Introductions and Introductions and ConclusionsConclusions

Attention-getting openingsAttention-getting openings A startling fact or bit of information A startling fact or bit of information A meaningful quotation A meaningful quotation A universal idea related to your thesis A universal idea related to your thesis A rich, vivid description or image A rich, vivid description or image A fresh analogy or metaphor A fresh analogy or metaphor An interesting anecdote, story, or An interesting anecdote, story, or

dramatic episode dramatic episode A thought-provoking question A thought-provoking question Beginning in the middle of the actionBeginning in the middle of the action

Openings to avoidOpenings to avoid

Dictionary definitions of words Dictionary definitions of words your reader should know. your reader should know.

““Did you know?” or “Have you Did you know?” or “Have you ever wondered?” rhetorical ever wondered?” rhetorical questions questions

““This paper will be about …” “In This paper will be about …” “In this paper I will prove” this paper I will prove”

More opening mistakes to avoidMore opening mistakes to avoid

Beginning too far away from your Beginning too far away from your actual topic (“There are many novels, actual topic (“There are many novels, all of which have characters. Some all of which have characters. Some characters are heroes, and some are characters are heroes, and some are not.”) not.”)

A “book report” list of irrelevant facts A “book report” list of irrelevant facts (William Shakespeare lived in the (William Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan era in England. He wrote Elizabethan era in England. He wrote many plays. One of these plays was many plays. One of these plays was Hamlet.) Hamlet.)

Hint about openingsHint about openings

When previewing When previewing main topics in your main topics in your introduction, make introduction, make sure you list them sure you list them in the order in in the order in which they appear which they appear in your paper. in your paper.

What goes in the introductionWhat goes in the introduction

Essential background about your topic Essential background about your topic and preparation for your major thesis. and preparation for your major thesis.

Road maps for the rest of the essay, Road maps for the rest of the essay, previewing major ideas and posing previewing major ideas and posing important questions that you will important questions that you will consider in your paper.consider in your paper.

The intro & the thesis sentenceThe intro & the thesis sentence

Introduction needs to have a Introduction needs to have a thesis statement. thesis statement.

Make special attempts to link the Make special attempts to link the thesis to the sentence that thesis to the sentence that precedes it by building on a key precedes it by building on a key word or idea. word or idea.

Thesis Statements

A thesis statement needs to show 3 things: The topic of the paper Your stance on the topic Your main supporting details that will

prove your thesis in the paper

Ending the essayEnding the essay

The conclusionThe conclusion Your conclusion wraps up your Your conclusion wraps up your

argument and leaves the reader with argument and leaves the reader with some final things to think about.some final things to think about.

Your conclusion should stem from Your conclusion should stem from what you have already written.what you have already written.

Effective conclusions therefore often Effective conclusions therefore often refer back to ideas presented in a refer back to ideas presented in a paper’s introduction. paper’s introduction.

Purpose of the conclusionPurpose of the conclusion

Should echo the major thesis Should echo the major thesis without repeating words without repeating words verbatim. verbatim.

Should move beyond thesis to Should move beyond thesis to reflect on significance of ideas reflect on significance of ideas just presented.just presented.

Should indicate why these ideas Should indicate why these ideas are important. are important.

Effective conclusionsEffective conclusions

Reflect on how topic relates to Reflect on how topic relates to larger issues (in the novel, in larger issues (in the novel, in society, in history) society, in history)

Show how topic affects the Show how topic affects the reader’s life reader’s life

Evaluate the concepts presented Evaluate the concepts presented Issue a call for action on the part Issue a call for action on the part

of the audience of the audience

More about effective conclusionsMore about effective conclusions

Ask questions Ask questions generated by generated by essay’s findings essay’s findings

Make predictions Make predictions

Recommend a Recommend a solution solution

Even more about effective conclusionsEven more about effective conclusions

Connect back to Connect back to introduction, esp. introduction, esp. if writer used a if writer used a metaphor, metaphor, anecdote, or vivid anecdote, or vivid image image

Give a personal Give a personal statement about statement about the topicthe topic

Conclusions to avoid:Conclusions to avoid: Beginning with “In conclusion …”Beginning with “In conclusion …”

Restating thesis and main points Restating thesis and main points

without adding anything new without adding anything new

Bringing up a new topic Bringing up a new topic

Adding irrelevant details Adding irrelevant details

(esp. just to make a paper longer) (esp. just to make a paper longer)