How to start an essay (especially the first paragraph)?

I always feel it is so hard for me to write first paragraph in an essay.
Now I'm encoutering with a problem of how to start an essey on "why do people attend college or university?"
Expecting your suggestions!

Good afternoon!

I find that creating an outline helps me get started. Decide three or four main topics that you definately want to expand on in your essay. Think of these as your pillars, the columns that are going to be the main supports of your essay. Once you have those, think of at least one supporting fact and detail about each of those pillars. Depending on the required length of your essay, you can add more of these if you so choose. Also, remember to add an introduction and closing paragraph.
Sometimes it works best to start in the middle and work your way out, leaving the introduction and closing for last.
I hope this helps you get started!

Regards,
Gloria
Moderator, EssayForum.com

Million thx!
And could you show me a sample paragraph just for opening?

Good morning!

You are welcome; I can post the introductory paragraph to an essay that I wrote for a comparative literature class. I don't know if it will help you in your particular subject area, but you can see how one looks.

"The illusion of power drives men to do many things. It causes them to go mad, to destroy, and to distrust. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov does all this in his quest to become an Übermensch and seize the power he believes he deserves.
The Übermensch Theory is a concept created by Nietzsche based on the idea that traditional values represented by Christianity are useless, summed up in his statement, "God is dead". Nietzsche contended that this set of ideals created a "slave morality," embodied by weak and spiteful people who encouraged kindness and goodwill only because it served their own selfish interests. According to this theory, this set of values would be overtaken by a new set, which he called the Übermensch, or Übermensch values. An Übermensch, which when literally translated means "Overman", or "Superman", would be secure, independent, and individualistic. He would be passionate yet controlled, and concentrate on the "real" world rather than the heavens promised by God. The Übermensch accepts pain and suffering because these emotions are part of the whole human existence, and he is the creator of a "master morality", which shows strength and independence from all values except those he himself has decided are of worth ("Who Killed God?"). Nietzsche believed all human behavior is propelled by the want of power, good or bad. In the good sense, this power is used to control oneself, which is required for creativeness. This is illustrated in the Übermensch's originality and creativity ("Friedrich Nietzsche"). This motivation propels Raskolnikov in all his movements throughout Crime and Punishment."

My essay length needed to be 10-12 pages, so I had six main pillars, and each had three to four supporting details or facts from the text. Depending on your length requirements, you may need more or less than that. This snippet is my thesis statement and my introductory paragraph.

I hope this helps you get started.

Regards,
Gloria
Moderator, EssayForum.com

Billion THX!

Good evening!

You are welcome! Let me know if you need further help.

Regards,
Gloria
Moderator, EssayForum.com