If your essay urges readers to accept an argument, an evaluation, a solution, or an interpretation, use your introduction to get right to your main point. In her analytical essay, featured writer Ali Bizzul describes the situation many younger football players find themselves in.

Bigger is better — or so says the adage that seems to drive much of American culture. From fast food to television sets to the “average” house, everything seems to be getting bigger. This is especially true for the athletes who play America’s favorite fall sport — football. Twelve- and thirteen-year-olds are bulking up so they can make their junior-high football teams. High school players are adding weight to earn college scholarships. And the best college players are pulling out all the stops in hopes of making an NFL team. All of this is occurring despite the belief of many football coaches that extra weight does little to enhance a football player’s performance — and might even derail it. Even worse, the drive to put on the pounds carries significant health risks for football players, both now and later in life. Despite what they believe, overweight players are less effective than their lighter peers — and at far greater risk of devastating harm.