Welcome to our class blog. We will use this space to expore and share our thoughts about themes from our reading, and knowledge gleaned from lectures and museum visits. We will ultimately use this forum to examine our potential impact on the world as well as its impact on us.
What makes an opening paragraph grab a reader? What works the best to start? Should you start with a strong opinion, a description of a situation, or a question? Are there circumstances where different opening tactics work better than others?
I have always liked when the author starts with a question. I like that the author tries to make you think about what he or she is about to write about. It makes you more interested because the author gives you their own opinion but they also allow you to have yours. It also can make you more open minded because you get to have your opinion, but you get to hear someone elses as well. It doesn't always work though. If it is a persuasive paper it is better to start off with a strong opinion, so you can get your point across. It is better to start off with a description of the situation when it is a personal story, so the reader can feel like they are right there with you.
An opening paragraph has to have excitement. Is one thing to have a topic, but it's another to make that topic exciting. Make an adventure out of your topic. For example, if I made a paragraph talking about how good speghetti is, I would bring up something totally random to make people laugh. EXAMPLE: You all know Speghetti taste so good with Cheese and Hot Sauce, especially when you get the College Munchies. Okay, so that wasn't all funny, but I tried. It's also suppose to be catchy. Not too over the edge, not corny, a bit funny and excitement. Humor is the key to making an opening paragraph intresting. Nothing is worse than a corny subject, like math. If you want to grab a reader, you need to know the importance in opening your own mind. Open minded indivisuals makes the most out of a subject, even if it is about stinky breath.
I would say that all three of the options metioned in the question are great ways to grap a reader and keep them reading. I think the best way to really get them in is to start with a strong opinion or something taboo. For example when i read the first chapter of the book Stranger than Fiction it was about a sex festival. Although the chapter was really gross and out there it really grabbed my attention and i wanted to keep reading. I feel like the writer needs to shock the reader a little bit to bring them in because sometimes started with a question can be boring and just isn't enouph.
An opening paragraph should have a strong way of making the reader want more information about the topic. Making a simple opening sentence that gets straight to the point, such as "I hate the doctors office," will make the reader think, well why does he not like this subject? I think the opening paragraph is the most important part of any paper.
I read that if u start of with a question or with researched facts it's easier to grab the attention of the reader. And also if you let it be Known that it's a true story. just think as if your the reader what would garsp your attention.
Iam one of those people in order for me to read your paper you have to a stong opinion and it has to get my attention. If you start off saying what your paper is about I wont read it I will just pass that paper to the side and not even care about it.I dont like it when you start off good and and then it just get boring.I like thoese paper that really make me think think at the end of the paper like wow maybe that something that i would like to do.You just have to keep me into it.
I often like to start to write my opnion toward the idea of the paragraph. I never start with a description to a situation because i feel that its not giving the idea of the paragraph. I often read papers that start with there own opinions and grabs my attention and i guess that how was taught to write a paper in High School. I feel that a description can loose a person attention and can cause confusion of what the person is talking about. Another tactic that i also use is add in a quote. Quotes can often start off a paragraph very well because it can relate to your topic.
I think that the thing that grabs a reader attention is a question. Most times when I read something that starts out with a question it makes me eager to read the whole story because I want to find the answer to that question. I personally think that starting a paragraph with a question works best. It grabs the readers attention and makes the reader look forward to something important. But really the important thing that you are looking forward to is bascially the answer to that question that was asked. A story that starts with an question has a good ending because that is where the answers or the solution will be. There is always intense on reading every line because the story gets good.
I like to keep my thesis's in the safer side. I tend to make very bold arguments, so i like to play it safer in terms of catching a reader. My thesis would probably turn a reader away, and that's why i like to start off papers with a quote or a question. It allows the reader to ease into my paper over jumping right into it.
A good opening paragraph that grabs a reader is talking about something interestind that you think every one would want to know or learn.it is also how you word it, for istance you could say I went to chicago buuls basketball game and had fun. An interestiing sentence would be I went to a chicago bulls games and set in the front row and saw Michel Jordan doing a 360 dunk. I love the chicago bulls theme song, the crowd got hipe and gave us allsigned basketballs.
Whats makes an opening paragarph a grab reader to me is an (Attention Getter), that i think should be started off by many authors of books. Such as, start it off by asking the reader a question and make it be a very interesting (Strong & Thoughtful Thought)that makes your brain go brainstorming. Attention getter is an excellent way to grab my interest in a book because its like that spice that sizzles on a flat surface, and makes you wonder if theres more of it else where. I also think it should be a very mind blowing in being convincing, and test the power of persistency. There isnt any circumstances to my knowledge, that requires you to wonder if opening tactics work better than others i just dont believe that at all. Some tactice fit certain individuals to certain limits and others use different tactics that i consider more (Higher Level'ed) but it doesnt mean its better than someone elses thats just my thought of it...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked when the author starts with a question. I like that the author tries to make you think about what he or she is about to write about. It makes you more interested because the author gives you their own opinion but they also allow you to have yours. It also can make you more open minded because you get to have your opinion, but you get to hear someone elses as well. It doesn't always work though. If it is a persuasive paper it is better to start off with a strong opinion, so you can get your point across. It is better to start off with a description of the situation when it is a personal story, so the reader can feel like they are right there with you.
