开头是作文在阅卷老师面前的第一次亮相，它将决定你所写的文章在阅卷老师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开端，也就成功了一半。Good beginning is half done，我们该怎样一提起笔就让自己成功一半呢?
1. 开门见山式开头
一般来说，文章的开头应尽量做到开门见山，即要用简单明了的语言引出文章的话题，使人一开始就能了解文章要说明的内容。
① 对于叙事类的文章，可以在开头把人物、时间、事件和环境交代清楚。如A Trip to Huangshan(黄山之旅)的开头可以是：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 对于论述性的文章，可以在开头处先阐明自己的观点，接着展开进一步的论述。如The Time and the Money(时间和金钱)的开头可以是：Most people say that money is more important than time. But I dont think so. First，when money is used up，you can earn it back，but
2. 回忆性开头
在描述事件或游记类的文章中，采用回忆性的开头往往更能吸引人的眼球。这种类型的开头中通常含有描述自己心情或情绪的词汇，如never forget (永远无法忘记)、 remember (记得)、unforgettable (难以忘怀的)、 exciting(令人激动的)、surprising(令人惊讶的)、sad (难过的)如A Trip to Huangshan(黄山之旅)的开头还以这样写：I will never forget my first trip to Huangshan. 或It was really an unforgettable experience I had.
3. 疑问性开头
在叙事类或论述性的文章中，都可采用疑问型开头，这样既可以吸引阅卷者的注意又容易抓住中心。如Planting Trees(种树)的开头可以是：Have you ever planted trees? Dont you think planting trees is 再如Traveling Abroad(出国之旅)的开头可以是：If you have anopportunity to travel abroad， why not consider Singapore?
4. 倒叙式开头
在有的文章，特别是叙事类的文章中，可以采用倒叙的写作手法，先写出事件的结果，再陈述过程。如Catching Thieves (捉贼)的开头可以这样写：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. Its a story.