Leads

Leads that work are generally honest, specific, direct, quick, begin at the best part or at least in the middle.

Types of leads:
? Anecdotal lead- tells a little story to introduce the theme of the essay
? Quotation- can be formal--for example beginning a paper on the LA riots with this quote from Martin Luther King: “A riot is the language of the unheard.”
? Dialogue—jumping right into two characters having a conversation puts the reader right into the action.
? Shocker lead--one of the best I ever saw was “I was dead”  other examples:  “I never had any parents”, “I have always had a fascination with lizards and amphibians” Of course, the shocker must be honest—that is, related to the content of the piece.
? Descriptive lead--sets a scene
? Voice of a character--establishes the narrator’s voice
? Problem or announcement—“Too many young girls are becoming mothers in a country that provides nothing to support them.” or “Every day two hundred fifty-two children starve to death in Africa.”
? Show the characters in action. Start with someone doing something, especially something that will create questions in the reader’s mind.

Endings:
Same as leads--everything that works as a lead can also work as an ending.
The best endings leave the reader with something to think about, echo the lead, present an extension of the ideas in the piece rather than introducing new topics.

Titles
Should be specific, refer to something important, do some work, give some information, help to focus the piece.