OPENINGS

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OPENINGS
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• One of the most crucial aspects of effective
  writing, and one that is particularly important
  in successful on-demand writing, is the opening.
• At the onset the writer needs to capture the
  attention for the subject, establish a theme and
  a tone, and indicate in some way what is to
  follow.

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• It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and
  harder to see the ends. Didion, Joan. Goodbye
  to All That, 1980, 317.
• To what extent does it make you curious to read
  more? How does it capture your attention?
• What appears to be the tone of the writer? How
  can you tell.
• What is the major point or points? How is it
  narrowly refined? Where do you think this is
  going?

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It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and
harder to see the ends. Didion, Joan. Goodbye
to All That, 1980, 317.

• This opening sentence operates as a scale
• it is easy it is harder
• see the beginnings see the ends

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• How might the opening have been affected had
  Didion chosen repeat the entire verb, rather than
  make it understood?
• It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and
  it is harder to see the ends.

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• How might the opening have been affected if
  Didion had chosen to use but instead of and?
• It is easy to see the beginnings of things, but
  it is harder to see the ends.
• Or
• It is easy to see the beginnings of things but
  harder to see the ends.

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Other Considerations

• Sentence Structure What is noticeable about the
  way the opening sentence(s) are written? Do you
  see a pattern?
• Word Choice Are there unusual words in this
  opening? If not unusual, what words might be
  considered highly appropriate?

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Three Aspects of an Effective Opening

• Stating a subject (clarification of the subject).
• Communicating and attitude or tone.
• Forecasting of what is to come (an indication of
  were the essay might be headed).

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Multiple Sentence Openings

• State the idea and show the writers attitude
• Present startling facts about the subject
• Tell a story about the subject
• Give background information that will illustrate
  the subject or show its importance.
• Begin with a quotation