When writing a paragraph essay do you have to write 2 in front of your paragraphs?

No, you do not have to write "2" in front of your paragraph. In a paragraph essay, each paragraph should be numbered sequentially, starting with the introduction paragraph. The introduction paragraph is typically numbered "1", and the subsequent paragraphs are numbered "2", "3", and so on. However, it is not necessary to include the paragraph numbers in the actual text of your essay.