Beginnings and Endings in Essay Writing
The Structure of the Short Essay
A coherent, unified essay is composed of three main parts that must flow smoothly into one another to present an organized, logical discussion:
The Introduction: Consists of the lead-in, the thesis, and the essay map.
The Body: Contains paragraphs with supporting evidence.
The Conclusion: The final address to the reader.
The Lead-In: Definition and Purpose
The first few sentences of an essay are critical for making a lasting first impression. The lead-in is an introductory device used to attract the reader's attention within the first few sentences.
Primary Functions of a Lead-In
Captures Attention: Hook the readers so they want to keep reading.
Announces Subject and Tone: Introduces what the essay is about and the attitude (humorous, satiric, serious, etc.) of the piece.
Sets Up the Thesis: Leads into the presentation of the thesis statement and the essay map.
Professional and Technical Contexts
In certain writing assignments, such as technical reports directed toward professional audiences, attention-grabbing lead-ins may be inappropriate. These reports often follow designated formats, beginning with a statement of the problem under study or a review of pertinent research and information.
Techniques for Effective Lead-Ins
There are at least distinct techniques for writing effective lead-ins. Many writers choose to save the lead-in for last, composing it after the first draft of the body is complete.
Paradoxical or Intriguing Statement: An example includes a psychiatrist telling a patient, "Eat two chocolate bars and call me in the morning," to introduce an essay on how chocolate affects depression.
Arresting Statistic or Shocking Statement: For instance, noting that "one of every women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of a lifetime."
A Question: Asking "What are more and more Americans doing these days to stay in touch?" to introduce the topic of text messaging. Statistics show individuals in the age group sent an average of nearly messages per month in .
Quotation from an Authority, Historical Figure, or Literary Source: Using Confucius's observation that "our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." Writers may also challenge authorities humorously, such as using Einstein’s quote on the "mysterious" to describe a smell in an attic.
Relevant Story, Joke, or Anecdote: A story about Dorothy Parker painting "Gentlemen" on her office door to deal with loneliness can introduce campus student activities.
Description for Emotional Appeal: A detailed description of a child with a blackened eye and burns to introduce the topic of child abuse.
Factual Statement or "Who-What-Where-When-Why" Lead-In: Reporting the specific date of an execution in Texas () to introduce a discussion on human rights.
Analogy or Comparison: Comparing the geese used as alarms on Capitol Hill in Rome to modern Americans' use of credit cards to open standard locks.
Contrast or Before-and-After Scenario: Describing a lack of culinary knowledge versus the transformation after a cooking class.
Personal Experience: A child asking a lawyer mother if boys can grow up to be lawyers too, illustrating changing gender roles.
Catalog of Relevant Examples or Facts: Listing stories of individuals weighing , , and pounds to introduce the benefits of intestinal bypass surgery.
Statement of a Problem or Popular Misconception: Correcting the idea that poetry is only written by "aging beatniks" or "suicidal" individuals.
Brief Dialogue: Using a conversation between roommates about choir tryouts to introduce ABC Relaxation Methods for shyness.
Proverb, Maxim, or Motto: Using the African proverb "One falsehood spoils a thousand truths" to discuss a politician's downfall.
Recognition, Revelation, or Insight: Realizing that earning "A's" in Spanish class did not prepare one for real conversational patterns in Mexico.
Appeal to a Common or Imagined Experience: Referencing the act of playing "air guitar" to introduce the national Air Guitar Championships.
Avoiding Common Lead-In Errors
Missing Transitions: Ensure there is a smooth move from the lead-in to the thesis. A transitional sentence may be necessary to bridge general comments to specific thesis points.
Excessive Length: Long lead-ins in short essays can look like a "tail wagging the dog." The hook should be brief.
Apologies or Complaints: Never start by saying the topic was hard to research or understand.
Assuming Audience Knowledge: Identify pertinent facts, titles of works, and authors/artists using full names in the first reference.
Overused Openers: Avoid dry dictionary definitions and be cautious with questions, as they can become overworked.
