Writing Introductions and Conclusions

Why Introductions? Your introduction is the reader’s FIRST IMPRESSION of your work. It should make him/her want to read the rest of your paper.

Why Conclusions? Your conclusion is the reader’s LAST IMPRESSION of your work. It should make him/her remember your paper and set you apart from the other thousands of papers.

Where? Your introduction is your FIRST paragraph, and your conclusion is your LAST paragraph!

How Long? 3 or 4 Introductions and conclusions should have sentences each!

Introductions: How To Introductions should have 2 parts: a HOOK and a THESIS STATEMENT to introduce your topic. Start with a 2-3 sentence HOOK to “grab” the reader’s attention. These are 5 great hooks to try (S.H.U.D.S.): -Statistic -HISMOP (figurative language: hyperbole, idiom, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification) -Unusual Fact -Dialogue -Scenario

Introductions: How To Finish your introduction with a THESIS STATEMENT to tell the reader what topic you’ve chosen to write about and how you feel about it. I simply despise my nasty room. OR My room is the most disgusting place on the planet. Sometimes your thesis statement may be included in one of your hooks, which is okay!

Boring Hooks Using a question as an introduction hook is overused and boring. Avoid questions like these as hooks: Do you like your room? OR What do you like about your room? Do you know why I hate my room?

and the thesis statements will be in Sample Introductions The next several slides will share examples of each type of hook. For each sample, the hook sentences will be in BLUE, and the thesis statements will be in PINK.

Statistic Hook #1 People magazine conducted a survey last summer of parents across the country. The survey results revealed that 92% of parents are unhappy with state of their children’s rooms. I’m afraid that my parents would agree with that statistic, because my room is disgusting! NOTE: When using a STATISTIC hook, be sure to tell WHO did the research. You can also tell WHEN the research was conducted! Oh, and statistic percentages should NEVER exceed 100%.

Statistic Hook #2 I conducted a survey at school last week that asked my peers what their parents nag them about most. According to my results, 78% of students said that a messy room sends Mom over the edge quicker than a flea finds a dog. I’m sure that once I have kids of my own, I’ll get it, but for now, I feel my peers’ pain. My room really is nasty.

HISMOP Hooks #1 & #2 My room is a garbage dump! Dad swears that I’ll need to call in a hazardous materials team to help me clean it. Although Dad has a flair for the dramatic, I have to hand it to him this time: my room is pure gross! OR Shhh...Did you hear that squeaking? I don’t know if it’s the family of rats that have moved into my closet or the shelf brackets whining under the weight of the junk atop them, but whatever it is, it can’t be good. Simply stated, my room is filthy!

Unusual Fact Hook #1 The last attempt to clean my room took twelve hours. The things I uncovered during that task could make a goat’s stomach turn. Unfortunately, after only three short weeks, my room is absolutely gross again!

Unusual Fact Hook #2 I read in a scientific magazine that the average bedroom has thousands of different types of bacteria. My room isn’t an average room, so I would bet it has millions of different types. I wanted to call in some professionals to do the task, but Mom wouldn’t hear of it. Today is the day I face the music and clean my putrid room.

Dialogue Hook #1 “My, heavens, Jamie,” Mom screamed last night, “clean up this pig sty!” Mom and I don’t see eye to eye on this issue. To her my room is a pig sty, but to me it’s paradise. NOTE: When using a DIALOGUE hook, be sure to PUNCTUATE it correctly with commas and quotation marks, and don’t forget to add a TAG!

Dialogue Hook #2 “Help! I can’t find my way out!” Dad shouted from my room after delivering some freshly folded clothes. Like every other kid on the planet, I hate to clean my room. Unfortunately, Dad has had it with my clutter, so he’s making me clean my lair. My room’s not really messy, it’s just “creatively organized.”

Scenario Hook #1 Poor old Mom waltzed into my room yesterday to collect my laundry, and she’s still trying to find her way out of the maze of clothes, games, and books littering the floor. I think I’ll send a search team after her if she doesn’t surface sometime today. That room is a mess!

Scenario Hook #2 As I lounge on the sofa watching Saturday morning cartoons, I notice my dog dragging a pair of pants, a remote control airplane, and then a science book into the den. I soon realize that all of these items have come from my room. You know your room is a mess when even your dog nags you to clean it.

Some Final HOOK Tips… It’s okay to combine different types of hooks in your introduction. Try to add some appropriate humor in your hooks; it’s a great way to “grab” the reader! Although, be mindful of your audience and your purpose!

Conclusions: T-SD-? Restate your THESIS STATEMENT and how you feel about your topic (do not use the word-for-word thesis statement you used to finish your introduction). Remind readers of your SUPPORTING DETAILS in one sentence (don’t forget to separate each detail with a comma). Ask a thoughtful QUESTION to give the reader something to think about.

Sample Conclusion As you can see, my room is beyond nasty. There are mountains of clothes on the floor, colonies of dust bunnies under the furniture, and petrified food in every crevice. Do you think it’s time to clean it up? THESIS STATEMENT! SUPPORTING DETAILS! THOUGHTFUL QUESTION!

POP QUIZ Read each prompt and introduction. Tell what type(s) of hook was/were used. Write the thesis statement (remember, some thesis statements may be included in the hook).

POP QUIZ #1 PROMPT: Describe your favorite school lunch. INTRODUCTION: As I walked into the cafeteria this afternoon, my mouth immediately began to water. I knew at once that the hard-working cafeteria staff had prepared my favorite entrée. Their fried chicken is divine!

POP QUIZ #1 ANSWER HOOK TYPE: Scenario THESIS STATEMENT: Their fried chicken is divine!

POP QUIZ #2 PROMPT: Explain reasons people should not litter. INTRODUCTION: Scientists report that roadside litter poses many health and safety risks. These risks effect not only people but wildlife as well. Please do your part to minimize the risks: don’t litter!

POP QUIZ #2 ANSWER HOOK TYPE: Unusual Fact THESIS STATEMENT: Please do your part to minimize the risks: don’t litter!

POP QUIZ #3 PROMPT: Describe a picnic lunch. INTRODUCTION: “Hey, let’s have a picnic lunch at the park!” Dad chirped at the breakfast table. We all agreed that it was a great idea and couldn’t wait. No one can put a picnic lunch together like dear old Mom.

POP QUIZ #3 ANSWER HOOK TYPE: Dialogue THESIS STATEMENT: No one can put a picnic lunch Together like dear old Mom.

POP QUIZ #4 PROMPT: Explain reasons people should exercise every day. INTRODUCTION: A 2005 study by Harvard Medical School found that 8 out of every 10 Americans do not get daily exercise. The study called the U. S. an unfit nation. It’s time to take a stand! Put down the remote, get off the couch, and get some exercise.

POP QUIZ #4 ANSWER HOOK TYPE: Statistic THESIS STATEMENT: Put down the remote, get off the couch, and do some exercises.

POP QUIZ #5 PROMPT: Explain the qualities of a good teacher. INTRODUCTION: My teacher is the bomb! Teachers like her are rare, so I know how lucky I am to be in Mrs. Hamilton’s class. Thanks to her, I will never forget fourth grade. Mrs. Hamilton has ALL of the qualities of not just a good teacher but an amazing teacher.

POP QUIZ #5 ANSWER HOOK TYPE: HISMOP (metaphor) THESIS STATEMENT: Mrs. Hamilton has ALL of the qualities of not just a good teacher but an amazing teacher.