How to write a lead sentence

Writing lead sentences doesn’t have to be hard. The lead sentence (aka “topic sentence”) is the sentence that leads the rest of the paragraph. Whether it is the first sentence in the paragraph or it’s found somewhere in the middle, the lead sentence summarizes or states the point of the paragraph. There are thousands of different kinds of lead sentences: the paper-leader, the biographical sketch, the “given” statement, the transition, the teaser, and I could go on and on with my fake names for general lead sentence types.

Note: If you’re not a writing student, I suggest you keep your lead sentences at the beginning of the paragraph. It seems most non-writing teachers prefer solidarity to creativity. When you’re writing for someone else (read: for a grade), you have to cater to them.

For simplicity, we’ll say that there are two basic lead sentences with a few flavors for each: the paper-leader and the transition.

The Paper-Leader

Every paper has a beginning sentence, a lead sentence. This is the most crucial sentence in the whole paper. Can you guess the 2nd most crucial sentence, by the way? It’s the last. More on that elsewhere.

Your first sentence is so important that you really should write several (I have written almost 100 at times!) and choose the best. The average reader will only read the rest of your paper if the first sentence (and title!) interests him. Unfortunately for your teacher, he has to read the whole thing even if your first sentence is uninteresting. In a speech, the first sentence is called the attention getter. Your first sentence should be and do just that.

Because lists are easier to retain (and to use for re-checking facts), here’s a list of tips for writing a “Paper-Leader” lead sentence:

• If writing a review or biographical sketch, consider listing the who, what, when, where, why, and/or how. Give the reader the quick facts so that he knows what you’re talking about up front. Example: In his book, On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2001), William Zinsser gives an overview of the components of good writing. (Book Review of On Writing Well)
• If writing a personal essay, consider what is the most interesting aspect of your topic and pique the reader’s curiosity with a question or statement. Example: I was the only kindergartner without a grandparent. (Adoption of Grandparents)
• Avoid cliche, general or blanket statements. Example: Everybody loves a good movie. [BORING! How about something more like "Kung Fu Panda destroys expectations and restyles the unique humor found in Dreamworks movies"? It's at least more interesting!]
• Be specific, be descriptive, be certain. Which North American country is soccer most popular in? How hard is it to be part of a national soccer team? Is the US women’s soccer team the best in the world, or isn’t it? We need to know that you know what you’re talking about. Example: Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world: it costs on average $50 per cup to drink the coffee harvested from luwak feces.
• If you can’t think of how to start, try writing the point of your paper in one sentence. Just one! If you can find a way to phrase your point so that it is informative and interesting, you can use that as your lead sentence. Example: Writing lead sentences doesn’t have to be hard.

The Transition

The most common lead sentence is the transition. This is the humble little sentence at the beginning of every paragraph following the first in a standard paper. Though the Paper-Leader can be a bit dramatic, the Transition lead sentence tends to be completely utilitarian. It’s the link between the last paragraph and the next. Here’s the list of tips for the Transition lead sentence:

• Don’t summarize the previous paragraph. The last sentence of each paragraph is usually a summary, so you won’t need to re-summarize.
• The lead sentence MUST relate to the rest of the paragraph.
• You can refer to the previous paragraph to compare it to the point of the next paragraph. Example: Although some may be repulsed by the origin of Kopi Luwak, many coffee connoisseurs praise its flavor.
• See the list for The Paper Leader for more tips.

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

Writer’s Toolbox

You want to be a real writer. Or maybe you just want better grades. But you don’t know where to start. It’s ok. I didn’t either. But I can tell you now one great way to start: build your toolbox.

Great writing doesn’t come naturally. It’s an art, a skill to be learned and refined. Every great writer has his own tools. Even if you just want to make it through college papers, you’ll need your own tools. You can pick up any of these cheaply at your nearest used bookstore, or at websites like half.com. Here are my suggestions:

Dictionary

The dictionary is an alphabetical listing of words and their meanings.

The dictionary has more uses than most people realize. Yeah, you can find the meaning of words you don’t know. That’s obvious. But would you think to use the dictionary to find history, alternate spellings, correct plural forms, grammar functions, and proper pronunciation of words? Some dictionaries even offer synonyms (words with similar meanings) and antonyms (opposites).

Merriam Webster is a classic dictionary. I recommend using http://merriam-webster.com . I keep a link in the side bar for your convenience.

