How To Compensate For The Reader’s Attitude To Your Writing
You can write a piece any way you want, controlling all the variables that go into its creation. What you won’t have a hand in, though, is the reader’s attitude towards your work.
Towards the Subject Matter
When the reader doesn’t quite agree with your main thesis, then you’ve got an uphill battle to wage. Same when they’re unreceptive to your subject matter. In both cases, you want to be able to entice them enough from the get-go, as neither type of reader will be all that motivated to read beyond your introduction.
Use a strong hook to begin with. Controversial statements, for instance, work well to generate interest for at least a couple more paragraphs. You’ll need to throw in strong evidence and sharp interpretation to keep interest high, though, avoiding rhetorical paragraphs that readers can easily dismiss.
Towards the Author
If the reader doesn’t like you for whatever reason (e.g. they don’t think you have credibility in the field), there’s a good chance they won’t even bother reading your introduction. In the event that they do, however, you can entice them to go further by demonstrating a positive and respectful attitude in your writing.
You can do this by acknowledging dissenting opinions, rather than dismissing them. Similarly, avoid emotional attacks and rhetoric that goes beyond a single sentence — they give readers a reason to dismiss your arguments off-hand.