ReplyDeleteAn opening paragraph has to have excitement. Is one thing to have a topic, but it's another to make that topic exciting. Make an adventure out of your topic. For example, if I made a paragraph talking about how good speghetti is, I would bring up something totally random to make people laugh. EXAMPLE: You all know Speghetti taste so good with Cheese and Hot Sauce, especially when you get the College Munchies. Okay, so that wasn't all funny, but I tried. It's also suppose to be catchy. Not too over the edge, not corny, a bit funny and excitement. Humor is the key to making an opening paragraph intresting. Nothing is worse than a corny subject, like math. If you want to grab a reader, you need to know the importance in opening your own mind. Open minded indivisuals makes the most out of a subject, even if it is about stinky breath.
ReplyDeleteI would say that all three of the options metioned in the question are great ways to grap a reader and keep them reading. I think the best way to really get them in is to start with a strong opinion or something taboo. For example when i read the first chapter of the book Stranger than Fiction it was about a sex festival. Although the chapter was really gross and out there it really grabbed my attention and i wanted to keep reading. I feel like the writer needs to shock the reader a little bit to bring them in because sometimes started with a question can be boring and just isn't enouph.
ReplyDeleteAn opening paragraph should have a strong way of making the reader want more information about the topic. Making a simple opening sentence that gets straight to the point, such as "I hate the doctors office," will make the reader think, well why does he not like this subject? I think the opening paragraph is the most important part of any paper.
ReplyDeleteI read that if u start of with a question or with researched facts it's easier to grab the attention of the reader. And also if you let it be Known that it's a true story. just think as if your the reader what would garsp your attention.
ReplyDeleteIam one of those people in order for me to read your paper you have to a stong opinion and it has to get my attention. If you start off saying what your paper is about I wont read it I will just pass that paper to the side and not even care about it.I dont like it when you start off good and and then it just get boring.I like thoese paper that really make me think think at the end of the paper like wow maybe that something that i would like to do.You just have to keep me into it.
ReplyDeleteI often like to start to write my opnion toward the idea of the paragraph. I never start with a description to a situation because i feel that its not giving the idea of the paragraph. I often read papers that start with there own opinions and grabs my attention and i guess that how was taught to write a paper in High School. I feel that a description can loose a person attention and can cause confusion of what the person is talking about. Another tactic that i also use is add in a quote. Quotes can often start off a paragraph very well because it can relate to your topic.
ReplyDeleteI think that the thing that grabs a reader attention is a question. Most times when I read something that starts out with a question it makes me eager to read the whole story because I want to find the answer to that question. I personally think that starting a paragraph with a question works best. It grabs the readers attention and makes the reader look forward to something important. But really the important thing that you are looking forward to is bascially the answer to that question that was asked. A story that starts with an question has a good ending because that is where the answers or the solution will be. There is always intense on reading every line because the story gets good.
ReplyDeleteI like to keep my thesis's in the safer side. I tend to make very bold arguments, so i like to play it safer in terms of catching a reader. My thesis would probably turn a reader away, and that's why i like to start off papers with a quote or a question. It allows the reader to ease into my paper over jumping right into it.
ReplyDeleteA good opening paragraph that grabs a reader is talking about something interestind that you think every one would want to know or learn.it is also how you word it, for istance you could say I went to chicago buuls basketball game and had fun. An interestiing sentence would be I went to a chicago bulls games and set in the front row and saw Michel Jordan doing a 360 dunk. I love the chicago bulls theme song, the crowd got hipe and gave us allsigned basketballs.
ReplyDeleteWhats makes an opening paragarph a grab reader to me is an (Attention Getter), that i think should be started off by many authors of books. Such as, start it off by asking the reader a question and make it be a very interesting (Strong & Thoughtful Thought)that makes your brain go brainstorming. Attention getter is an excellent way to grab my interest in a book because its like that spice that sizzles on a flat surface, and makes you wonder if theres more of it else where. I also think it should be a very mind blowing in being convincing, and test the power of persistency. There isnt any circumstances to my knowledge, that requires you to wonder if opening tactics work better than others i just dont believe that at all. Some tactice fit certain individuals to certain limits and others use different tactics that i consider more (Higher Level'ed) but it doesnt mean its better than someone elses thats just my thought of it...
ReplyDelete