PS First Sentences Forum

[DorianGray89]

First sentences are important because they are meant to grab the reader's attention. What is/was your first sentence?

[Fresh]

First sentences are important because they are meant to grab the reader's attention. What is/was your first sentence?

COCK -N- BALLS; BOY DO I WANNA GO TO LAW SKOOL!


It worked for me..

[ArchRoark]

How to Write a Strong Introduction

1. Attention-grabbing material: Hook them with a remarkable or a life-changing experience, an anecdote, or a question that will be answered by your law school personal statement.

2. Benefits: Make your essay worth their time to read.

3. Credentials: Build ethos.

4. Direction: Tell them your thesis and structure.

1. Hook your reader immediately.
Admissions committees read thousands of law school personal statements, and a boring introduction will result in the reader skimming over rather than fully considering the rest of what you have to say. Write a strong introduction. Hook your reader with a remarkable or a life-changing experience, an anecdote, a vivid description, or a question that will be answered by the rest of your personal statement. Your opening sentence is the most important part of your personal statement; use it to frame the meaning of every sentence that follows.

I usually start off with an anecdote/paint a picture of an experience.

From my DS:

With a thick British accent and a smile that overwhelmed his face my capstone geography professor had chosen to start the day's round table discussion with a seemingly simple question; "Where are you from?". As my peers listed off various locations dotting the United States I couldn't help but reflect on the distinct strands that have intertwined to form my own cultural heritage.

I had the same approach on my PS... but I ended up changing it because I couldn't tie in the story well enough to the rest of my PS.

[billyez]

The first few sentences of my PS followed the same principle of Tiva's. It attempted to capture the reader immediately by painting them a picture of the event. It's by no means necessary and there are plenty of other ways to reel the reader in, but it's my preferred method.