The Conclusion: Achieving Finality and Conviction
A conclusion should provide the reader with a sense of completion. It is the writer's last chance to convince the reader and emphasize the importance of the argument. A well-crafted ending should "snap with grace and authority, like the close of an expensive sports car door."
Techniques for Memorable Conclusions
Summary of Thesis and Major Points: Most useful in long essays to recap the destruction of rain forests or other complex topics.
Evaluation of Importance: Discussing why specific comet photographs yield clues about the universe's origins.
Statement of Broader Implications: Linking feline leukemia research to potential cures for human AIDS.
Recommendation or Call to Action: Urging readers to write to congressional representatives regarding Raoul Wallenberg's death.
Warning: Cautioning that lack of knowledge about Hiroshima could lead to future nuclear use.
Quotation from an Authority: Citing Herman Melville on the value of original struggle over imitation.
Anecdote or Brief Example: Using a witticism from Bette Davis to sum up her persona.
Image or Description: Describing the incineration of giant ants in a film to symbolize the end of nuclear radiation threats.
Rhetorical Question: Asking if a nation can afford to let terrorists get away with blackmail.
Forecast: Predicting that competition-based reality TV will remain popular due to low production costs.
Ironic Twist, Witticism, or Pun: Ending a procrastination essay by promising to take action "tomorrow."
Return to Lead-In Technique: Answering a question asked in the beginning or completing a story, such as returning to Dorothy’s quote from The Wizard of Oz.
Avoiding Common Conclusion Errors
Mechanical Endings: Do not merely restate the thesis word-for-word. This can insult the reader's intelligence in short essays ( to words).
Introducing New Points: Body paragraphs should handle major points; do not drift off-subject in the exit.
Tacked-On Conclusions: Ensure a smooth, logical flow from the last body paragraph.
Changing Stance: Do not soften your position or apologize for your views in the final paragraph; this confuses the reader.
Trite Expressions: Avoid starting with "In conclusion" or "In summary."
Insulting the Reader: Avoid "either-or" fallacies that label disagreeing readers as immoral or ignorant. End on a positive, persuasive note.
Title Creation and Formatting Rules
A title attracts interest and announces the tone of the essay. Serious essays require formal, specific titles, while informal essays may use wordplay (e.g., "Coffee: New Grounds for Concern").
Formatting Rules for Titles
Placement and Punctuation: Do not underline, italicize, or put your own title in quotation marks. Place it at the top of page one or on a title page.
Capitalization: Capitalize the first, last, and important words. Do not capitalize articles ("a," "an," "the") or prepositions unless they are the first or last word or follow a colon.
Colon Usage: A title can use a colon to introduce a definition, question, or explanatory material (e.g., "Stephen Crane: Daredevil Reporter"). The word following a colon is always capitalized.
Practice and Discussion
Analyzing Lead-Ins
Lao-Tzu Reference: Uses a quotation from the father of Taoism to define a "good traveler" as one with no fixed plans, leading into a personal account of wanderings in the South.
Employment Survey: Uses questions about the value of grades followed by a factual survey result from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Soda Consumption: Uses arresting statistics ( or more teaspoons of sugar per can; pounds of sugar per year) to argue for dietary changes.
Bee Allergy: Uses a before-and-after contrast regarding the author's view of bees after a three-day hospital stay.
Hindenburg Disaster: Uses a factual summary of the explosion to introduce theories of sabotage.
Weak Conclusions and Titles
Repetitious Revision: A conclusion that simply lists the three reasons from the thesis map is mechanical and requires a more emphatic ending.
Off-Topic Digression: A conclusion about painting that suddenly pivots to complaining about the math requirement (algebra) is irrelevant to the central thesis.
Aggressive Arguing: Ending by calling conservation policies "stupid" and insulting readers who disagree with the writer's stance on lumber is counterproductive.
Title Specificity: Titles like "Advice for College Freshmen" or "Essay Assignment #" are too vague or act as mere labels; they should be revised for content and interest.