Intriguing ways to start an essay

There are many different ways to write an essay introduction. Each has its benefits and potential
drawbacks, and each is best suited for certain kinds of essays. Although these essay introductions
use different rhetorical devices and prime the reader in different ways, they all achieve the same
goal: hooking the reader and enticing them to keep reading.

To “hook” a reader simply means to capture their attention and make them want to continue
reading your work. An essay introduction that successfully hooks readers in one essay won’t
necessarily hook readers in another essay, which is why it’s so important for you to understand why
different types of essay openings are effective.

Take a look at these common ways to start an essay:

SHARE A SHOCKING OR AMUSING FACT

One way to start your essay is with a shocking, unexpected, or amusing fact about the topic you’re
covering. This grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read further, expecting
explanation, context, and/or elaboration on the fact you presented.

Check out these essay introduction examples that use relevant, engaging facts to capture the
reader’s attention:

“More than half of Iceland’s population believe that elves exist or that they possibly can exist.
Although this might sound strange to foreigners, many of us have similar beliefs that would sound
just as strange to those outside our cultures.”

“Undergraduate students involved in federal work-study programs earn an average of just $1,794
per year. That’s just slightly more than the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in our city.”

Relevance is key here. Make sure the fact you choose directly relates to the topic you’re covering in
your essay. Otherwise, it will feel random, confusing, or at best, shoehorned into the essay. In any
case, it will undermine your essay as a whole by making it seem like you don’t have a full grasp on
your topic.

If you’re writing an expository or persuasive essay, including a shocking or amusing fact in your
introduction can be a great way to pique your reader’s curiosity. The fact you present can be one
that supports the position you argue in the essay or it can be part of the body of data your
expository essay explains.