scholarship essay introduction examples

scholarship essay introduction examples

How to Write a Persuasive Scholarship Essay Introduction

1. Importance of a Strong Scholarship Essay Introduction

Another reason why it’s crucial to write a good introduction is because no matter how good the body of the essay is, if you start off on the wrong foot, the entire essay will be ruined. It is important to state the specific aspect and bring up any background that the reader would need to be aware of the certain topic. No matter what the topic is, whether it’s controversial or just a common issue, a great essay will be useless if the topic is not relevant to it. A good introduction will hint at what the aspect of the essay is going to be. Even if you start off with a definition or a fact, it’s important for you to relate it back to the topic at hand. That being said, a clear-cut way to a good introduction is to make sure it has a clear connection to the body of the essay.

Your introduction is your chance to convince the reader that your essay is worth reading. This first impression is vital to your success. Thus, it is especially important to take great care in constructing this part of your paper. Because the introduction is so crucial to the development of a persuasive essay, it is essential to understand its purpose. Think of the introduction as a bridge connecting the reader to the rest of your paper. With a solid introduction, the reader is more likely to stay engaged with the rest of the essay.

2. Crafting an Engaging Opening Statement

Telling a personal anecdote is also a great way to start your introduction. A personal story that relates to the article or person you are trying to persuade often makes the best introduction. But remember not to include too many details or make it sound like a life story because you’re trying to persuade them to lean towards your point of view, rather than telling a story.

Asking your readers to think about the topic is a great way to get them ready to hear more. An example of a tough question could be, “Have you ever had to make a difficult decision that could have changed your life completely?” Depending on the answer, it could have a certain impact on the reader.

Your introduction should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to continue reading. One effective way to grab the reader’s attention is by describing the action of your story. A brief description of the location and why it’s important to the article or person you are trying to persuade is a great way to start.

3. Showcasing Personal Motivation and Goals

This is very similar to the beginning of an action plan I had to write at the beginning of the semester for my scholarship. Yumi recommended that I search within myself to analyze what career I wanted to pursue; analyze exactly what would make me happy in my professional life. In order to accomplish this, I had to take an English placement exam, as well as attending the “Write It Right- Scholarship Edition” workshop, in which I received a free review book. After completing this small beginning, I sought out resources that were available to me. I scheduled an appointment at the Mānoa Career Center, met with an advisor, and then learned of a website in which there are hundreds of potential careers. I then asked the advisor how I could possibly get funding in order to be able to afford graduate school at the UH. She replied that there were numerous career specific scholarships available for a variety of students. I then sought after the requirements in order to be able to start a psychology career. I needed to obtain a Master’s Degree in Industrial- Organizational Psychology. While looking for information, I found the “Hawaiʻi Society of Business Professionals” scholarship that granted tuition money to any Interdisciplinary Studies student involved in a business-oriented career. I bookmarked the website (http://www.hsobp.org/students.html) that contained the scholarship information and requirements, intending to visit the site in the future when I was ready to apply for the scholarship.

4. Highlighting Relevant Achievements and Experiences

Use anecdotes that explain your achievements and the success that ensued. Think about what you are going to write and organize your thoughts into an outline. It is important to tell your story in a way that will hold the reader’s attention, as well as make you stand out amongst the crowd. The best way to do this is by using vivid details that help the reader understand your passion. For example, if you are applying for a music scholarship, you will want to write a personal story about a specific musical experience you had that changed your life and will help illustrate why you are committed to a career in music. It is also important for the reader to have a clear understanding of what you plan to do with your future. You should also write about what you want to accomplish and how you plan to do this. This way, they will see that their investment into your future is a good one. This article was written by a professional writer at Writing-Expert.com – a professional custom writing service. You can find the best academic writers to help you with your scholarship essays, research papers, and any other writing assignment. With our professional writing help, you can rest assured your paper will be written with strict attention to your guidelines and what you are looking to get across to the reader.

5. Closing with a Compelling Call-to-Action

You can use the call to action to guide your audience through your essay, using it to tell them what to do in response to it. So, you should be more delicate with it for the short term, instructing them to closely study your essay, or perhaps to read about a certain cause. In the long term, suggest making an informed decision on a certain topic, or volunteering their time and money to a good cause. Remember to identify your target audience when applying your CTA to a scholarship essay. Keep the people or person funding the scholarship in mind, and it is okay to be a bit more forward with your CTA for them.

With this method, essay readers will be more engaged and refreshed when it comes time to decide who to award a scholarship. By applying the methods from above, you can construct a CTA that will assure you are the winner. Keep this in mind; sponsoring a scholarship is a large investment for a person or company. They want to see a good return.

Another example is a choice I made to not eat fast food for a month. This decision was made in objection to the company and their employees’ work conditions. (the what = avoiding eating fast food), (the how = by not entering the restaurant), (the why = in objection to the company and their employees’ work conditions). Although this was not directly related to the example, it was still well defined and convincing. This person shows a negative action can be just as important to define and gives a clear and identifiable way to fulfill it.

Consider these examples: In the summer of 2001, I took a Calculus course at a local community college. Although I passed the course with a “C”, I feel that I did not perform well; the teacher agreed. (the what = agreeing to take calculus again), (the how = because teacher agreed), (the why = I will perform well) This is an archetype of a compelling CTA. This candidate identifies his goal and provides two logical reasons for his reader to follow through with the action.

People are much more willing to act if a solid reason is provided. This is where you can use logic to convince your reader. By answering these questions honestly, you can develop a compelling action that will leave a lasting impression on your audience.

A good CTA should show the reader exactly how to fulfill the action. If they don’t know how to do it, they probably won’t. You may have to spell it out.

What makes a good call to action? The “what” is the specific action you want your reader to take. This can be anything from getting informed on a certain topic, to volunteering for a charity, to making a purchase. Regardless of what you are trying to convince your readers to do, make sure it is clearly identifiable.

When considering how to end a scholarship essay, the approach should be different. In most cases, you want to persuade the audience to believe in your cause. Developing a call to action is just as important. Whether it’s a long and passionate scholarship donor, or the essay judges who want to make this world a better place through alternative energy, your end goal is to convince them to support your work.