The Writing Process

LESSON 3: The Writing Process

Submitted by:

Denisse Garcia

Vanessa Aira Camia

Ways to Begin a Paragraph:

1. Use of Anecdote

Anecdotes cover a wide variety of stories and tales, especially since they can be about basically any subject under the sun. What is an anecdote, you ask? An anecdote is a short story, usually serving to make the listeners laugh or ponder over a topic. Generally, the anecdote will relate to the subject matter that the group of people is discussing.

For example, if a group of coworkers are discussing pets, and one coworker tells a story about how her cat comes downstairs at only a certain time of the night, then that one coworker has just told an anecdote.

2. General Statement

An essay's general statement is a broad introduction to the paper's topic. For example, a persuasive essay aimed at convincing the reader to take action against global warming might begin with a brief description of what climate change means.

An essay's introductory paragraph is where the author provides the necessary context and background for the reader to understand the topic. After the general statement of the paper's topic comes the thesis statement. The thesis statement logically flows from the general statement and directly states the purpose of the essay. Instead of a general statement, the author can also choose to open with an anecdote, a quotation or a direct explanation of the topic's importance to the reader.

3. A Question

Think about posing a question as a hook. This is particularly effective if you are writing a persuasive essay. Draw the reader in with a question that is both relevant and provoking.

* Some examples of questions as hooks:

* "What would you do if you could play God for a day? That's exactly what the leaders of the tiny island nation of Guam tried to answer."

* "How do politicians buy votes? Assuming that money is the only way to grease palms, what favors do politicians promise in order to...