Get off on the right foot and learn the key to writing effective leads

Something to think about… “Writing is a lonely act that is never really performed alone.” --Donald M. Murray

What is the purpose of the lead in an essay? gives the reader clues about what to expect in the writing that follows. makes the reader want to keep reading. contains the THESIS STATEMENT.

Leads to avoid… A cliché: We’ve all heard the expression, “It is better to give than to receive.” Your reader is already snoring. Introducing yourself: Hi! My name is Mike and I am here to tell you about… OR One day/year… It doesn’t grab the reader’s attention.

Leads to avoid… A dictionary definition: Webster’s defines conformity as… It is too common! A question to the reader: How did the hamburger you had for dinner last night get to the shelves of your supermarket? Have you ever had an obstacle you couldn’t overcome? It assumes your reader cares about the answer and can relate to it.

The Anecdote Lead The writer uses a brief story that captures the essence of the issue or situation. EX> Five years ago, my friend’s parents started fighting. Sometimes the yelling got so loud that my friend Riley used to come directly over our house right after school instead of going home. I remember Riley telling me how he was glad when his parents marriage finally split and how even though it was difficult for him, there were also positives to having two families. I never thought that one day I would be in the same situation. An obstacle I’ve had to face in my life is the fact that my parents are going through a divorce now which I have learned to cope with, and even though it is a sad situation, I’ve learned valuable life lessons that I will take into my adulthood . Why not share a story about Riley? Which sentence is important to the transition to the thesis?

The Quotation Lead The writer uses a voice (not their own) that speaks to or exemplifies the problem or issue. Ex> Michael Jordan once wrote, “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” Obstacles used to stop me until I realized that they are put in our way for a reason. An obstacle I’ve had to face in my life is a fear of losing my father due to his health issues which I have learned to cope with, and in addition I’ve learned valuable life lessons from him as the years have progressed. How does the quote relate to thesis?

The News Lead The writer gives the reader the who-what-when-where-why of a situation or issue. Ex> On June 10th, 1983, my father had his first heart attack which would be followed by many more scares. He was only 50 years old when I thought I was going to lose him for good. It was a shock to my entire family and something that we are still dealing with on a daily basis. An obstacle I’ve had to face in my life is a fear of losing my father due to his health issues which I have learned to cope with, and in addition I’ve learned valuable life lessons from him as the years have progressed. What is different in this type of lead from an anecdote lead?

The Background Lead The writer gives a brief history of the issue or situation. Ex> Helen Keller who was born on June 27, 1880 in Alabama. In February of 1882, she was struck with an illness that left her blind and deaf. For years she had very little communication with the world until her teacher, Anne Sullivan, came into her life when she was six years old. Anne quickly taught her to communicate with the world and Helen went on to become a strong, intelligent woman. She overcame many obstacles in her life and went on to improve the lives of others. My dad too has an illness; he has a weak heart, but it has made him a strong, wise man. An obstacle I’ve had to face in my life is a fear of losing my father due to his health issues which I have learned to cope with, and in addition I’ve learned valuable life lessons from him as the years have progressed. How is this different from an anecdote lead? Which sentence connects the lead to the thesis statement?

The Announcement Lead The writer tells the reader what he or she is going to say about the issue or situation and takes an attitude. Ex> If I made a list of all the things I like to do, school would not only be purposely omitted – it would be in a different planet! In fact, I forget my homework often and would much rather play video games than go to class. There is one school year, however, that proved to be an exception. This year was when I was in fourth grade, and it was my teacher that made all the difference. My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Cooney, made all the difference to me in when it came to learning how to read. Before fourth grade, words looked like a jumbled mess on paper. An obstacle I’ve had to face in my life is having a learning disability which I have learned to cope with, and in addition I’ve learned valuable life lessons from my disability which taught me work harder. . What is the tone of the announcement? Which sentences help make the transition from the lead to the thesis statement?

Which one do I use? You must decide what you want your lead to do for the reader in order to decide what kind of lead you would like to use.

Now it is your turn! Try to decide which type of lead is best for your piece. If you can’t decide, write two and have your partner help you decide. Good luck! Objective: Learners will demonstrate ability to incorporate effective components of leads into an essay lead for the “Obstacles of Life” Essay