Drafting: Writing Introductions and Conclusions Introduction Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Set the right tone Present your thesis Writing your conclusion Your Turn 1: Write introductions Your Turn 2: Write a conclusion

Introduction A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. —Lao-tzu Parting is such sweet sorrow. —William Shakespeare The beginning of or introduction to your composition is where the reader starts his or her journey with you. The ending of or conclusion to your composition is where the reader and your ideas part ways.

Introduction Some of the most memorable moments in relationships are the hellos and goodbyes—when two people first meet and then later part ways. Many readers have similar experiences when they start and finish a good piece of writing. When you write, make sure the first and last parts your readers encounter are engaging and memorable.

Writing your introduction The introduction is an important part of any piece of writing. As the name suggests, this is where your readers are introduced to your ideas. The introduction to a piece of writing should establish the right tone capture your audience’s attention state or suggest your thesis

Writing Tip: Introductions Do you find introductions difficult to write? You don’t have to write an introduction first. You might focus on the body of your paper and then go back to write the introduction afterward. You might also start by writing a very basic introduction just to present your thesis. When you’ve finished drafting the body of your paper, return to the introduction and make it more engaging.

Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Have you ever heard someone described as “great— once you get to know him”? First impressions are important. What first impressions do these people give?

Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Your writing must also make a good first impression. The introduction is your chance to capture your audience’s attention and make them want to continue reading.

Address the reader directly. When readers think about their own connection to the topic, they are more likely to continue reading. Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention To draw your readers in immediately, try beginning your introduction with one of the following attention- getting techniques: Are you familiar with the expression “take your breath away”? That is exactly what happened to me the first time I saw Yosemite Falls.

Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Tell an anecdote (a short, personal story). Readers are often more interested in a topic when they can see the human side of it. I was anxious the first time I went camping in a remote area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. What would it be like to go without running water, to sleep in a tent, and to cook meals over a campfire? To my surprise, I found that though it wasn’t easy, it was incredibly relaxing.

Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Ask an intriguing question. Readers will stick around to see how you answer the question you’ve posed. What is 264 feet tall, 35 feet wide, and 1,650 years old? When you explore nature, you never know what you might find along the way.

Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Define a key word that is important to understanding your topic. Some readers respond well to being logically—rather than emotionally— engaged by the topic. According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, a glacier is “a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface.” Many of the Sierra Nevada’s unique landforms are a result of glacial movement over millions of years.

Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Start with an interesting quotation. Many people— famous and ordinary alike—have probably made interesting comments that relate to your topic. John Muir, famous naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, wrote, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” This holds true whether you are walking the Sierra Nevada Mountains or your local park.

Writing your introduction Capture your audience’s attention Kara, a student writing about dog training, decided to start her paper with an interesting quotation. Every pet owner wants a well- behaved animal. According to Lynn Johnston, a local professional dog trainer, it is not necessary to have lots of money in order to have a well-behaved dog. “Expensive food and fancy toys won’t make your dog happy.”

Writing your introduction Set the right tone Tone is the attitude toward your subject that is revealed in your writing. As you craft your introduction, establish a tone that is appropriate to the audience and the purpose of your writing. For example, your tone might be objectivelogical humorous critical detachedformalimpassioned cynical wry

Writing your introduction Set the right tone Kara is writing an article for her school newspaper, and she decided that she should use an informal tone. She’ll use simple, ordinary language, including slang colloquialisms contractions shorter, simpler sentence structures

Writing your introduction Present your thesis A writer often ends an introduction by presenting his or her thesis to the reader. Whether you have an explicit thesis statement or an implied thesis, presenting your thesis just before the body of your paper is like telling your reader, “Now that I’ve got your attention, here’s an idea of what you’re going to be reading about.”

Writing your introduction Present your thesis A thesis statement is a sentence or two that directly states your topic and what you will say about it. In some kinds of writing—for example, short stories or other narratives—you will imply, or hint at, your thesis through the details you present in your essay.

Writing Tip: Thesis statements If you’d like to use a thesis statement but didn’t write one during prewriting, you should do so now. Use the following formula: Topic: + Main Idea About Topic: Thesis: walking in nature Walking in nature offers many benefits. When you walk in nature, you will be more relaxed, have perspective on life’s little problems, and gain an appreciation of the natural world.

