Using the words of another to start an essay can get your reader’s attention immediately. It provides context for your essay, initiates the theme of your piece, and can also provide a real-world foundation for your argument.
But how do you choose the right quote — and more importantly, what’s a good way to embed it into your introduction without it feeling unnatural?
Below are some good ways to start an essay with a quote.
Why Use a Quote?
The utilization of quotes in your essay can serve different purposes. They could:
- Get the reader interested immediately after they start reading.
- Expand on your defense of it with reasons or examples.
- Get your idea across or the theme of your essay.
But not all quotes are just going to flow smoothly. Choose one that is relevant to your topic and supports your argument. Adding a random or misplaced quote in your introduction can also decrease its strength and cause the reader to become lost.
Choosing the Right Quote
When learning how to write an essay with a quote, sometimes you find it difficult to choose the right one. We have identified some criteria to assist you in making your choice:
- Importance: Are the quotes in line with the topic of your essay? It should lead to the points you are trying to make in your essay. If it doesn’t, it will feel unnatural.
- Source: Who is this person you are quoting? Do they have credibility in the field? Referencing expert opinion or literature gives your case more credibility.
- Length: Keep it brief. A lengthy quotation can be too much for the reader and distract from your introduction. Keep the quality of your response high with one or two sentences that hit a point pretty well.
After you choose your quote, the next step is incorporating that quote smoothly into your introduction.
How to Integrate a Quote into Your Introduction
The knowledge of how to start an essay with a quote, for instance, is important because it can change how your readers will perceive your paper. So, how can you naturally incorporate it into your writing?
- Introduce the Quote With Context
Set the scene for your quotation rather than diving into your quote immediately. This may be in the form of background information or a little rationale as to why this quote is significant.
For instance, if you are writing about the importance of education, you could begin with a quote by Nelson Mandela:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ᅳ Nelson Mandela. This quote speaks to the revolutionary capabilities of education, which is the crux of this essay’s premise.
For this example, you have spoken about the importance of the quotation before plugging in the quote into your essay.
- Use the Quote to Lead into Your Thesis
One of the best ways to start an essay is with a quote as a beginning for your thesis statement. Start with your quote and then your quick argument after it. This makes the quote seem like a natural extension of your opening.
For example, the well-known line from Franklin D. Roosevelt — the only thing we have to fear is fear itself— Different kinds of fears stop us from reaching our goals. In this essay, I will attempt to persuade the reader that fear is a critical part of growing, and should be overcome at all levels for personal growth and success.
It is clear from the thesis that the quote proposed for the argument connects to it.
What Not to Do When Starting an Essay with a Quote
Although learning how to start an essay with a quote can boost your writing, there are some common pitfalls to steer clear of.
- Don’t Begin with a Quote Without an Explanation
It is easy and sometimes alluring to start your opening statement with a well-known quote without explanation. However, this can confuse your readers. You have to make sure that after its inclusion, you can then connect it back effectively to what your essay asserts.
- Not a Cliché or Overused Quote
Some quotes are already too familiar and have been repeated and aged for indiscernible long. Do not open your essay with eternal quotes like “To be or not to be,” or perhaps give yourself a laugh and begin with “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Well these could be good once but they are worn out and no longer have any impact.
- Stop Using Out Of Context Quotes
As we mentioned earlier, it can be confusing to include a quote if taken out of context. However, be sure you completely understand the quote and use it in its entirety when integrating it into the essay. Without the right context, using a quote can throw your writing off and leave readers scratching their heads.
Examples of Starting an Essay with a Quote
More examples of how to start an essay with a quote.
Instance 1: Martin Luther King Jr. said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” in his letter from Birmingham Jail. It also reminds us that the issue of tackling inequality in every shape and form is important. In this article, I explore the importance of social justice movements to today’s society.
Instance 2: As Einstein put it, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” This statement highlights the importance of creative thinking in solving problems, and this will be central to the rest of our discussion about innovation.
In both examples, the use of quotes is a typical way for the topic sentence to lead into the thesis or main argument of the essay.
Final Tips for Starting Your Essay with a Quote
Before sourcing for any quote, ask yourself these final questions and decide if you should begin with such a quote;
- Check the quote again and make sure you got it right. That is a very easy way to ruin your credibility as you may misquote the quote or attribute it to the wrong person.
- The tone of your essay needs to match with the quote. Using a funny quote won’t work on a serious topic and vice versa.
- The quote should not dominate your speech. The essay is still yours. Your argument is not a surrogate for the quote.
Limit your use of quotes. However, it might be a good place to start. However, you can quickly get lost in other people’s words, which makes it harder for your voice to come through.