From Harvard’s Writing Center: Beginning the Academic Paper

From Berkeley Prewriting, Outlining and other strategies for beginning writing.

Don’t:

a. Use a dictionary definition to start your paper.

b. Open with an immense claim about humanity or civilization or anything else.

c. Open with an inspirational quotation or one that is not properly attributed.

Do

a. Define any terms you will use. If you are going to talk about romance, for example, define how you are using the term.

b. Be clear.