: Is it ok to begin an essay/report with a quote? I am writing an essay on project management within IT and in my introduction I will give a brief description of project management, to being

I am writing an essay on project management within IT and in my introduction I will give a brief description of project management, to being my essay I was looking at using one of these:

Project management is 'A unique set of co-ordinated activities, with definite starting and finishing points, undertaken by an individual
or organisation to meet specific objectives within a defined schedule of cost and performance parameters'
Almost by definition, innovation relies on project management (Wheatley 2004)

Would either (#1 vs #2 ) of these quotes be an appropriate way to start an essay?

Load Full (4)

: Where would be a good place to start for a 15 yr old who wants to be a writer when she's older? The 15 yr old female in question has spent the last few months writing her own book (Fiction)

@Jamie945

Load Full 6 Comments

: Why do authors usually put a reference section at the end of a book when they are not referenced throughout the entire book? In the references list (usually at the end of a book), I've noticed

@Jamie945

Load Full 3 Comments

: In this case, you're using Generic noun phrases. Either one works -- in fact, you could say a reader just as easily here -- but there are some subtle differences among them that you might

@Jamie945

Load Full 0 Comments

: How to restart a novel(la)? I've got a novel(la) of 33,000+ (130 or so manuscript pages) words that I would like to build up to 60,000 or so words - but I'm having trouble restarting the

@Jamie945

Load Full 2 Comments

Login to post a comment!

4 Comments

Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best

@Murphy332

It is a good idea to begin an essay with some interesting quotes or sentences. You have to make your starting sentence attractive to grab the reader's attention.

Load Full (0)

@Yeniel532

The opening words of an essay should immediately enmesh the reader in your wiles. Purpose-written paragraphs have broader latitude to do so than have found quotations. To start with a quote is not wrong, but you may do better, as onomatomaniak suggested, to "think of an engaging first sentence that makes the reader think you have something interesting to say."

Aside from limiting range of expression, starting with a quote requires attribution (crediting the source of the quote) which may cause the reader to look aside, to a footnote or a bibliography, during that important first moment with your essay.

I'm sure great essays can be started with quotations, because there are so many great quotes to be found, and I hope someone will present examples. But you often have more freedom of expression and can get to the point more quickly without one.

Load Full (0)

@Bryan361

There are pros and cons to starting off with something attributed to someone else.

It can lead the audience to expect something derivative so you really have to work to demonstrate why your ideas are either supported by the quote or can refute it - depending on your aims.

You may also use quotes to carefully point out the main idea of essay/report for the reader or to make a good statement right from the beginning to make your essay interesting and relevant.

I could not provide you with some examples but feel free to google it.
and also check out some essay writing tips like this or this

Load Full (0)

@Connie138

Yes, I suppose, especially, the second quote. By the way, you did not attribute the first quote to anyone.

Load Full (0)

Feed

: Is it ok to begin an essay/report with a quote? I am writing an essay on project management within IT and in my introduction I will give a brief description of project management, to being

More posts by @Jamie945

: Where would be a good place to start for a 15 yr old who wants to be a writer when she's older? The 15 yr old female in question has spent the last few months writing her own book (Fiction)

: Why do authors usually put a reference section at the end of a book when they are not referenced throughout the entire book? In the references list (usually at the end of a book), I've noticed

: In this case, you're using Generic noun phrases. Either one works -- in fact, you could say a reader just as easily here -- but there are some subtle differences among them that you might

: How to restart a novel(la)? I've got a novel(la) of 33,000+ (130 or so manuscript pages) words that I would like to build up to 60,000 or so words - but I'm having trouble restarting the

Login to post a comment!

4 Comments

Back to top