Introductions and conclusions Starting and stopping your paper

Purpose Introduction: To make your audience want to read your paper and to inform the reader what the paper is about. When the reader is done reading the introduction they should know what you’re going to prove and how you will prove it. Conclusion: Gives your paper a definite end, closure

Format of an Introduction Hook/Attention getter/Grabber: to “hook” your reader’s attention and make them want to read your paper. Background about topic: An explanation about the topic/why it is an issue. A bridge to make a smooth connection between the grabber and the thesis statement Thesis statement: It clearly states the topic of the essay, expresses your opinion or point of view towards the topic, and indicates the structure of the essay Thesis is the ONLY part of the intro that is one sentence

DON’Ts for Introductions NEVER, never, never … Begin your introduction with an apology! “I’m sorry that my essay is bad…” Suggest you don’t know what you’re talking about or that you haven’t spent very much time and effort in researching your topic! “I’m not really sure, but I think...” or “In my humble opinion...” Begin a paper by announcing what you’re doing “In this paper I will be talking about...” or “The purpose of this essay is to ...” or “This essay will discuss...” or ANY variation of these boring, lame and redundant beginnings.

Types of Hooks/Attention Getters Anecdotes-Short Stories or narratives Writing about teen suicide, tell a story about a girl who tried to kill herself. Quotes-Word-for-word statements that will lead the reader to a point you are making Facts- Statistical statements 85% of teenagers in Las Vegas have no idea how to apply for college. Descriptive details- Concrete images that appeal to the senses/paint a picture in the reader’s head.

Weakest Attention Grabbers: Don’t use. Rhetorical question: Asking a question that you want your audience to think about, but give you an answer for. Do you like staying up late every night doing your homework? Define a key term: According to Webster’s Dictionary, suicide is defined as……

The Background… Explains the context of the paper. Gives the whatever information about the topic that the reader must know to understand what you are trying to prove. Answers the questions: Who, what, where, when and why.

Thesis statement ONE SENTENCE ONLY! States your position/focus and lists your arguments/points. Provides an outline for the essay to follow LAST SENTENCE IN THE INTRODUCTION Answers the question how or why Formula: Main argument + connector of result + 3 pieces of support ___________ is _____________ because of (topic) (opinion) ____________, ___________, __________. ( your reasons)   Examples of connectors of result: since, because, or for these reasons

Thesis statement about text If the thesis statement is about a singular piece of text, include a TAG ( title, author, genre) and a lens ( HOW you are analyzing the text) Examples: Literary devices, theme, characterization, etc. In Shakespeare’s play, “Othello”, Othello is the tragic hero because________, _________, and ________.

Example Example: Topic: Drinking water in the U.S. Thesis: The safety of the United States' drink water has been compromised by outdated practices and harmful byproduct. The topic has been narrowed from Drinking water to the SAFTEY of the drinking water. The opinion is specific, provable, and not obvious. Do not say “is bad” or “is good” List your arguments/reasons.

The five kinds of weak thesis statements are ones that 1.Make no claim This paper will tell why college is important. 2. Are obviously true or a statement of fact.  Attending college will make you grow as a person. 3. Restate conventional wisdom. To succeed in college, one must study. 4. Offer personal conviction as the basis for the claim I feel that college will make you successful in life. 5. Make an overly broad claim. College is the key to the future.

“Conclusion ” Do… Restate your thesis but in different words Recall your opening paragraph in your closing. Leave your reader with a strong image that will stay with the reader long after they are done reading your paper. Use Emotional language that will touch the readers Connect your topic to a bigger picture ( “so what”) Have a final thought

“Conclusion” Do NOT… repeat your thesis exactly. add any new points that you haven’t addressed in your paper. apologize for your paper, thank the reader for reading your paper, or say that you hope the reader liked the paper. Don’t use “In conclusion”

Formula Formula for conclusion Restate your thesis Summarize your ideas End with a lasting thought the vivid image/story you started in the introduction a quote, especially if you started with one. Call to action: Urging your reader to do whatever you were persuading them to do in your paper.

Introductions start broad and become specific Conclusions start very specific and become broad

Connecting the intro and conclusion Write a strong introduction with specific details, strong action verbs, and adjectives. Underline some of the images, specific details. Use those exact words in your conclusion.

Example Teenagers in many American cities have been involved in more gangs in the last five years than ever before. These gangs of teens have been committing a lot of violent crimes. The victims of these crimes are both gang members and people outside of gangs. Many people do not want to travel to areas in our cities because of the danger from this problem.  For this terrible situation to stop, it is going to take a combined effort on the part of many people including excellent, supervised after-school programs, more jobs available for teens, and healthy family relationships which will all go a long way towards ending this crisis in our society. With a combined effort of schools, business and family, the teenage gang crisis can be stopped. People will be able to travel in the cities again without the fear of being a victim of a violent crime due to the gang activity. Together, as a community, the city and society can be reclaimed

The order of essay writing. Write a “Working thesis” first Write your body/ccdw/ anyalytical paragraphs next based on your prewriting ( data collections/ annoations/outlines) Write your introduction using strong showing details Underline those details and use those details in your conclusion.