| 1. A rhetorical question: this is the use of a question that allows the reader to think about possible answers. It should not be a question that can easily be answered with a “yes” or “no”. 2. Provide a vivid detailed description: a dramatic, suspenseful, or mysterious description of an event or personality. 3. Begin with a quotation: the quotation can relate to a theme in the literary work you are writing about; the writer or speaker of the quote also needs to be referenced. 4. Begin with an anecdote: a brief fictional story that illustrates a point; it should be relevant to the topic of the essay. 5. Begin with a startling fact: this fact can be historical, societal, or statistical; verify that the fact is correct. 6. Use background information: any information that provides an explanation while maintaining the reader’s attention. 7. Make a direct statement: a sentence that states a point other than the thesis statement; it must also have relevance and a clear connection to the thesis statement. 8. Begin with a definition; this can be of an important term or idea that will be in the essay. 9. Start with a broad type and focus down to the specific aspect. |