Drafting: Writing Introductions and Conclusions

Introduction

Writing an introduction

Set the right tone

Capture your audience’s attention

Present your thesis

Writing a conclusion

Your Turn 1: Write introductions

Your Turn 2: Write a conclusion

Introduction

"Where shall I begin, please your Majesty?” he asked.

“Begin at the beginning,” the King said, gravely, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”

—Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

The king’s advice in Alice in Wonderland could have been meant for writers.

Introduction

The beginning of your writing is the introduction—where your readers start their journey with you.

The ending, or conclusion, is where you and your reader part ways.

When you write, you want to make sure that your introductions and conclusions make an impression on your readers.

Writing an introduction

The introduction is an important part of any piece of writing. As the name suggests, this is where your readers are introduced to your ideas.

The introduction to a piece of writing should

establish the right tone

capture your audience’s attention

state or suggest your thesis

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

Have you ever heard someone described as “nice— once you get to know him”? First impressions are important. What first impressions do these people give?

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

Your writing must also make a good first impression. The introduction is your chance to capture your audience’s attention and make them want to continue reading. Your introduction should therefore be as fresh, interesting, and compelling as possible.

Address the reader directly. When readers think about their own connection to the topic, they are more likely to continue reading.

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

To draw your readers in immediately, try beginning your introduction with one of the following attention-getting techniques:

Remember the first time you drove a car by yourself? That feeling of freedom—that you could go anywhere and do anything? Well, multiply that times ten and you’ll understand how I felt leaving for Europe on my own this summer.

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

Tell an anecdote (a short, personal story). Readers are often more interested in a topic when they can see the human side of it.

I had never been in a plane before and was nervous about what might go wrong—both mechanically and, you know, from the hijacking standpoint. Once we were in the air, though, I forgot all that and was thrilled to be in the skies heading for Italy.

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

Ask an intriguing question. Readers will stick around to see how you answer the question you’ve posed.

What is nearly 200 feet tall, 60 feet around, took almost 200 years to build, and is over 800 years old? (Here’s a hint: it’s in Italy and it leans, but there’s very little chance of it ever falling down.)

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

Define a key word that is important to understanding your topic. Some readers respond well to being logically—rather than emotionally—engaged by the topic.

A bell tower is a tower containing one or more bells and is most typically attached to a church. It’s often rung to announce events such as weddings and funerals. The Tower of Pisa, with its eight stories and seven bells, is the bell tower for the Cathedral of Pisa.

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

Start with an interesting quotation. You’ll likely find quotes that relate to your topic from people such as writers, actors, athletes, artists, scientists, and political leaders.

Travel writer Tim Cahill once remarked, “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” My fondest memories of my trip to Italy are of the friends I made. I can’t tell you how far I traveled, but I can still remember the people I met.

Writing an introduction Capture your audience’s attention

Kira, a student writing about her trip to Italy, decided to start her paper with a quotation.

The author James Baldwin once wrote, “I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.” I know exactly what he means. On my trip to Italy this summer I made many new friends, but the one person I was most surprised to meet was me.

Writing an introductionSet the right tone

Tone is the attitude toward your subject that is revealed in your writing.

As you craft your introduction, make sure you establish a tone that is right for both your audience and the purpose of your writing.

For example, your tone might be

objective logical

humorous

critical

detached formalimpassioned

cynical

wry

Writing an introductionSet the right tone

Kira is writing an article for her school newspaper, and she decided that she should use an informal tone. She’ll use simple, ordinary language, including

slang

colloquial, or informal, speech

contractions

shorter, simpler sentence structures

Writing an introductionPresent your thesis

A writer often ends an introduction by presenting his or her thesis to the reader.

Whether you have an explicit thesis statement or an implied thesis, presenting your thesis just before the body of your paper is like telling your reader, “Now that I’ve got your attention, here’s an idea of what you’re going to be reading about.”

Writing an introductionPresent your thesis

A thesis statement is a sentence or two that directly states your topic and what you will say about it.

In some kinds of writing—for example, short stories or other narratives—you will imply, or hint at, your thesis through the details you present in your essay.

Writing an introductionPresent your thesis

Here is Kira’s thesis statement:

If you want to find out who you are, go out in the world and meet people—they’re the ones who can tell you.

interesting quotation

American author Mark Twain wrote, “I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.“ Recent travel experiences have convinced me that Twain was correct. If you want to find out who you are, go out in the world and meet people—they’re the ones who can tell you who you are.

Writing an introduction

Note that Kira’s tone, attention-getting technique, and thesis work together to make an effective introduction.

informal tone

thesis statement

Writing a conclusion

The conclusion of a piece of writing is just as important as the introduction. Your conclusion is your last chance to influence and make an impression on your readers.

Your conclusion should

tie your ideas together

make a strong impression

give your reader a sense of completion

Writing a conclusion

One way to tie all of your ideas together is to restate your thesis and summarize your main points. Don’t repeat the same words and sentences; find new ways to express your ideas.

Traveling introduces you to new cultures, new sights, and new faces. It also introduces you to a new you—a little wiser, a little more tolerant, and a lot more grown-up.

Writing a conclusion

Answer the question “So what?” To make an impression on your readers, show them that the topic is important by relating it to their lives.

Why is travel worth your time and energy? Regardless of your age, race, religion, or gender, travel is one of the best ways to improve yourself while having the time of your life.

Writing a conclusion

End with a final thought. Give your readers a thoughtful comment, a personal reaction, or an insight that ties your ideas both to the readers’ experience and to the world in general.

So get out there, out of your house, your town—your comfort zone. Travel with family, with friends, or just by yourself. See what this world is all about. Then come back with photographs, tales to tell—and a smile on your face.

restate thesis

end with final thought

If you make the effort to plan a great trip and really try to meet the local people, you will be well rewarded for your efforts. The experiences you have while traveling abroad will stay with you for a lifetime. So what are you waiting for? Get traveling!

Kira has written a strong conclusion to her essay on traveling. What strategy did she use?

Writing a conclusion

Write two short introductions to a composition about a place you’d like to visit. In each, use a different attention-getting technique from the list below. Be sure to set an appropriate tone and to introduce your thesis.

Your Turn 1: Write introductions

• address the reader directly

• tell an anecdote

• ask an intriguing question

• give a quotation that relates to your topic

• define a key word that is important to understanding your thesis

Write a conclusion to a composition about your favorite place or some place you’d like to visit. Use at least one of the strategies below.

Your Turn 2: Write a conclusion

• Restate the thesis and summarize the main points.

• Answer the question “So what?”

• Leave readers with a final thought.

The End