Think about the last novel you picked up. Did it captivate you from start to end? Or did you put it down after reading the prologue? If your answer is the latter, the writer probably failed to deliver a good introduction.
Writing a strong introduction is like making a good first impression. It is half the battle won. By immediately capturing the reader’s attention, a writer sets the stage for the rest of the story. School compositions are no exception, but how exactly can students reel their audience in from the very beginning?
From a primary school composition to a general paper essay in junior college, the marking rubrics can differ greatly. Still, the principles of good storytelling are constant. No matter their academic level, and whether for short stories or argumentative essays, here are 4 tips that will help students write a good introduction.
Draft an Outline before Writing
Going with the flow is good advice for many things but writing in a timed condition is not one of them. After deciding on the topic, the biggest mistake a student can make is putting pen to paper immediately.
Even for non-graded assignments, make a habit of drafting an outline. In creative writing, this usually comprises an introduction, climax and conclusion. For argumentative essays, it will likely involve a stand, pointers for or against a statement, as well as a rebuttal strategy.
This ensures that the introduction connects with its following paragraphs cohesively.
A clear overview also helps to confirm that you have chosen the right topic. Students may discover from the get-go that they cannot think of sufficient pointers for a persuasive argumentative essay. Drafting an outline gives them an opportunity to change their minds. Once they are midway through, starting over may no longer be an option.
Engage Your Readers’ Imagination
5W1H - which stands for Who, What, When, Why, and How - is a day one framework students would have learnt in elementary school. While that does the job of establishing context, a varied toolkit could help a composition stand out.
One such technique is to appeal to your readers’ senses. Say, for example, that we have a short story about a fire that broke out in a library.
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The 5W1H approach may fill the introduction with details of who the main character is, why he was at the scene, and what he was doing. Deviating from that, students could start with the sound of a fire alarm:
“Paul was flipping through the pages of an encyclopaedia for a school project when, suddenly, the fire alarm sounded.”
“Rrriiinnnggg! Paul leapt up from his chair with a start, knocking over the massive encyclopedia his head had been buried in for hours.”
This is a classic example of showing - not telling. Rather than telling readers that the fire alarm went off abruptly, paint a vivid picture of the shock and chaos of the moment.
Describing the scene with lucid 5 senses description transports your reader into the story and allows them to invest in the journey your character then goes on. Besides sound, dialogue can also be used to allow your story to come to life. Dialogue is an effective tool in introducing, building, and solving the problem in the story.
Compare the above with the following:
The librarian gestured urgently towards the exit sign, but the students could not hear her.
“That way!” the librarian hollered to no avail. Her voice was muffled by the incessant ringing of the fire alarm.”
Arming a character with a voice successfully adds to the tension in the example above.
Set Your Reader Thinking
Appealing to a reader’s senses may work in creative writing, but how about argumentative essays? Students can start by making a reader think, as we did at the start of this paragraph and article.
If you happen to be knowledgeable about your chosen topic, pique the reader’s curiosity with an interesting fact. A general paper essay could start with “mental health conditions are a pressing problem among youths in Singapore”, but this does not really create urgency.
On the other hand, sharing a statistic like “nearly 1 in 10 youths in Singapore suffer from a mental condition” stresses the issue’s prevalence within the introduction. Giving the reader perspective keeps them interested in a topic.
Asking rhetorical questions - which are intended to make a point rather than be answered - is another way of turning gears in your reader’s mind. Rather than stating that “some parents may not wish to continue working from home”, a student could ask “is the entire workforce really benefiting from hybrid and remote work arrangements?”. By addressing the reader directly, students can give their essay a voice and reinforce its talking point.
Expand Your Vocabulary and Knowledge
The more you read, the better you will write. One way to read more broadly is by exploring various book categories. Students who are big fans of fiction may find new insights to be gleaned from self-improvement literature. Sections of the news they typically skip have much to offer argumentative and general essay papers, too. Their future selves will thank them for keeping tabs on current affairs and world issues.
Your child can also benefit from keeping a “vocabulary bank” and actively using new words they have learnt in practice compositions. Having this at their disposal helps them to express ideas using fewer words and sharpen their points. The last thing readers want is a lengthy introduction that keeps going in circles.
Lastly, as a general checklist, your child can ask these 3 questions before he or she starts:
- Does it make a reader want to read further?
- Does it invoke a sense of urgency and importance?
- Does it serve as a teaser without spoiling any surprises?
Gain an In-Depth Understanding
Writing good introductions can be tricky, and this may spur some students to memorise or copy them from model essays. However, examination topics can be unpredictable and understanding the ingredients of a good introduction puts them in far better stead to adapt and improvise. After all, writing is a skill that will follow students through all their academic years and, for some, into working life.
Once a strong introduction is established, here are 5 other tips that will help your child sustain a reader’s attention and finish strong.
