Final answer:
The opening sentence(s) of a piece of writing is known as the introductory paragraph, which often contains a hook, background information, and a thesis statement. Topic sentences introduce the main idea of each body paragraph to follow. This part of the text is crucial for engaging the reader and setting the tone of the essay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The opening sentence(s) of a piece of writing is called the introductory paragraph. This part of your text is crucial as it needs to grab the reader's attention and inform them about what they're about to read. A well-crafted introduction sets the stage for the content that follows and is essential in academic writing.
It can include various strategies such as engaging with a conflict, using a hook like an intriguing statistic or quotation, and often concludes with a clear thesis statement detailing the topic, perspective, and the points the paper will support.
Each body paragraph should also begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea to be developed in that section. The topic sentence should be clear and concise to prepare the reader for the arguments and evidence that will follow. Writing effective opening sentences is a skill that can significantly affect how your writing is perceived and the impact it has on the reader.