Wait — Have You Ever Wanted to Say Something?
In Chapter 3, you learned the shape of every editorial — introduction, body, and conclusion.
You practiced building a five-part outline with a clear position, three organized reasons, and a call to action. You even got a preview of what every introduction needs — a news peg and a stand.
Now it's time to zoom in. This chapter is all about that first paragraph. The one that makes a reader stop, pay attention, and keep reading.
Why the Introduction Is Your Most Important Paragraph
Most readers decide within the first two sentences whether they will keep reading or move on. That means your introduction has one job above everything else: Make them stay.
If your opening is weak, vague, or boring — the reader is gone. It doesn't matter how good the rest of the editorial is. But if your opening is specific, sharp, and urgent — the reader is hooked. And now your arguments have a real audience.
4.1 What Does the Introduction Need to Do?
A strong editorial introduction does three things:
- • First — it grabs attention. The very first sentence should make the reader stop and take notice.
- • Second — it sets up the problem. In two or three sentences, the reader understands exactly what issue the editorial is about.
- • Third — it states the stand. By the end of the introduction, the reader knows exactly what the writer believes and what should be done.
4.2 What Is a News Peg?
Before you write your introduction, you need a news peg.
A news peg is the recent, real event or situation that makes your editorial timely and relevant right now. Think of it as the reason you are writing today — not last year, not someday. Today.
Example: "Last week, three students were sent to the clinic after eating spoiled food from the school canteen." This is what makes the editorial urgent. That is what makes readers care now.
4.3 The Four Types of Leads
A lead (pronounced leed) is your very first sentence or two. There are four types of leads you can use in an editorial introduction:
Example: "How many students have to go hungry before the school finally fixes the canteen?"
Example: "Last month, 12 students missed afternoon classes because of food poisoning traced back to the school canteen."
Example: "The school canteen is making students sick, and the administration knows it."
Example: "It was 12:15 PM when Jessa finally reached the front of the canteen line. The server looked up and said, 'Sorry, no more food.' Jessa walked back to class with an empty stomach — again."
4.4 Putting It All Together — The Complete Introduction
After your lead, your introduction needs two more things: the news peg (to show this is happening right now) and your stand (your clear position statement using the Chapter 2 formula: [Who] must [do what] because [reason]).
Here is what a complete, strong introduction looks like when we put it all together:
"It was 12:15 PM when Jessa finally reached the front of the canteen line. The server looked up and said, 'Sorry, no more food.' This is happening to dozens of students every single Friday. Last week, more than 60 students from the afternoon session returned to their classrooms without eating a meal. The school administration must expand the canteen's capacity and extend service hours so that every student — regardless of their lunch period — gets equal access to a hot meal."
Let's check the three parts:
- • Lead (Anecdotal): "It was 12:15 PM when Jessa finally reached the front..." (Jessa's experience pulls the reader in immediately)
- • News Peg: "Last week, more than 60 students from the afternoon session returned..." (Specific, recent, real)
- • Stand: "The school administration must expand the canteen's capacity and extend service hours..." (Names who, what, and why)
Weak vs. Strong Introductions — Side by Side
"This editorial is about the school canteen. There are some problems with it. I will explain them in this essay."
"Three students were sent to the school clinic last week after eating spoiled food from the canteen. This is not the first time. According to canteen staff, food is stored in an area with no working refrigeration. The school must hire a food safety officer to inspect canteen supplies daily so that no student gets sick from eating at school."
✏️ Practice Time
Identify lead types, complete guided introduction templates, and draft different hooks.
Identify the Lead TypeRead each opening sentence and determine its lead category.
Guided Writing — Complete the IntroductionFill in the blanks to construct complete, structured opening paragraphs.
"Last month, [number] students from [school/location] were absent due to [flooding/reason]. This is a problem the school can no longer ignore. The [Who] must [do what] because [reason]."
"How long will students [sit in heat/endure problem] before the school finally [replaces fans/fixes problem]? Every day, [who suffers what]. [Who] must act now and [do what]."
Writing Practice — Writing Different Types of LeadsChoose a topic and write two different types of introductions for it.
🔍 Self-Check Guide
| What to Check | Done ✅ | Try Again 🔄 |
|---|---|---|
| I wrote two completely different types of leads (hooks) | ☐ | ☐ |
| Both introductions have a specific, recent news peg | ☐ | ☐ |
| Both introductions finish with a clear, assertive stand | ☐ | ☐ |
| I used confident words in both stands (must / should) | ☐ | ☐ |
📊 Simple Rubric
🧠 Lead Type Identifier
Read each opening editorial snippet. Match it to its correct lead type!