ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

Writing Grabby Intro Sentences 3124 Views


Share It!


Description:

We'll teach you how to create a touchy-feely first sentences that'll capture your reader from the get-go, but don't get too carried away. You don't want any lawsuits on your hands.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

Writing Grabby Intro Sentences, a la Shmoop. Just like the beginning of the universe, the

00:09

beginning of your essay should happen with a…

00:11

…big bang. After all, you’re creating your own little

00:15

universe with your essay. You’re inviting the masses to crawl out

00:18

of their primordial ooze and evolve… their way of thinking.

00:25

If you begin with a whimper, no one’s going to want to come along for the ride.

00:29

There are as many ways to open your essay as there are to cook an egg.

00:32

Or skin a cat. Although if you’re the type of person who

00:37

skins cats… writing a grabby intro sentence is the least of your problems.

00:44

The main thing you want to do is give your reader some context.

00:46

Ask yourself, Why are you writing this report? Because your teacher told you to is not the

00:54

right answer. Don’t state the obvious, and don’t open

00:59

with a summary. If you find yourself saying “My essay is

01:02

about…” …you need to put a lid on that faster than

01:05

you would last week’s tuna casserole leftovers. You should show us what your essay is about,

01:10

not tell us. How do you show what your essay was about?

01:16

It’s simple, in theory: just make a connection to a larger event.

01:22

Can you relate the past to something modern? It’s like bringing old fashion back into

01:31

style. There’s always some way to make it work.

01:35

Most importantly, have fun with it. Quote a song. Include some dialogue. Make a witty

01:41

pop culture reference. Tell an anecdote. Just make sure it’s relevant.

01:47

Unlike those first five minutes of every Simpsons episode that really have nothing to do with

01:50

what comes next. Make sure to keep it universal. Don’t talk

01:53

about anything too obscure, or too old. You want something that both your teacher

02:04

and your classmates can appreciate. In fact, think of your intro as you explaining

02:11

to your best friend why they should read your essay.

02:14

Just make sure to take the slang out of it. So that’s our big bang theory of opening

02:19

lines. Put things into context…

02:22

…make it snappy… …and keep it simple.

02:24

Because you don’t want your readers to keep marinating in their primordial ooze.

Up Next

What Not to do in an Introduction
32940 Views

This video offers some rules of thumb for writing a good introduction. It covers everything from tone (confidence is key!) to phrases and clichés...

Related Videos

What Not to do in a Conclusion
6994 Views

Even the best essays can go wrong in the conclusion—this video covers what not to do in a conclusion to help avoid any essay-ending problems. The...

Using Citations Effectively
3733 Views

You want to be as picky with your citations as Goldilocks was with her porridge—not too many, not too few... juuust right. You want to prove that...

Wordiness
15156 Views

Want even more deets on wordiness? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.

Run-on Sentences
6486 Views

Want even more deets on Run-on Sentences? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.