a little extra thought, but
it will make the reader continue past your introduction
and into the body of your article.

Start With Something Shocking

People naturally want to read things that are shocking

or surprising. Offer up a little drama for a strong
introduction paragraph:

When Charles Jones went into the gas

station Tuesday night, he did not expect
to be caught in the middle of an armed
robbery. However, that is exactly what
happened.

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Use a Statistic

You can start with a good statistic and hint at more

information to come. People will read on because they
want to know the rest of the story.

While for 60% of people, milk is the

perfect beverage to go with a cookie,
that's not true for everyone. A new study
shows that up to 40% of people prefer
something different with their bedtime
snack.

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Creative Introductions for Blog

Posts
When you write a blog post, you need to engage your
reader right away with a creative introduction. In the
world of online reading, it's easy to navigate away to
something else. The introduction is your chance to
keep your reader on your blog.

Get Personal

Depending on the type of blog post you're writing, it

can make sense to offer some personal perspective on
your topic right away. Your reader is here for your
voice, so you need to use it. This example will show
you one way to do that:

My sister thought I was crazy to try to

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remake some thrift store jeans into an
awesome maxi skirt. She told me she'd
personally model the skirt for the blog if it
worked. Well, when you see how fabulous
she looks, you'll need to make one too.

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Use Humor

You can also engage your audience right away with a

humorous blog post introduction. Try a funny personal
anecdote:

I'm not going to lie. The first time I made

an art doll out of clay, it was a total
nightmare. I literally had bad dreams
about that thing for a week. But I'll save
you the terror and show you how to
create a not-so-scary doll with these
techniques.

Great Short Story Introductions

If you're writing a short story, you need a creative
introduction to get your reader engaged right away. In
a novel, you have the whole first chapter, but because
the length of your short story is limited, your
introduction needs to suck your reader in within just a
few sentences.

Bring in Vivid Imagery

Make your reader experience the world of your story ADVERTISEMENT

by adding vivid sensory details. Using imagery that

involves the senses lets your reader feel like he or she
is in the story.

Even before I opened my eyes, the scent

of lilacs told me I had a visitor. Here in the
nursing home, everything has the same
smell - a mixture of cafeteria food,
cleaning products, and old people odors.
A sudden scent of lilacs meant someone
was here to see me.

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Start in the Middle of Things

When you're writing fiction, you can start your story at

the last possible moment to get your reader engaged.
This is called "in medias res" (in the middle of things).
Because the action is already happening, your reader
won't be able to stop reading. Try something like this
creative introduction example:

I hit the water with a slap that knocked

the wind out of me. For a moment, I could
hear my sister screaming from the deck of
the ship, but then everything went quiet
as my ears went under water.

Engage the Reader With a Strong

Introduction
No matter what type of writing you're doing, a strong
introduction is one way to get your audience to keep
reading. After you've captured their attention, get more
tips to engage the reader in the rest of your piece. An
engaged reader means your writing is effective and
powerful.