How to Write a Great Introduction to a Historical Essay
While the general essay follows the rigid criteria of intro sentence, main points and thesis, the stellar essay will convey a much more powerful opening. When writing an essay on a historical topic, the writer is charged with the burden of capturing a moment in time and elucidating it with such clarity that the reader will feel himself in a time capsule.
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Instructions
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Open your story with a sentence that will grab the reader's attention. Differentiate yourself from other writers by capturing the mood of the paper before delving into the substantive material. For example, an opening such as "dust blew in the wind, and it was analyzed, spoken of, and given its undivided attention" is a vague sentence but leaves the reader wanting more. This sentence could be my introduction to a paper on Socrates and Greek philosophy.
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Instill into your readers how you will section off the paper within the next few sentences. This serves as an outline and allows the reader to focus on where you want to take them.
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Be original when designing your thesis. The thesis is a single sentence in the first paragraph. This is the time to show the reader that you, in all your research and contemplation, have distilled the subject and more importantly, your point of view, into one lucid, unique and thought-provoking statement.
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Make your introduction as long as you desire while still following the subject matter.
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References
- Photo Credit paper and pen image by Melissa Schalke from Fotolia.com
