1. Introductions & Conclusions Fun for the whole family!

2. INTRODUCTIONS

3. Purpose of an Introduction Capture attention Capture attention Provide necessary background information Provide necessary background information Introduce your topic Introduce your topic Set up your thesis Set up your thesis

4. A Traditional Introduction Attention Getter/ Interesting Opening Attention Getter/ Interesting Opening Link= Transition between attention grabber and thesis statement. Usually provides background information. Link= Transition between attention grabber and thesis statement. Usually provides background information. Thesis Statement= One sentence summary of your main idea Thesis Statement= One sentence summary of your main idea

5. Typical Attention Getters Big Picture Big Picture Story/Narrative Story/Narrative Historical Context Historical Context Quotation Quotation Definition Definition Literary Device (imagery, simile, personification, etc.) Literary Device (imagery, simile, personification, etc.) Startling fact/ statistic Startling fact/ statistic No Questions, please! No Questions, please!

6. Sample Introduction 1 – The Odyssey Heroes are society’s role models, men and women who set the standard high for what life could be like and what people could achieve. Heroes show what is important to a society, betraying the characteristics that a culture values above all others. In the ancient Greek culture, Odysseus was a hero, a man whose legacy transcended generations. By studying the story of Odysseus through Homer’s famous epic poem The Odyssey, the values of the Greek society emerge: courage, power, and determination. However, the values of today’s culture have changed since Greek times. Although Odysseus would have been considered to be a hero in Greek times, he does not deserve the status of a hero today. Heroes are society’s role models, men and women who set the standard high for what life could be like and what people could achieve. Heroes show what is important to a society, betraying the characteristics that a culture values above all others. In the ancient Greek culture, Odysseus was a hero, a man whose legacy transcended generations. By studying the story of Odysseus through Homer’s famous epic poem The Odyssey, the values of the Greek society emerge: courage, power, and determination. However, the values of today’s culture have changed since Greek times. Although Odysseus would have been considered to be a hero in Greek times, he does not deserve the status of a hero today.

7. Sample Introduction 2 – Romeo & Juliet The scene is a dark, damp, dreary tomb. Decaying bodies fill the air with an overwhelming stench. It’s here that Romeo comes, desperate to see his wife one more time and join her in death. It’s here that Juliet awakes, only to find her husband dead by her side. It’s here that Juliet hears a noise and quickly ends her own life with a dagger. The two suicides of Romeo and Juliet are expected. The reader has known that they would commit suicide since the prologue of the play. The question is if Shakespeare himself thinks that these two lovers made the right decision. Does he view their suicide as the best ending to their star-crossed love, or does he show the reader how terrible a self-inflicted death can be? Throughout the whole play, Shakespeare shows us that he does not approve of suicide. Instead, the story of Romeo and Juliet condemns suicide as an immature, selfish action with disastrous results. The scene is a dark, damp, dreary tomb. Decaying bodies fill the air with an overwhelming stench. It’s here that Romeo comes, desperate to see his wife one more time and join her in death. It’s here that Juliet awakes, only to find her husband dead by her side. It’s here that Juliet hears a noise and quickly ends her own life with a dagger. The two suicides of Romeo and Juliet are expected. The reader has known that they would commit suicide since the prologue of the play. The question is if Shakespeare himself thinks that these two lovers made the right decision. Does he view their suicide as the best ending to their star-crossed love, or does he show the reader how terrible a self-inflicted death can be? Throughout the whole play, Shakespeare shows us that he does not approve of suicide. Instead, the story of Romeo and Juliet condemns suicide as an immature, selfish action with disastrous results.

8. Sample Introduction 3 – The Scarlet Letter A young woman cloaked in scandal. A shriveling minister plagued by guilt. An illegitimate, yet wondrous child. All of these characters make their debut in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s epic tale of passion, shame, and independence. He crafts a masterpiece rich with symbolism, imagery, and words to live by still valuable in today’s society. The messages he shares continue to touch the lives of people everywhere through his outstanding use of literary elements and devices. By using symbolism and contrasting imagery, Nathaniel Hawthorne, in his classic novel The Scarlet Letter, portrays that people should come to terms with their mistakes and learn from them. A young woman cloaked in scandal. A shriveling minister plagued by guilt. An illegitimate, yet wondrous child. All of these characters make their debut in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s epic tale of passion, shame, and independence. He crafts a masterpiece rich with symbolism, imagery, and words to live by still valuable in today’s society. The messages he shares continue to touch the lives of people everywhere through his outstanding use of literary elements and devices. By using symbolism and contrasting imagery, Nathaniel Hawthorne, in his classic novel The Scarlet Letter, portrays that people should come to terms with their mistakes and learn from them.

9. CONCLUSIONS

10. Purpose of a Conclusion To synthesize your ideas To synthesize your ideas To emphasize the significance of your topic To emphasize the significance of your topic To wrap up loose ends To wrap up loose ends To create a sense of closure To create a sense of closure To impress your reader one last time To impress your reader one last time Two parts: “So what” and Tiramisu Two parts: “So what” and Tiramisu

11. So What? A good conclusion synthesizes by answering the question, “so what?” A good conclusion synthesizes by answering the question, “so what?” Why should I care? Why should I care? What’s the big picture? What’s the big picture?

12. Tiramisu Leave them with a lasting impression Leave them with a lasting impression It should feel satisfying… It should feel satisfying…

13. Conclusion Techniques Framing- Relate your conclusion back to your introduction. Framing- Relate your conclusion back to your introduction. Using an opening device (like a story or literary device) as a closing device. Using an opening device (like a story or literary device) as a closing device. DO NOT cut and paste your thesis – you may, however, rephrase it at the beginning or end of your conclusion. DO NOT cut and paste your thesis – you may, however, rephrase it at the beginning or end of your conclusion.

14. A Sample Conclusion Over the course of the novel, the main characters are faced with choices and conflicts that often stem from their own choices. Despite the obstacles they face and the judgments that befall them, they must press on in order to get through life. Hawthorne sets out to create a world of tragedy and beauty in the form of Hester, a good woman who makes a bad choice. By using an array of literary elements, he crafts a story packed with perpetual life lessons and themes for readers to enjoy. Through his ingenious use of symbolism and contrast, Nathaniel Hawthorne proves in his famous tale, The Scarlet Letter, that people should always come to terms with and learn from their mistakes. Over the course of the novel, the main characters are faced with choices and conflicts that often stem from their own choices. Despite the obstacles they face and the judgments that befall them, they must press on in order to get through life. Hawthorne sets out to create a world of tragedy and beauty in the form of Hester, a good woman who makes a bad choice. By using an array of literary elements, he crafts a story packed with perpetual life lessons and themes for readers to enjoy. Through his ingenious use of symbolism and contrast, Nathaniel Hawthorne proves in his famous tale, The Scarlet Letter, that people should always come to terms with and learn from their mistakes.

15. The End…