Crafting Engaging Opening Paragraphs Using the Rhetorical Triangle

Using logos

Using logos in your opening paragraph means that you mainly rely on your readers’ logic and reasoning. For example, you can offer a surprising statistic or other facts, make a historical comparison or contrast, define a word central to your subject, or outline a problem or dilemma. For example:

When a heatwave in Europe killed more than 70,000 people in 2003, it was seen as a once-in-a-millennium event. Today, experts say, such blistering heat can be expected once a decade. Worldwide, last year the months of June, July and August were the hottest on record. August 2023 was on average 1.5℃ hotter than the same month between 1850 and 1900. This year could be even worse. (“Simple steps to stop people dying from heatwaves” by the Economist)

Here the introduction engages the reader’s logical reasoning and concern by presenting concrete and alarming statistics. The data makes the abstract concept of climate change tangible and immediate, compelling readers to continue reading to understand the proposed solutions to this pressing issue.

Think of a caveman, and maybe you imagine someone tearing at the flesh of an animal they’ve just hunted. But this picture may be false—analysis of prehistoric remains suggests that Stone Age people were skilled in processing and cooking different kinds of seeds, even experimenting with different flavors. Seeds are still an important part of our diets, so maybe food choices haven’t changed as much as we think. (“How seeds make up our diet” by BBC)

This introduction employs a historical comparison to draw readers into the topic. The connection between ancient and modern diets is established through logical reasoning, highlighting the continuity in food choices and promoting readers to think deeper about the subject.

·Using ethos

A typical way to use ethos in your writing is to include a powerful quotation or a series of quotations that are highly pertinent to your topic. The crucial aspect of effectively incorporating quotes is to seamlessly transition into the subsequent discussion of the subject matter. Study the following three introductory paragraphs to observe how different quotes set the stage for the same thesis statement.

a. William James once said, “Act as though what you do makes a difference. It does.” It seems as if many people do not understand how their actions affect others. This is also true about citizenship. The actions of a good citizenship are like a rock being thrown into a pond. The ripples spread out, causing other people to become good citizens. Being a good citizen means demonstrating obedience for laws, showing respect, and exhibiting cooperation within one’s community.

b. Adlai Stevenson once said, “On this shrunken globe, men can no longer live like strangers.” So many people move from different towns, states, and countries, that our country has become a melting pot of different cultures. Due to all of the various beliefs and values, it is important that we all work together as good citizens. Being a good citizen means demonstrating obedience for laws, showing respect, and exhibiting cooperation within one’s community.

c. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing,” Edmund Burke stated. This is very true in life. If good people set back and do not do what is right, then bad will triumph. We all need to be good citizens, if we want our country to be strong. Being a good citizen means demonstrating obedience for laws, showing respect, and exhibiting cooperation within one’s community.

Each example uses ethos by incorporating relevant quotations that lend credibility to the argument. The quotes provide authoritative voices that support the writer’s argument, making the subsequent discussion of good citizenship more compelling. By seamlessly connecting the quotations to the thesis, these introductions effectively set the stage for persuasive and coherent essays.

Tips: Sometimes you might find yourself short on quotes that fit your writing needs. A helpful resource is the reliable website BrainyQuote (https://brainyquote.com). The quotes are organized by popular topics and authors, making it very convenient for Chinese English learners to use.

·Using pathos

When using pathos to open your essays, you can employ various techniques to engage your readers emotionally. For instance, you might ask a question or a serious of questions to provoke thought. Alternatively, you could use a vivid description that captures the essence of your subject or employ a striking metaphor or other figures of speech to create a compelling visual image. All these methods can effectively enhance pathos in your writing. Consider the following examples:

You might have heard of the expression ‘a guilty pleasure’—maybe it’s the chocolate bar you buy on the way home from work, or the new clothes that you don’t really need. It comes from the idea that when we treat ourselves, it can sometimes leave us feeling guilty. Perhaps we don’t feel we deserved it, or we don’t think it was a responsible way to spend our money. But should we feel like this? Do we really have to feel guilty about treating ourselves? (“Don’t feel guilty about guilty pleasures” by BBC)

In this introduction, the use of questions effectively engages readers by prompting them to reflect on their own experiences and emotions, thereby enhancing the pathos of the argument.

When I was a boy, I loved climbing the old oak trees in New Orleans City Park. I would hang from their branches and fling my legs into the air with unfettered delight. I would scoot my way up the trees’ twisting limbs until I was a dozen feet off the ground and could see the park with new eyes. These were the same trees my mother climbed as a young girl, and the same ones my own children climb when we travel back to my hometown to visit. Live oaks can live for centuries, and the memories made among them can span generations. (“The Magic of Old-Growth Forests” by the Atlantic)

Here, the descriptive language effectively heightens pathos by creating a nostalgic, vivid, and emotionally resonant narrative that appeals to readers’ shared experiences.

·Combining Strategies

Surely, the three points of the rhetorical triangle are not entirely separate. Logos, ethos, and pathos can be used together to create a more comprehensive impact on your reader and compel them to keep reading your essay. Consider the following introductions:

In Japan it starts with the pulsating song of cicadas; in Alaska, with salmon swimming upstream. However it begins, summer in the northern hemisphere—where more than 85% of the world’s population live—soon involves dangerous levels of heat. This year is no exception—indeed, it carries the trend further. In Saudi Arabia more than 1,300 pilgrims died during the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, as temperatures exceeded 50°C. India’s capital, Delhi, endured 40 days above 40°C between May and June. And in Mexico scores of howler monkeys have been falling dead from the trees with heatstroke. (“The rise of the truly cruel summer” by The Economist)

In this opening paragraph, the logical presentation of facts (logos) builds a strong foundation of credibility (ethos) while simultaneously engaging the reader’s emotions (pathos). The blend ensures that the reader is both informed and emotionally invested, compelling them to continue reading the essay.

People today are much cleverer than they were in previous generations. A study of 72 countries found that the average IQs are rose by 2.2 points a decade between 1948 and 2020. This stunning change is known as the “Flynn effect” after James Flynn, the scientist who first noticed it. Flynn was initially baffled by his discovery. It took millions of years for the brain to evolve. How could it improve so rapidly over just a few decades? (“How to raise the world’s IQ” by The Economist)

This introduction cites a study of 72 countries, showing an average IQ increase of 2.2 points per decade, appealing to logical reasoning. By referencing to a reputable study and the well-known scientist James Flynn, it establishes authority and reliability. Describing the IQ rise as a “stunning change” and noting Flynn’s bafflement evokes curiosity. Additionally, posing the question of how the brain could improve so quickly intrigues the reader.

Combininglogos,ethos, andpathosin your opening paragraph can create a more comprehensive impact on your readers, ensuring they are both informed and emotionally invested in your essay.