40 Chapter 25.1: The Analytical Essay: Expressing Your Point of View contd.
40 Chapter 25.1: The Analytical Essay: Expressing Your Point of View contd.
Part 4: Chapter 25
Introducing the Essay
When revising your essay, you do not have to write it in the exact order that it will be read, as any section you work on in a given moment may appear anywhere in your final draft. In fact, many times it’s best to write the first paragraph last because we may not know how to introduce the essay until we’ve discovered and articulated the main perspectives. Eventually you will need to consider not only what your analysis consists of, but also the effect you want it to have. An essay that commands attention seems like a discussion between intelligent and aware people, in which ideas are not thrown out randomly but in a deliberate manner with each thought leading logically to the next.
For this reason, the opening paragraph or introduction should be the place where you invite your readers into this discussion, making them want to read what will follow without delineating the main content in a rigid manner rather than announcing what you plan to accomplish in the following paragraphs. Again, imagine being at a party, but this time instead of meeting someone who bores you by reciting irrelevant details of the past, and they tell you exactly what will follow in the near future:
Most likely, you and everyone else this person approaches will find an excuse to move to the other side of the room as quickly as possible. Similarly, when writers begin their essays with a step-by-step announcement of what will follow, the reader doesn’t feel the sense of anticipation that they would when the perspective unfolds more organically. Successful analytical essay writers do not begin by blatantly spelling out the main points that they will cover, but rather create leads, openings that hook the reader into wanting to read further.
One way to capture the reader’s attention is to share a story or anecdote that directly relates to the main perspective. For instance, in Chapter 19, you were introduced to a student named Jeff who was having difficulty writing an analytical paper on The Tempest in order to reveal a situation that was widely familiar and allowed the introduction of the various components of analysis.
You can also capture your reader’s attention with a quote:
“Oh what fools these mortals be” has become one of my favorite Shakespeare quotes since I began working in a restaurant. I am always amazed by the litany of ridiculous questions and requests I have to entertain during each of my shifts.
Or perhaps you can startle the reader with an unexpected twist:
The best day of my life occurred last summer. First, I was fired from my job, next my girlfriend dumped me, and finally I was kicked out of my parents’ house. All this motivated me to find a better job, a better girlfriend, and a better place to live. History is full of days like this, ones that seem tragic yet turn out to have positive consequences in the long run.
Finally, you might begin with