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Opening an essay

An essay’s introductory paragraph has some special jobs to do; it

· presents the subject and the writer’s attitude toward it (e.g. serious, cynical, angry, straightforward)

· arouses readers’ interest

· expresses the writer's viewpoint

· supplies a context for the essay and background information

It often ends with a statement of the essay’s thesis. For example:

After nearly 30 years of warnings from health officials, most Americans are well aware of the perils of too much cholesterol. The problem is, how much is too much? What level of cholesterol in the blood should be considered acceptable, and at what point does treatment become necessary to reduce the risk of heart disease? For three days last week the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., convened a panel of 14 experts to try to answer these questions. The group reviewed the extensive scientific evidence link​ing high levels of cholesterol and fatty diet to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. They heard testimony from dozens of people and then retired to draft a report, working into the early hours of the morning. The result is the most far-reaching recommendation yet made on the sub​ject of cholesterol and heart disease.

-Time

Contrary to what my parents and teachers always told me, I have found daydreaming a very useful pastime. Daydreaming not only has helped me through some boring classes but also has helped me discover my career goals.

-Student

The first paragraph gives background in preparation for an essay that discusses the recommendation named in the last sentence. The second paragraph, though briefer, is equally effective in leading the reader into the essay’s subject. Make your writing easier for you and its reading easier for others by avoiding a simple announcement (e.g. "In this paper I will describe how to change a toner cartridge"), and don't wander vaguely over subjects broader than or unrelated to your own.

Some strategies for opening paragraphs

· Ask a question.

· Relate an incident.

· Use a vivid quotation.

· Create a visual image that repre​sents your subject.

· Offer a surprising statistic or other fact.

· State an opinion related to your thesis.

· Outline the argument your thesis refutes.

· Provide background.

· Make a historical comparison or contrast.

· Outline a problem of dilemma.

· Define a word central to your subject.

· In some business or technical writing, summarize your paper.

Openings to avoid

· Don't open with vague generalities or universal truths, as in "Throughout human history ... " or "In today's world .... "

· Don't simply mark time with generalities and then rely entirely on your thesis sentence to get moving. You may have needed a warm-up paragraph to start drafting, but your readers can do without it.

· Don't start with "The purpose of this essay is ... ," "In this essay I will ... ," or any similar flat announcement of your intention or topic.

· Don't refer to the title of the essay in the first sentence-for example, "This is my favorite activity" or "This is an interesting problem."

· Don’t start with “According to Webster ... " or a similar phrase leading to a dictionary definition. This kind of opening has grown dull with over-use.

Closing an essay

A proper close to an essay indicates not just that you have stopped writing but that you have completed what you set out to say. Even if it’s short, a conclusion should be set off in its own paragraph. For example:

I'll leave the last word on the subject of vices and virtues to the ancient Taoist wisdom of Chuang Tzu, who counsels: "Rest in the position of doing nothing, and things will take care of themselves. Relax your body, spit out your intelligence, forget about principles and things. Cast yourself into the ocean of existence, unshackle your mind, free your spirit." In other words, the only person who makes the rules is you.

-Utne Reader

But even as we bow to the Dow, remember not to worship it. Venerating a relic is one thing. Letting it run your life-or shape your investment strat​egy-is quite another.

-Newsweek

Some strategies for closing paragraphs

· Give a symbolic or powerful fact or other detail.

· Strike a note of hope or despair.

· Give an especially compelling example.

· Create a visual image that represents your subject.

· Use a quotation that sums up or extends the essay’s main idea.

· Recommend a course of action.

· Summarize the paper.

· Echo the introduction.

· Restate your thesis and reflect on its implications

Closings to avoid

· Don't simply restate your introduction-statement of subject, thesis sen​tence, and all. Presumably the paragraphs in the body of your essay have contributed something to the opening statements, and it's that something you want to capture in your conclusion.

· Don't start off in a new direction, with a subject different from or broader than the one your essay has been about. If you arrive at a new idea, this may be a signal to start fresh with that idea as your thesis.

· Don't conclude more than you reasonably can from the evidence you have presented. If your essay is about your frustrating experience trying to clear a parking ticket, you cannot reasonably conclude that all local police forces are too tied up in red tape to be of service to the people.

· Don't apologize for your essay or otherwise cast doubt on it. Don't say, "Even though I'm no expert," or "This may not be convincing, but I believe it's true," or anything similar. Rather, to win your readers' confidence, dis​play confidence.