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How to avoid introduction cliches

3

1

I'm writing a research paper in one of my math classes about the P vs NP problem. I feel the introduction to my paper sounds like a cliche. This is my intro:

In the field of mathematics, there are problems that present an
exceptional level of difficulty.

How do I avoid such cliches in my writing and create a strong opening line?

academic-writing openings

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

18.7k14087

asked 6 hours ago

MettalMettal

162

New contributor

Mettal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Welcome to Writing.SE Mettal. Please take the tour and spend some time hanging out. We're glad to have you. Asking for helping re-writing your work is completely off topic here. So I edited your question into one asking how to avoid cliches in opening sentences.
  
  – Cyn
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hey Mettal, I appreciate that you liked my answer but we ask that people give it a full 1-2 days at least before choosing a best answer. The idea is to encourage other people to answer. Once you get a bit more rep, you'll be able to upvote any answer you like, or all of them. There's no time limit on choosing a best answer and you'll still get your 2 points no matter when you do it.
  
  – Cyn
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

1

I'm writing a research paper in one of my math classes about the P vs NP problem. I feel the introduction to my paper sounds like a cliche. This is my intro:

In the field of mathematics, there are problems that present an
exceptional level of difficulty.

How do I avoid such cliches in my writing and create a strong opening line?

academic-writing openings

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

18.7k14087

asked 6 hours ago

MettalMettal

162

New contributor

Mettal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Welcome to Writing.SE Mettal. Please take the tour and spend some time hanging out. We're glad to have you. Asking for helping re-writing your work is completely off topic here. So I edited your question into one asking how to avoid cliches in opening sentences.
  
  – Cyn
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hey Mettal, I appreciate that you liked my answer but we ask that people give it a full 1-2 days at least before choosing a best answer. The idea is to encourage other people to answer. Once you get a bit more rep, you'll be able to upvote any answer you like, or all of them. There's no time limit on choosing a best answer and you'll still get your 2 points no matter when you do it.
  
  – Cyn
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I'm writing a research paper in one of my math classes about the P vs NP problem. I feel the introduction to my paper sounds like a cliche. This is my intro:

In the field of mathematics, there are problems that present an
exceptional level of difficulty.

How do I avoid such cliches in my writing and create a strong opening line?

academic-writing openings

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

18.7k14087

asked 6 hours ago

MettalMettal

162

New contributor

Mettal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

18.7k14087

asked 6 hours ago

MettalMettal

162

New contributor

Mettal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

18.7k14087

asked 6 hours ago

MettalMettal

162

New contributor

Mettal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

18.7k14087

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

18.7k14087

asked 6 hours ago

MettalMettal

162

New contributor

Mettal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 6 hours ago

MettalMettal

162

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

4

The best way to avoid overly general openers is to write them.

Go ahead, write them all down. Get them out of your system. If you don't, they're gonna be on your brain distracting you.

Once you finish your opening paragraph, go back and cut it ruthlessly. That first line is out of there. Maybe the second and third line too. Start at the line that matches what you told us the paper is about. That is your intro. The P vs NP problem. I have no idea what that is but your readers will (if they don't all already know, then your intro needs to have a description of it).

Everyone knows math has hard problems. That's what makes it fun. You don't need to tell anyone that. Just tell them what problem you're working on and why.

For other academic work, you might find yourself quoting the dictionary or talking in vague terms about the topic. Write it. Get it completely out of your system. Then slash and burn.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

CynCyn

18.7k14087

add a comment | 

1

Get to the point?

In the field of mathematics, there are problems that present an exceptional level of difficulty.

Isn't really the point of your paper is it?

This is just fluff. You lose nothing getting rid of it.

So what's the second sentence? Maybe that should be promoted to the first?

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

ashleyleeashleylee

8368

add a comment | 

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4

The best way to avoid overly general openers is to write them.

Go ahead, write them all down. Get them out of your system. If you don't, they're gonna be on your brain distracting you.

Once you finish your opening paragraph, go back and cut it ruthlessly. That first line is out of there. Maybe the second and third line too. Start at the line that matches what you told us the paper is about. That is your intro. The P vs NP problem. I have no idea what that is but your readers will (if they don't all already know, then your intro needs to have a description of it).

Everyone knows math has hard problems. That's what makes it fun. You don't need to tell anyone that. Just tell them what problem you're working on and why.

For other academic work, you might find yourself quoting the dictionary or talking in vague terms about the topic. Write it. Get it completely out of your system. Then slash and burn.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

CynCyn

18.7k14087

add a comment | 

4

The best way to avoid overly general openers is to write them.

Go ahead, write them all down. Get them out of your system. If you don't, they're gonna be on your brain distracting you.

Once you finish your opening paragraph, go back and cut it ruthlessly. That first line is out of there. Maybe the second and third line too. Start at the line that matches what you told us the paper is about. That is your intro. The P vs NP problem. I have no idea what that is but your readers will (if they don't all already know, then your intro needs to have a description of it).

Everyone knows math has hard problems. That's what makes it fun. You don't need to tell anyone that. Just tell them what problem you're working on and why.

For other academic work, you might find yourself quoting the dictionary or talking in vague terms about the topic. Write it. Get it completely out of your system. Then slash and burn.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

CynCyn

18.7k14087

add a comment | 

The best way to avoid overly general openers is to write them.

Go ahead, write them all down. Get them out of your system. If you don't, they're gonna be on your brain distracting you.

Once you finish your opening paragraph, go back and cut it ruthlessly. That first line is out of there. Maybe the second and third line too. Start at the line that matches what you told us the paper is about. That is your intro. The P vs NP problem. I have no idea what that is but your readers will (if they don't all already know, then your intro needs to have a description of it).

Everyone knows math has hard problems. That's what makes it fun. You don't need to tell anyone that. Just tell them what problem you're working on and why.

For other academic work, you might find yourself quoting the dictionary or talking in vague terms about the topic. Write it. Get it completely out of your system. Then slash and burn.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

CynCyn

18.7k14087

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

CynCyn

18.7k14087

answered 6 hours ago

CynCyn

18.7k14087

answered 6 hours ago

CynCyn

18.7k14087

1

Get to the point?

In the field of mathematics, there are problems that present an exceptional level of difficulty.

Isn't really the point of your paper is it?

This is just fluff. You lose nothing getting rid of it.

So what's the second sentence? Maybe that should be promoted to the first?

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

ashleyleeashleylee

8368

add a comment | 

1

Get to the point?

In the field of mathematics, there are problems that present an exceptional level of difficulty.

Isn't really the point of your paper is it?

This is just fluff. You lose nothing getting rid of it.

So what's the second sentence? Maybe that should be promoted to the first?

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

ashleyleeashleylee

8368

add a comment | 

Get to the point?

In the field of mathematics, there are problems that present an exceptional level of difficulty.

Isn't really the point of your paper is it?

This is just fluff. You lose nothing getting rid of it.

So what's the second sentence? Maybe that should be promoted to the first?

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

ashleyleeashleylee

8368

share|improve this answer

answered 3 hours ago

ashleyleeashleylee

8368

answered 3 hours ago

ashleyleeashleylee

8368

answered 3 hours ago

ashleyleeashleylee

8368