Writing Your Introduction &Conclusion

Writing an introduction – the beginning Arouse a reader's interest – Try one of these methods Begin with a quotation. Just make sure you explain its relevance Begin with a question Begin with an acknowledgment of an opinion opposite to the one you plan to take Begin with a very short narrative or anecdote that has a direct bearing on your paper Begin with an interesting fact Begin with a definition or explanation of a term relevant to your paper Begin with irony or paradox Begin with an analogy. Make sure it's original but not too far-fetched

Continuing with the Introductory Paragraph Introduce the subject/ Background Information Thesis (Always the last sentence of the first paragraph. Remember this cannot be a question and it cannot be longer than one sentence) The introduction is your paper's “first impression,” don’t blow it!

Sample Introduction – Animal Communication In recent years much discovery has been made concerning the ability of dogs, birds, frogs, primates, and aquatic mammals to communicate, not only with each other, but also with humans. Many ardent owners of cherished pets have always believed this to be true, but now zoologists’ research actually supports their assertions, with both domestic pets and with many animals living in the wild. Like humans, many animals do relate to each other and also to humans on some level, whether they use a complicated system of communication or a simple one. Although many animals are not as advanced as humans, each type has its own way of communication.

Sample Introduction–Animal Communication In recent years much discovery (I like this word, it makes me want to know more!) has been made concerning the ability of dogs, birds, frogs, primates, and aquatic mammals to communicate, not only with each other, but also with humans. Many ardent owners of cherished pets have always believed this to be true, but now zoologists’ research actually supports their assertions, with both domestic pets and with many animals living in the wild. Like humans, many animals do relate to each other and also to humans on some level, whether they use a complicated system of communication or a simple one. Although many animals are not as advanced as humans, each type has its own way of communication. - Thesis

Writing your conclusion: a few things to avoid Don't depend on your conclusion to sum up the body paragraphs. Your paragraphs should flow naturally into one another and connections should be made among them. Summary can be an important function of conclusions but keep this part brief; readers know what they've just read. Don't simply regurgitate your introduction. Try to talk about your topic in a new way now that you've presented all that you have about it. Don't end your conclusion with a quotation or with a statement that could very well be the subject of another paper.

A conclusion should... A conclusion should stress the importance of the thesis statement, give the essay a sense of completeness, and leave a final impression on the reader. Synthesize, don't summarize Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. Show how the points you made and the support and examples you used were not random, but fit together. Redirect your readers Your introduction went from general to specific; make your conclusion go from specific to general. Propose what you feel is a natural next step to take in light of what your argument is attempting to convince people. Create a new meaning You don't have to give new information to create a new meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas work together, you can create a new picture.

Strategies Echo the introduction: Echoing your introduction can be a good strategy if it is meant to bring the reader full-circle. If you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay was helpful in creating a new understanding. Example Introduction From the parking lot, I could see the towers of the castle of the Magic Kingdom standing stately against the blue sky. To the right, the tall peak of The Matterhorn rose even higher. From the left, I could hear the jungle sounds of Adventureland. As I entered the gate, Main Street stretched before me with its quaint shops evoking an old-fashioned small town so charming it could never have existed. I was entranced. Disneyland may have been built for children, but it brings out the child in adults. Conclusion I thought I would spend a few hours at Disneyland, but here I was at 1:00 A.M., closing time, leaving the front gates with the now dark towers of the Magic Kingdom behind me. I could see tired children, toddling along and struggling to keep their eyes open as best they could. Others slept in their parents' arms as we waited for the parking lot tram that would take us to our cars. My forty-year-old feet ached, and I felt a bit sad to think that in a couple of days I would be leaving California, my vacation over, to go back to my desk. But then I smiled to think that for at least a day I felt ten years old again.

Strategies Continued Challenge the readers: By issuing a challenge to your readers, you are helping them to redirect the information in the paper, and they may apply it to their own lives. Example: Though serving on a jury is not only a civic responsibility but also an interesting experience, many people still view jury duty as a chore that interrupts their jobs and the routine of their daily lives. However, juries are part of America's attempt to be a free and just society. Thus, jury duty challenges us to be interested and responsible citizens.