Thesaurus

A thesaurus is a book of words and their synonyms grouped (usually) topically. The easiest way to find synonyms for a specific word is to use the index, which is usually listed alphabetically. The thesaurus is where I turn when I can’t think of a specific word, but I can think of one that’s either close or the opposite of it. I’ll look up what I know until I find the word I can’t remember.

You can also find a thesaurus on merriam-webster.com.

Grammar Handbook

A grammar handbook is the Grammarian’s how-to book. It will list and explain grammar terms and rules. Sometimes the rules are the grammarian’s preference, but usually they are tried-and-true ways to write well. There are hundreds and hundreds of grammar handbooks out there. If you’re a college student, your English teacher will probably recommend one.

There are thousands of writers’ self-help books. I recommend a few that I use. Used bookstores and libraries often carry several more that are worth checking out. You don’t have to own even one of these to be a great writer, but it is often helpful to read other writers’ suggestions.

When you have and know how to use these tools, you’re well on your way to improving your writing. The next step is: write!

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

To comma or not

When making a list of items, a writer often uses the words “and” and “or” (conjunctions) before the last item in the list. No problems there. The debate comes with the placement of the final comma. Some Grammarians prefer two commas in a list of three items (for example); some prefer only one. The newer Grammarians seem to prefer the single comma. Example: fish, frogs, and fronds  vs.   fish, frogs and fronds The argument for a single comma is that the comma is used to replace the conjunction and is therefore redundant. You could write the above list as “fish and frogs and fronds,” but that can be a little too wordy for the reader. So instead we write “fish, frogs and fronds,” replacing the first “and” with a comma. We could write “fish, frogs, fronds,” but that doesn’t always read nicely. If you’re writing for a teacher or publication editor, you’ll need to find out that Grammarian’s preference. If you’re writing for your own amusement, pick the style you like best and stick with it.

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

How to write an outline

An outline is a tool writers use to keep their thoughts in order. Whether written before as a guide or after as a diagnostic tool, the outline is essential to clarity.

Outlines give brief a brief summary whether in words, phrases or full sentences. The points are ordered with a simple hierarchy shown by the type of numbering and the indentation. Every point must have at least a second point, for example, every I. must have a II., every a. must have a b. If you cannot come up with a second point, you don’t need the first one, or need to find a way to include the information elsewhere. Each point must pertain to its heading and should be parallel with the other points (if you use full sentences with your points, you should use full sentences for ALL your points. The style of numbering and indentation must also be consistent throughout.

Example:

Bad Outline

1. Intro

a,  attention getting sentence

b, intriguing information

c, listing of the following points

2. Body

* Point Number One

1, lead

2, More interesting info

3, Here I will explain the how certain facts and statistics prove my point

4, transition

*Point Number 2

1, lead

2, A little more interesting info

3, funny story about something that happened while I was researching this paper

4, transition to the next paragraph

*Point Number three

1, info

2, how it all applies

3. Conclusion

Better Outline

I. Introduction Paragraph

A. attention getting sentence

B. intriguing information

C. listing of the following points

1. Point Number One

2. Point Number Two

3. Point Number Three

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Point Number One

1. Lead Sentence

2. Interesting information

3. Explanation of information

4. Transition to next paragraph

B. Point Number Two

1. Lead Sentence

2. Interesting information

3. Explanation of information

4. Transition to next paragraph

C. Point Number three

1. Lead Sentence

2. Interesting information

3. Explanation of information

4. Transition to next paragraph

III. Conclusion Paragraph

A. Restatement of points

B. Short summary

C. Conclusion sentence

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

Style Sheet (from Edit Yourself)

In Edit Yourself, Bruce Ross-Larson suggests that every writer create a style sheet to aide consistency. If you’re crunched for time after you’ve finished your paper, checking your style sheet can be the easiest, quickest way to proofread. The following paragraph and example are taken from chapter 11 of Ross-Larson’s book.

To be consistent in spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, capitalization, and writing numbers in words or numerals, keep a style sheet. Indispensable for writing by one person, and imperative for writing by more than one person, a style sheet is a simple tool that can save time and avoid confusion (see the example…). It is made by drawing a few lines on a sheet of paper and writing groups of initials in each box. Each time you write or see a word that has more than one acceptable style, write it in the appropriate box; for example, write decision making in the ABCD box, traveling in the QRST box. When you run into these words elsewhere, you can check the style against the style sheet (rather than having to flip through all the pages to see how you spelled them the first time). For long pieces it often helps to keep a style sheet for each of the common areas of inconsistency: one for spelling (especially that of names and terms), one for hyphens, one for capitals, one for numbers, and one for initials.

