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Reflective Essay. Writing an effective introduction. A few main methods. Begin like Amy Tan with what you are not “I am not a scholar of English or literature…” Begin in medias res (in the middle of things) “It was the 9 th inning, and I was up to bat…”
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Reflective Essay Writing an effective introduction
A few main methods • Begin like Amy Tan with what you are not • “I am not a scholar of English or literature…” • Begin in medias res (in the middle of things) • “It was the 9th inning, and I was up to bat…” • Begin with defining an important aspect of your identity • “I am a writer…”
Beginning with what you are not Sometimes it is easier to define what you are not rather than what you are. Take a moment to write down a few examples of things that you are not. Amy Tan begins “Mother Tongue” by saying that she is not a scholar of English, but she goes on to show that she learned something about language from her mother.
Beginning in medias res • If the memory you want to describe is vivid, you might want to begin your paper in the middle of things. • For instance, if there was a time when you were faced with a tough decision, you could begin by describing the circumstances.
Beginning by identifying an aspect of who you are • Amy Tan goes on to say “I am a writer” towards the beginning of her essay. She spends the rest of the essay explaining how she arrived at this place. • You might want to begin by taking a definitive stand with a statement as simple as “I am a ______.”
