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Essay Writing Videos 71 videos
This video offers some rules of thumb for writing a good introduction. It covers everything from tone (confidence is key!) to phrases and clichés...
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...
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...
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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This video offers some rules of thumb for writing a good introduction. It covers everything from tone (confidence is key!) to phrases and clichés...
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