Writing your introduction Present your thesis Here is Kara’s thesis statement: If you want a well-behaved dog, you have to commit to giving your pet regular exercise, clear rules, and loads of affection.

interesting quotation Every pet owner wants a well-behaved animal. According to Lynn Johnston, a local professional dog trainer, it is not necessary to have lots of money in order to have a well-behaved dog. “Expensive food and fancy toys won’t make your dog happy.” If you want a well-behaved dog, you have to commit to giving your pet regular exercise, clear rules, and loads of affection. Writing your introduction Note that Kara’s tone, attention-getting technique, and thesis work together to make an effective introduction. informal tone thesis statement

Writing your conclusion The conclusion of a piece of writing is just as important as the introduction. Your conclusion is your last chance to influence and make an impression on your readers. Your conclusion should tie your ideas together make a strong impression give your reader a sense of completion

Writing your conclusion One way to tie all of your ideas together is to restate your thesis and summarize your main points. Don’t repeat the same words and sentences; find new ways to express your ideas. The benefits of even a short nature walk are long lasting. They include a sense of calm, a positive attitude, and a fresh perspective on the world around you.

Writing your conclusion Answer the question “So what?” To make an impression on your readers, show them that the topic is important by relating it to their lives. Why should you bother to seek out nature? Because nature does not care if you are rich or poor, young or old. Nature does not judge you. Instead, if you let it, nature rewards you.

Writing your conclusion End with a final thought. Give your readers a thoughtful comment, a personal reaction, or an insight that ties your ideas both to the readers’ experience and to the world in general. The grandeur of the Sierra Nevada is indescribable. Whether you visit Yosemite for a day or spend a week hiking on remote trails, you will leave with a sense of serenity and gratitude.

restatement of thesis final thought If you make the effort to give your dog the exercise, discipline, and love it needs, you will be rewarded for your efforts. A happy, secure, and well-behaved dog can be a loyal and affectionate companion for many years. Kara has written a strong conclusion to her essay on dog training. What strategy did she use? Writing your conclusion

Test Tip: Writing conclusions When planning your response on an essay test, allow yourself time to write a conclusion. If you are pressed for time, remember that a one- or two-sentence conclusion is better than none at all. An effective way to conclude a test response is to restate your thesis in different words from those in the introduction, briefly summarize your essay’s main points. Then, if time allows, leave readers with some way to connect with the ideas in your essay.

Write two short introductions to a composition about your school’s lunchroom. In each, use a different attention-getting technique from the list below. Be sure to set an appropriate tone and introduce your thesis. Your Turn 1: Write introductions address the reader directly tell an anecdote ask an intriguing question give a quotation that relates to your topic define a key word that is important to understanding your thesis

Your Turn 1: Possible responses Address the reader directly Is your school like mine? My school had the problem of too much garbage going into the trash cans when lunch was over. We wanted to make a difference for the environment, so we developed rules based on the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Tell an anecdote When my cousin saw all of the garbage in her lunchroom she formed a group of students interested in making a difference. They created a program based on the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Your Turn 1: Possible responses Ask an intriguing question Can one high school lunchroom can have a positive impact on the environment? At our school we think so. We started a program in our lunchroom based on the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Give a quotation that relates to your topic Robert Redford once said, “What we are living with is the result of human choices and it can be changed by making better, wiser choices.” At our school we wanted to change the amount of garbage going to our local landfill, so we started using the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Your Turn 1: Possible responses Define a key word Dictionary.com defines the word difference as “a significant change in or effect on a situation...” At our school we wanted to make a difference, so we started a litter-fighting program based on the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Write a conclusion to a composition about your school’s lunch room. Use at least one of the strategies below. Your Turn 2: Write a conclusion Restate the thesis and summarize the main points. Answer the question “So what?” Leave readers with a final thought.

There are small steps everyone can take to reduce, reuse, and recycle in the lunchroom. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours. Every action, no matter how small, can lead to a cleaner environment. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Your Turn 2: Possible response

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