Saturday, August 20, 2011

Essay Beginnings

1. DRAMATIC SOUND/ACTION

  • Crash! My grandfather tumbled down the staircase.
  • He pointed the knife at me, grinning menacingly. 
  • The man, his face half-hidden in the shadows, turned slowed and stared at me intently. 
2. CONVERSATIONS THAT AROUSES CURIOSITY
  • "Haven't you seen John, lately?" my grandmother exclaimed as she clambered down the stairs breathlessly. 
  • "He's dead!" cried little Andy, as he scampered into the room, almost knocking into my grandmother's hand-painted, blue-and-white Ming vase. 
3. VIVIDLY DESCRIBED SCENERY OR ATMOSPHERE

To start with a graphic description of scenery or atmosphere, ensure that the mood created supports the theme.
  • The evening sky had just reddened, casting long, lonely shadows on the sandy beach.
  • The air was still - very still, despite the laborious whirring of the ceiling fans above. The slow, sunny afternoon yawned through the sleepy town. 
  • The dark gloomy clouds envelop the entire sky into a cloak of grey. and the wind howled like cries of a hungered wolf.
4. MAIN OR INTERESTING CHARACTER
Bring on the main or interesting character and lead directly into the story. 
  •  Uncle Lee ambled into the room, a huge, generous and jovial man.  
  •  One would only associate Henry with words like "loyal", "trustworthy", "honest" or even "down-to-earth". Never would I expect that he is not what I had known him to me.
5. FLASHBACK OR RECOUNT
To begin a story with a recount, you need clever rearrangement of events.  As such, proper planning is needed. 


  • Sandy watched as the letter curled in the flames and slowly disintegrated into ashes. She had burnt his letter without even opening it. 
  • Grandfather watched as Henry was being escorted in by the medical attendants. It was not the first time Henry had turned himself in for treatment and it would not be his last either. 
Adapted from "Distinctions for English Essays"

 

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