Example:

ABCD

• antismoking
• busing
• benefited
• channeling
• cooperate
• cost-effectiveness
• decision making

EFGH

• (the) executive director
• formulas (plural)
• figure 1

IJKL

MNOP

• midproject
• multidisciplinary
• nonviolent
• percent
• (the) project

QRST

• sizable
• short-term (adj.)
• table 1
• traveling
• tradable

UVWXYZ

NUMBERS

• 1980s
• mid-1970s
• 1980-81
• $400
• two cars
• 2 percent
• 2 percentage points
• 2 million
• 1,215
• first
• eleven o’clock
• three-quarters

INITIALS, NAMES, AND IMPORTANT TERMS

• EU = European Union
• GDP = gross domestic product

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

Check list example from Edit Yourself

This self-proof checklist is taken from chapter 11 of Bruce Ross-Larsen’s Edit Yourself.

You should check the use and usefulness of each word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, and section. If you do not have time for such a test, at least check a few basic things.

• Check all spelling, hyphens, capitals, numbers, and important names and terms against your style sheet.
• Make a contents page to identify problems of organization and to help your readers. [graphoniac's note: not always necessary, but a brief outline can help the writer make even the smallest paper flow better.]
• Underline and try to rectify long sentences, awkward sentences, passive verbs, and constructions that should be parallel but are not.
• Check that subjects and verbs agree in number.
• Check that all who and which clauses are correctly punctuated.
• Check that all introductory clauses beginning with an -ing word relate to what immediately follows
• Check that pairs, series, and compound subjects and predicates are arranged from short to long, from simple to compound.
• Cut what is of little use.
• Proofread everything you send out. A list of proofreader’s marks is under proofreader in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. [graphoniac's note: also found here.]

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

A FREE Error Catcher

You’ve just finished your paper. You’re by the printer waiting to grab your masterpiece and run to class.

STOP!

Do not ever just grab your paper and run! This is important, so I’ll repeat it: do not ever just grab your paper and run! Every teacher who has ever graded a grab-and-run paper can testify that these are often the most error-riddled papers. What makes a paper NOT a grab-and-run paper? Proofreading.

Proofreading is simply scanning the paper for obvious errors. If you can find a friend to proofread your paper, you will save your grade unnecessary docking. If you cannot find a friend, don’t just scan your own paper: you’re too familiar with it. Instead, read it out loud, slowly. When you read your paper out loud, you’ll be forced to pay attention to what is actually on the page. You’ll be surprised how often you missed something on the computer screen.

One more thing: make certain you check the peripherals–overall formatting, your name, your teacher’s name, the title, the date, etc. Unfortunately, good papers have lost entire letter grades for misspelling the teacher’s name. Don’t let it happen to you. Take a moment to borrow or be an error catcher.

If you’d rather have a professional proofreader catch the errors, contact your friendly M.W.H. editor today!

On Writing Well

Title: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Author: William Zinsser

Type: Advice

Notes: Zinsser is considered one of the best writers of our time. He breaks the art of writing into its most basic parts, dissecting good writing almost to the word. I own the 25th anniversary edition of this book–it’s been around a little longer than that. He has since released a new revision. I have not had the opportunity to read it yet. If you find it, can I read it after you?

Purchase

For a more detailed review of this book, read my book review.

Self-Proof Checklist

Every writer ought to have his own self-proof checklist. To make your own, write down all common requirements. For example, if you are in a writing class, include the teacher’s preferred formatting, the assignment guidelines, and your personal commonly made mistakes. I had a list that included my own commonly misspelled words. (I can never remember how to spell tomorrow, exercise or embarrassed. How embarrassing.)

Easy-read lists

To make lists of things easier on the reader, list them in order of complication. The quickest way to do this is list things from the least to the most syllables.

Ok: I enjoy gardening, fishing, spending time with my husband, hanging out with friends, watching movies and writing.

Better: I enjoy fishing, writing, gardening, watching movies, hanging out with friends and spending time with my husband.

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!