How To Start The Second Paragraph In An Essay

How To Start The Second Paragraph In An Essay

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The moment you finish the first paragraph of an essay often brings relief, but not for long. Unfortunately, you now have to start paragraph 2 in an essay. And that’s where the problems can start. How to start, what to write about, how to formulate hook for an argumentative essay, and so on. 

In this article, we will show you how to formulate the beginning of the second paragraph without getting confused. It will strengthen your argument and help keep the reader’s attention.

Why The Second Body Paragraph Matters

Every paragraph in an essay matters, including the second one. It is not just a logical continuation of the previous text. The 2nd body paragraph in an essay is the starting point of the structure in which your thesis takes on real meaning through arguments and examples.

Some cheap essay writers will say that this is not so important. However, in reality, professors and examiners are very picky about this point. Therefore, it is important to understand the function of the second paragraph and why it is so important. 

First, the second paragraph sets the logic of the essay. The transition from general ideas to specific details makes your arguments convincing and realistic. If the first paragraph captivates, the second paragraph should continue to maintain interest. 

Princeton students regularly offer homework help. They shared a life hack for using statistics in a paragraph. Numbers prove your words and add weight to the text. But pay attention not to repeat the same information from the introduction. It’s not a good way to start another paragraph.

What Should You Write in the New Paragraph of Your Essay?

The second paragraph of an essay is not just a continuation of the introduction. It is an important structural element that sets the pace for the entire argument. In the case of a personal narrative essay, this paragraph often contains the first plot twist or a moment that changes the course of events.

There are several effective ways to construct this paragraph: 

Use transition words

The second paragraph should logically continue what you started in the introduction. If you presented a thesis (main idea) in the first paragraph, the second should be its first proof or development. Avoid an abrupt transition to a new topic. The transition to the second paragraph should be smooth.

Here are the top 10 transitional words and phrases that a professional research paper writing service recommends using, based on examples of effective papers:

  • To start with..
  • First and foremost..
  • Among the first considerations..
  • As a starting point..
  • One key point to note is..
  • A major reason is..
  • At first glance..
  • One notable argument is that..
  • It is essential to highlight first..
  • One essential aspect is..

Start with a strong topic sentence

A good sentence starter for a paragraph is a short, clear statement that sets the direction for the rest of the paragraph. It is your first sentence and acts as a “headline” for the content below. Don’t start with details or quotes, as this will lower your grade. You need to make it clear what you are talking about.

Let’s look at a real case of a student we decided to help with an admission essay. Student X was tasked with writing an essay on the importance of financial education for young people. After analyzing the introduction, the following sentence was written: 

One of the main reasons why financial literacy should be part of the school curriculum is that it allows students to make smart financial decisions before they start their adult lives.

 

Why is such a start effective? Because it opened the door to possibilities to describe why: 

  1. Lack of knowledge can lead to difficult financial situations.
  2. Knowing the basics of credit, loans, and tax systems helps to avoid financial problems.
  3. An opportunity to avoid dependence on social assistance.

Add an example or proof

The second paragraph should not only make an argument, but also support it. This is important because without evidence, your claims may not look convincing or superficial. Depending on the type of essay, the example or evidence may vary:

  • statistics
  • quote
  • expert opinion
  • personal experience
  • example from literature or history.

Conclusion 

The second paragraph of an essay is an important step to back up your argument, especially when it comes to completing a college assignment title. By using facts, statistics, expert quotes, personal experience, or examples from literature and history, you make your statements more convincing. The formula for success is simple: you just need to remember to use it.

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Shawn Salazar
Shawn Salazar
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Writing has always been my passion. In 2020, I took a significant step towards fulfilling my dream by pursuing a Creative Writing and Journalism diploma. After graduating with a degree in English, I began contributing to the blog of the essay writing service Essaywritercheap.org. I also teach English to international students at an ESL school.

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