Strategies Continued Look to the future: Looking to the future can emphasize the importance of your paper or redirect the readers' thought process. It may help them apply the new information to their lives or see things more globally. Example: Without well-qualified teachers, schools are little more than buildings and equipment. If higher-paying careers continue to attract the best and the brightest students, there will not only be a shortage of teachers, but the teachers available may not have the best qualifications. Our youth will suffer. And when youth suffers, the future suffers.

Sample Introduction – Teen Pregnancy One of the biggest problems in America today is the increasing number of teen pregnancies. One in every ten teenage girls becomes pregnant each year (Bullough 9). One-third of these pregnancies is intentional (Green). Something should be done about this epidemic. Parents should take responsibility rather than putting it on the schools. Parents should talk with their children about why they are having sex and why they are becoming pregnant.

Sample Introduction – Teen Pregnancy One of the biggest problems in America today is the increasing number of teen pregnancies. (Ooh, danger!) One in every ten teenage girls (Shocking!) becomes pregnant each year (Bullough 9). One-third of these pregnancies is intentional (Are you kidding?!) (Green). Something should be done about this epidemic. Parents should take responsibility rather than putting it on the schools. Parents should talk with their children about why they are having sex and why they are becoming pregnant. - Thesis

Sample Conclusion – Teen Pregnancy Teens, parents, educators, and community members must bear some of the responsibilities for solving this teenage pregnancy epidemic. Lee McMurrin, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, summarizes this concept best when he says, “There must be a concerted effort on the part of parents, school authorities, important persons in the lives of children, and religious leaders. We’ve got to be together on this” (Gardner). If the effort is made by the entire community to help teens become responsible in their personal relationships, perhaps they will be better able to realize their own potential in life and be better parents when they are more mature and the time is right.

Sample Conclusion – Teen Pregnancy Teens, parents, educators, and community members must bear some of the responsibilities for solving this teenage pregnancy epidemic. Lee McMurrin, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, summarizes this concept best when he says, “There must be a concerted effort on the part of parents, school authorities, important persons in the lives of children, and religious leaders. We’ve got to be together on this” (Gardner)(Good summary!). If the effort is made by the entire community to help teens become responsible in their personal relationships, perhaps they will be better able to realize their own potential in life and be better parents when they are more mature and the time is right. (Good conclusion. Restates the thesis and sets a communal goal.)

Sample Introduction – UFOs Every government in the world has its secrets and its national security policies, but many of them take advantage of these privileges. One such government, established in 1776, was created by the people, for the people, and answerable to the people. Yet, that government today, the United States government, continues to conceal an enormous amount of information from the public, usually in conjunction with the military. The most secret military installation in American history and one of the world’s most mysterious places is the Air Force’s Groom Dry Lake Test Facility in Nevada (Webster 34). During its first 35 years, virtually no one knew of the base, let alone what operations it conducted. However, the Air Force’s attempt to seize land outside the facility's border has resulted in a public outrage and has brought the base before the eyes of the people who are now demanding answers from their government. Even with all the recent attention, however, military officials still will not admit that the installation is reality (Stranglin 24). The United States Air Force has attempted to conceal toxic waste disposal violations, breakthrough military technology, and UFO information at the Groom Dry Lake Test Facility in Nevada, a base so secret it does not exist.

Sample Conclusion – UFOs The evidence suggesting that illegal disposal of toxic chemicals and testing of advanced military technology occurred at Groom Dry Lake Test Facility is overwhelming. In addition, countless UFO stories detailing sightings at this facility have been filed, many of which are convincing, mainly because of the fact that they remain unexplained and unanswered by officials. There are simply too many civilians and former employees of the Air Force who claim to know of Dry Groom’s existence and who have witnessed bizarre occurrences there for the government to continue to deny Groom’s existence. The American people are past the point of believing Area 51 does not exist. The people, for whom this government was created, must form a united front and force the government to reveal its secrets in the Nevada desert and admit it possesses alien technology. Glenn Campbell, commenting on the cause against Dreamland’s secrecy which he pioneered, said, “You just have to keep shaking the secrecy tree, and, hopefully, something drops out,” (Stacy, 89). The truth is definitely out there and someone will eventually find it.