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Writing Grabby Intro Sentences 3126 Views
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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.
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.
Full Transcript
- 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.
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