Introductions and Conclusions Hello and Goodbye

Introductions Don’t write an “empty” introduction that might sound nice but doesn’t address the prompt or topic “Toni Morrison is a Pulitzer-winning author who has written many famous books. Her book The Bluest Eye has been challenged by many school boards.” Avoid repeating or rephrasing the prompt “This essay is about the skills necessary to read as an artist and what it means to ‘experience’ a text.”

Introductions Consider leaving the intro until last if you are having trouble writing it first “Writing to understanding” Have an argument or thesis of some sort This is a touchstone for the essay – everything you write needs to connect to it either directly or indirectly Your body paragraphs also need assertions with these parameters in mind

Introductions Tricks of the introduction – types of address The sophisticated hook “At a book’s conclusion, a learned reader often wonders what the author meant to say, while a thoughtful reader considers what the work means to them personally, without much regard to the author’s specific intent.” The rhetorical question “If we are an active part of the literary process, are we then editors in spirit?” The dramatic statement “Since literacy is a core component of any free society, the reader should take their duty to read and interpret texts to their specific needs seriously.” The challenge “Morrison’s perspective, however well-informed, ignores some crucial elements of the artistic process.”

Conclusions “Global and Noble” The big “So what?” Address the topic in a way that goes beyond the text itself Social, environmental, academic, cultural What’s been revealed about human nature or society? What do you want your reader to take away? Your last statement to them – give them a doggie bag

Conclusions Originality Be creative and consider voice, style Don’t repeat your thesis or assertion Be creative and consider voice, style The conclusion (the intro, too) is a good place to… exercise your mastery of literary/rhetorical technique use different, less ordinary sentence structures and synytactic techniques with the goal of establishing your own voice

Conclusions Tricks of the conclusion Position statement Call to action “The humanities depend upon their audiences to ensure that works of merit last long enough to be enjoyed by future generations.” Call to action “We as readers must shed our laziness, put away our phones, stow our SparkNotes, and play our parts in helping literature to explain our world.” Judgment “Morrison’s words are well-crafted and bold, but my experience as a reader makes me hesitant to praise her efforts.”