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Don’t Let Your Bus Take Off Without a Thesis
Should you use a question to begin an essay? Yes. A rhetorical question is an excellent way to arouse the reader’s curiosity. You might also consider other introductory devices — such as a quotation, a startling statistic, a vivid example, or even a joke — to stimulate the reader’s interest. The most important part of the first paragraph, however, is the thesis, which is the main idea or “promise” of the essay, and your thesis typically belongs in the last sentence of the first paragraph.
The thesis should be located at the end of the first paragraph for two major reasons: direction for you the writer and direction for your readers.
When you write an essay, you don’t want to be wandering all over a subject like a tourist exploring the countryside. Instead, you should have a clear destination in mind and precise directions on how you’re going to get there. One way to keep you focused on your writing task is to imagine that you are a bus driver and that your essay is your bus. Your thesis, then, is the sign on your bus that lets both you and your passengers/readers know where you’re going.
