Introductions and conclusions

Introductions and Conclusions Once you have the body paragraphs of your essay, it is time to write your introduction and conclusion. These are critical parts of your essay! The introduction is what grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read what you have to say. The conclusion is the last impression that you will leave on your reader.

Introduction Main goal = get your reader’s attention! There are three types of ways you can write your introduction. 1. Anecdote 2. Interesting Information 3. Overview/Background of Issue

1. Anecdotes as Introductions An anecdote is a short story that illustrates your point. This can be effective because you can relate the issue you are talking about to your own personal life. Just refrain from telling too much of a story. Remember, this is short and only your way of transitioning into your argument.

Anecdote Example My sister wanted to be a high-fashion model like the girls in the ads she ripped out of magazines and tacked to her wall. She was tall and beautiful, but she never felt she was thin enough. One day, after passing out in school, she was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Many girls have experiences like my sister’s. The media should not use images of extremely thin girls because they promote unhealthy ideals such as eating disorders, over-exercise, and smoking.

2. Interesting Information as Intros A startling statistic or other tidbit of information that will shock or surprise your reader is a great attention-grabber for the beginning of your essay.

Interesting Information Example Almost half of girls from fifth to twelfth grade want to lose weight because of magazine pictures. Girls as young as ten-years-old have admitted to dieting to become skinnier. However, only five percent of American females have the body type of models who are usually used in advertising (Smith 31). This brand of thinking among young girls is unacceptable. The media should not use images of extremely thin girls because they promote unhealthy ideals such as eating disorders, over-exercise, and smoking.

3. Overview/Background as Intros Telling your reader an overview or background about your issue engages the reader by giving them a general idea of your topic. If you are going to do this, try not to tell facts that are too obvious or that your reader will already know. If your issue has a long and interesting history, you could tell about that history up until the present. For example, if I were going to talk about gun control, I could write about how the second amendment was formed by America’s Founding Fathers.

Overview/Background Example Eating disorders are serious diseases that lead to death more often than any other mental illness. For a long time, eating disorders were not talked about by those who suffered from them, and it took a long time for health professionals to recognize this problem and its causes. We now know that when young girls are exposed to images of ultra-thin ideals, they may develop these unhealthy eating disorders. The media should not use images of extremely thin girls because they promote unhealthy ideals such as eating disorders, over-exercise, and smoking.

Introductions Can I use a rhetorical question to begin my essay? 1. Anecdotes = stories, usually personal, to introduce a subject 2. Interesting Information = grab your reader’s attention 3. Overview/Background = orients the reader to the importance of your issue. Can I use a rhetorical question to begin my essay? Example: “Have you ever looked at the models in an ad and felt badly about yourself?” Maybe. If you use a rhetorical question, it needs to be a really good one!! Otherwise, try to avoid.

Conclusions Conclusions need to sum up and reiterate what you have already said, but DO NOT copy and paste your introduction. Leave the reader on strong note that reinforces the importance of your argument and issue.

Conclusions based on Introductions If you used an anecdote in your introduction… Finish the story and restate your points. If you used interesting information in your intro… Refer back to the statistic/fact and restate your points. If you used an overview in your intro… Offer some sort of solution or thought-provoking idea and restate your points. Most importantly, leave the reader with a sense of importance about your issue and argument.