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"The first draft is you just telling yourself the story.”
—Terry Pratchett
Writing the Beginning
Start by hooking your reader’s interest, introducing the topic, and identifying your focus or thesis. To hook the reader, you might . . .
- share some interesting or important details,
- ask the reader a question,
- provide a thought-provoking quotation,
- reveal a personal connection, or
- present an anecdote about the topic.
Beginning Paragraph
This beginning paragraph from student writer Sasha Brown tells about a hobby she hopes to make into a career. (The thesis statement is underlined.)