I have to write a poetry analysis paper. I do not know how to start the first paragraph. Do I startwith telling the teacher what I'm writing on and then go into the different parts or should i take another approach?

I'll give you some of the best links I've found. The first ones are about writing introductions. The second set is about writing about poetry.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm
http://nutsandbolts.washcoll.edu/beginning.html
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/intro.html

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/poetry-explication.html
http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/best/study/poetry.htm
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/ReadingPoetry.html#top

Let us know if you have further questions.

=)

A good way to start an introductory paragraph is a sentence that will grab the reader's attention. Then go into the different parts.

This site has a good example and explanation of an introductory paragraph.

http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html