How to Start an Essay Like a Pro

Getting your essay off to a great start is super important for hooking your readers and keeping them interested. Plus, it will set the tone for the rest of the piece. But you are in sixes and sevens about how to do it?

Don’t worry; you are in the right place. This blog post will help you understand how to start an essay like a pro with examples. We bet you will even stop searching for how to start a paragraph in an essay after reading this. So, let’s get started!

Expert Guidelines on How to Start an Essay

Put an Engaging Hook

What’s the first thing you read when you open a book? It’s the hook! It’s the opening line or set of lines made to catch your eye. It could be a thought-provoking question, a shocking truth, a detailed description, a fitting quote. Or, even something from the author’s own life.

You need to achieve the same with the first sentence of your essay. Something that will catch the reader’s eye. The hook, as we call it!

Example:

Let’s take an example of an essay about the importance of environmental conservation.

“Picture yourself standing on the top of a mountain, the wind telling stories of the ancestors, and taking in the view of a big forest connected with nature. The hook for such an essay could be:

In just a few decades, this beautiful landscape could be gone, and all that would be left is a quiet, empty space.”

Bring in the Context

Once you grab their attention with a powerful hook, give a quick summary of the topic or issue you’re talking about. That way, the reader will get a better grasp of what it’s all about and why it matters.

Example:

Continuing from the previous example:

“Environmental protection is a really big deal these days. Every year we seem to be witnessing more and more destruction to the natural world caused by humans. It is endangering the ecosystems that are essential for life on Earth.”

Present a Thesis Statement

At the end of your introduction, you should have a sentence that outlines your essay’s central argument or point. This sentence is your thesis statement. Ensure it’s concise, clear, and specific to serve as a roadmap for the reader.

Example:

“In this essay, we’re going to take a look at why our environment is degrading. Also, how it may affect us and the earth. And, what we can do to fix it.”

Set the Style and Tone 

Ensure the vibe of your introduction matches the atmosphere of your essay. You are allowed to use any formal, informal, academic, or creative tone. But be sure your essay follows the same tone and style throughout.

Example:

A Formal Essay

This essay dives into how human behavior is causing an environmental crisis and how urgent it is to address this issue.

A Creative Essay

Imagine a world full of the beautiful colors of nature, but now it’s starting to look dull and gray. Simply due to the way we are treating it! In the upcoming pages, we’re going to add some knowledge and understanding to help the environment.

You Can Also Outline the Structure

Outline the major points that your essay is going to focus on. It will give your reader a good idea of what to expect and how your essay will be structured.

Example

“We’ll be breaking our exploration down into three sections:

• Firstly, figuring out what caused environmental damage

• Secondly, looking into the far-reaching impacts on both nature and people

• Lastly, coming up with practical ways to take on this crisis

Conclusion

It’s vital to start your essay with something that grabs your reader’s attention. The best practice is to start with a catchy hook, followed by some background information, and lastly, a general idea of what’s coming next.

Remember, your essay’s introduction should excite the readers to read the rest of your piece. Hopefully, this short yet interesting blog post clears all your doubts about how to start off an essay.