Write a good lead-in (ZT)

You should think of an essay as a coherent, unified whole composed of three main parts: the introduction (lead-in, thesis, and essay map), the body (paragraphs with supporting evident), and the conclusion (final address to the reader). These three parts should flow smoothly into one another, presenting the reader with an organized, logical discussion.

The first few sentences of your essay are particularly important; first impressions, as you know, are often lasting ones. The beginning of your essay, then, must catch the readers’ attention and make them want to keep reading. Recall the way you read a magazine, reading a paragraph or tow of each article that looks promising. If the first few paragraphs hold your interest, you read on. When you write your own introductory paragraph, assume that you have only a few sentences to attract your reader. Consequently, you must pay particular attention to making those first lines especially interesting and well-written.

In some essays, you thesis statement alone may be controversial or striking enough to capture the readers’ attention. At other times, however, you will want to use the introductory device called a lead-in. The lead-in catches the readers’ attention, announces the subject matter and tone of your essay (humorous, satiric, serious, etc), and sets up, or leads into the presentation of your thesis and essay map.

Here are some suggestions and examples of lead-ins:

“Eat two chocolate bars and call me in the morning,” say the psychiatrist to his patient. Such advice sounds like a sugar fanatic’s dream, but recent studies have, indeed, confirmed that chocolate positively affects depression, anxiety.

One of every seven women living in Smith County will be raped this year, according to a recent report prepared by Country Rape Information and Counseling Services.

“I think on-stage nudity is disgusting, shameful, and damaging to all things American,” says actress Shelly Winters. “But if I were 22 with a great body, it would be artistic, tasteful, patriotic, and progressive religious experience.”

A group of young women were questioning Saturday afternoon shoppers about their views on the 1982 defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment. One old man in overalls answered, “ERA? Well, I like it just fine. But you know, I can’t pick it up on my darned old radio after dark.” That was problem – too few people knew what the ERA really stood for.

With one eye blackened, one arm in a cast, and third-degree burns on both her legs, the pretty, blond two-year0old seeks corner of rooms, refuses to speak, and shakes violently at eh sound of loud nosed. Tammy is not the victim of a war or a natural disaster; rather, she is the helpless victim of her parents, one of the thousands of children who suffer daily form America’s hidden crime, child abuse.

The Romans kept geese on their Capitol Hill to cackle alarm in the event of attack by night Modern Americans, despite their technology, have hardly improved on the old system of protection. According to the latest Safety Council report, almost any door with standard locks can be opened easily with a common plastic credit card.

Some people believe that poetry is written only by aging beatniks or solemn, mournful men and women with suicidal tendencies. The Poetry in the Schools Program is out to correct that erroneous point of view.

Thinking of a good lead-in is often difficult when you sit down to begin your essay. Many writes, in fact skip the lead-in until the first draft is written. They compose their thesis and essay map first and then write the body of the essay, saving the lead-in and conclusion for last. As you write the middle of your essay, you might discover an especially interesting piece of information you might want to save to use as part of your lead-in.

Make sure your lead-in introduces your thesis – a frequent weakness in introductions is an interesting lead-in but no smooth or clear transition to the thesis statement.

Make your lead-in Brief

Don’t begin with an apology or complaint – i.e., “I don’t know about coin collecting but…” or “This assignment is boring, but…” These do nothing to entice your reader.

Don’t Assume Your Audience Already Knows Your Subject Matter
Stay clear of overused lead-ins – If composition teachers had a dollar for every essay that began with a dictionary definition, we could all retire to the Rivera. Leave the dictionary alone and fine a better way to begin. Using a question for you lead-in had become overused also.