開頭是作文在閱卷老師面前的第一次亮相，它將決定你所寫的文章在閱卷老師心中所留下的第一印象。如果第一印象好，就意味着有了良好的開端，也就成功了一半。Good beginning is half done，我們該怎樣一提起筆就讓自己成功一半呢?
(一)“開門見山”式開頭
一般來說，文章的開頭應儘量做到“開門見山”，即要用簡單明瞭的語言引出文章的話題，使人一開始就能瞭解文章要說明的內容。
1. 對於敘事類的文章，可以在開頭把人物、時間、事件和環境交代清楚。如“A Trip to Huangshan(黃山之旅)”的開頭可以是：Last month, my family went to Huangshan by train. It took us ten hours to get there. What a long and tiring journey! We were tired but the beautiful scenery excited us.
2. 對於論述性的文章，可以在開頭處先闡明自己的觀點，接着展開進一步的論述。如“The Time and the Money(時間和金錢)” 的開頭可以是：Most people say that money is more important than time. But I don't think so. First, when money is used up, you can earn it back， but……
(二)回憶性開頭
在描述事件或遊記類的文章中，採用回憶性的開頭往往更能吸引人的眼球。這種類型的開頭中通常含有描述自己心情或情緒的詞彙，如never forget (永遠無法忘記)， remember (記得)，unforgettable (難以忘懷的)， exciting(令人激動的)，surprising(令人驚訝的)， sad (難過的)……如“A Trip to Huangshan(黃山之旅)”的開頭還以這樣寫：I will never forget my first trip to Huangshan. 或It was really an unforgettable experience I had.
(三)疑問性開頭
在敘事類或論述性的.文章中，都可採用疑問型開頭，這樣既可以吸引閱卷者的注意又容易抓住中心。如“Planting Trees(種樹)”的開頭可以是：Have you ever planted trees? Don't you think planting trees is ……
再如“Traveling Abroad(出國之旅)”的開頭可以是：If you have an opportunity to travel abroad, why not consider Singapore?
(四)倒敘式開頭
在有的文章，特別是敘事類的文章中，可以採用倒敘的寫作手法，先寫出事件的結果，再陳述過程。如“Catching Thieves (捉賊)”的開頭可以這樣寫：I lay in bed in the hospital. I smiled at my friends even though my legs hurt. Do you want to know what happened to me? Let me tell you. It's a … story.