An effective college essay introduction should “wow” admissions officers. It should be creative, intriguing, and unique. Make sure you start with a strong “hook” or “grabber.” It’s a good idea to follow this first sentence with a vivid anecdote, which you will then connect to the overall topic of your essay.
How do you start a paragraph for a college essay?
1. Your first paragraph should grab the reader
- Try starting with a question.
- Begin with a bold statement.
- Use an interesting quote.
- Put the reader in medias res, that is, in the middle of things.
- Challenge the reader by speaking directly to him/her.
- Tell the reader what you do NOT want to do in your writing.
How do you start off a college essay?
6 Steps to Start Your College Essay
- Review the essay prompt(s) Take 15 or 20 minutes to simply look at the essay prompts.
- Start brainstorming.
- Test drive a few topics.
- Write a (terrible) first draft or two.
- Get feedback from a teacher, counselor, or other people you trust.
- Write as many drafts as you need to.
How do you start a good introduction for an essay?
Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:
- An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
- Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
- A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.
What is a good example of an introduction paragraph?
Example
| 1st Sentence | I lead with a quick factoid about comics. |
|---|---|
| 2nd & 3rd | These sentences define graphic novels and gives a brief history. This is also how the body of my paper starts. |
| 4rd Sentence | This sentence introduces the current issue. See how I gave the history first and now give the current issue? That’s flow. |
How do you write a good hook for a college essay?
5 Tips to Write a College Essay that Hooks Your Reader
- Tip 1: Narrow Your Lens. Think small.
- Tip 2: Start with a First-Person Story. Try starting your essay with a story written in first-person narrative.
- Tip 3: Use your Senses. Nothing grabs a reader like details.
- Tip 4: Add Adjectives.
- Tip 5: Emotionally Connect.
What are colleges looking for in essays?
As part of the college application process, colleges ask prospective students for a personal essay in order to learn more about them. They want to see context on each student’s background, positive traits that the student could bring to campus, and examples of the student demonstrating those qualities.
What should you not do in a college essay?
College Essay Topics to Avoid
- Controversial Topics. Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs.
- Highly Personal Topics.
- Personal Achievements and Accomplishments.
- Most Important Place or a Role Model.
- Creative Writing.
- Athletic Topics.
- Humorous Topics or Jokes.
- Tragic Events.
How do you write a unique college essay?
How to Write an Interesting, Funny, and Unique College Essay
- A Story.
- Pick a Character Trait.
- Don’t Try to Stand Out for the Wrong Reasons.
- Play with the Format.
- Don’t Use Words You Don’t Use in Real Life.
- Be Who You Are.
- Don’t Put Yourself Down Before You Even Start.
- Take Risks.
How do you start an introduction example?
Strong Introduction Paragraph Examples
- Use a Surprising Fact. You can capture the reader’s attention with a surprising fact or statement.
- Pose a Question.
- Start With an Anecdote.
- Set the Stage.
- State Your Point Clearly.
- Start With Something Shocking.
- Use a Statistic.
- Get Personal.
What are the 3 parts of an introduction paragraph?
The 3 Main Parts of an Intro Paragraph
In general, an intro paragraph is going to have three main parts: a hook, context, and a thesis statement. Each of these pieces of the intro plays a key role in acquainting the reader with the topic and purpose of your essay.
What should I say in the introduction?
A self-introduction should include your name and occupation (or desired occupation) and key facts that will help you make an impression on the person you’re speaking to. In a few sentences, cover the most important things that others need to know about you.
What is a good hook sentence?
A strong statement hook is a sentence that makes an assertive claim about your topic. It connects to the thesis statement and shows the importance of your essay or paper. A strong statement is a great technique because it doesn’t matter if your reader agrees or disagrees with your statement.
What are the 5 types of hooks?
5 common types of essay hooks
- 1 Statistic hook. The statistic hook gives your audience a true and hard fact to latch onto from the get-go.
- 2 Quotation hook.
- 3 Anecdotal hook.
- 4 Question hook.
- 5 Statement hook.
What is an example of a hook for an essay?
Interesting question: Ask your audience an interesting question that tempts them to ponder while studying your paper. Strong statement: This is a great way to lead in for an argumentative essay hook.
What makes a great hook?
It’s good if the listener keeps humming it long after they hear it. Those are, in fact, the two most important characteristics of great song hooks: they keep the audience fixated on the song; and. they stay in the musical mind of the listener long after the song is finished.
What do colleges want to hear?
The Qualities Colleges Want
A willingness to take risks. Initiative. A sense of social responsibility. A commitment to service.
What are admissions officers looking for in a good essay?
Admissions officers look for students whose essays reveal their character and perspective through their real experiences, not contrived situations. Admissions officers say most essays they read are safe, generic and do nothing to make them remember or want to advocate for the students who wrote them.
How long should my college essay be?
The primary essay for your college application, often called a personal statement, is typically around 400-600 words. The Common App personal statement — which is used as the primary application essay by more than 800 colleges — must be 250-650 words.
Do I put my name on my college essay?
You may want to include a college essay heading with a page number and your application ID. Don’t include your name unless it’s specifically requested. Oftentimes, you’ll need to submit your college essay in a specific file format. The application may only accept certain versions of Word files (i.e. only .
Do colleges actually read essays?
Yes, every college essay is read if the college has asked for it (and often even if they did not ask for it). The number of readers depends on the college’s review process. It will be anywhere from one reader to four readers.
