Using a Question as an Attention-Grabber

Many people like to use a question to open their papers. This is one, of many, good ways to focus your introductory paragraph. There are positives and negatives, however, to doing this, so be sure that asking a question is right for your paper and your writing style.

Positive Aspects of Asking a Question:

• Questions engage the audience. They ask the audience members to associate the content of the paper with their own thoughts or personal lives.
• Questions address a controversy surrounding the content that you are going to be discussing.
• Questions acknowledge that there are a variety of viewpoints on your topic, and that it is more complex than the reader may assume.
• Questions allow readers to realize that there are other viewpoints that differ from their pre-existing opinion.

Negative Aspects of Asking Questions:

• Questions are often an overused method of Introduction. People expect them, so they do not actually peak a reader’s interest.
• Questions require you, as the writer, to ANSWER them. So, questions such as “have you tried a fad diet?” are not effective as they are open ended.
• Poorly chosen questions can alienate readers. If you ask, “have you ever considered getting a tattoo,” your reader may answer “no.” If this happens, you have limited who will continue to read your paper.
• Questions can derail you from giving the background information that you need. Your purpose in an Introduction Paragraph is to provide your readers with information that they will need to follow the rest of your essay. Asking a question does not actually provide any information, so you need to be careful not to get so wrapped up in your question that you forget the other purposes of the Introduction.