1. Example Intros/Conclusions
Fahrenheit 451

2. Introductions In general, an introduction needs to do three things:
to spark the interest of readers,
to move readers gracefully toward the thesis statement, and
to present the thesis statement of the essay.

3. Intro Approach #1 Begin with Background or Historical Information
Some topics are better understood by including background or historical information that connects with the topic
Background info lead into a discussion of the moment
A historical/background start should be brief so that it does not take over the paper or mislead the reader

4. Intro Approach #2 Begin with a Quotation
Can help establish credibility and the value of the information in your paper.
Also gives the reader information about the topic and establish your viewpoint on the topic
Be sure to lead into the quote, rather than simply starting with it- CONTEXT IS KEY

5. Intro Approach #3 Begin with an Interesting or Surprising Fact
There are many ways a statement can surprise a reader:
Could be surprising because it is disgusting
It could be joyful or shocking
Sometimes it is surprising because of who said it

6. Intro Approach #4 Begin with a Definition of an Important Term
The writer starts by defining a term or phrase that is important to the topic
Needs to be interesting and thought provoking to the reader
BEWARE:
If hook starts with a boring definition, you lose your reader before you even get started
Definition starts are often overdone

7. Intro Approach #5 Begin with a Short Narrative
An short narrative, or anecdote, is a little story that connects to the topic of the paper
Your story should be a small episode, not a full blown story
Your story should capture the reader's interest so that he or she will continue to read your paper
BEWARE: The story shouldn’t take over the paper- remember, it’s an introduction, not the whole paper

8. Example: Background
Having speech or ideas restrained has been a societal practice for some time. Whether it was with the hearings of the House Committee on Un-American Activities or suits against the Westboro Baptist Church, censorship has been an element of our society that has helped impact society through control of information or ideas. In our current society, this has led to laws that uphold freedom of speech and protect the masses, like not being able to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theatre. While some feel that these laws limit and restrain the individual, it is undeniable that censorship has changed the way our society works. The same is true for Montag’s world. The obsession with censorship in Fahrenheit 451 has long-term affects on Montag’s society throughout the novel.

9. Example: Narrative
An author looks with satisfaction at the computer screen after pressing the save button confidently. It was finally done- her article was complete after months of research, drafting, and rewriting. Attaching to an to the editor of the scholarly journal she was submitting to, she knew that her work was ground-breaking and would cause others to rethink how they approached work in her field. It didn’t take long to hear back from the editor; to her initial delight, he said that with “slight” changes, the journal would be happy to print her piece. But upon further investigation of the changes they desired, she found that the editor wanted to remove most of ground-breaking science because it was “inflammatory” and would “disrupt the field.” She was disgusted with this type of censorship and lamented how it would impact the field. In Montag’s world, censorship takes a different form, but is still a prevalent problem. The obsession with censorship in Fahrenheit 451 has long-term affects on Montag’s society throughout the novel.

10. Conclusions An essay conclusion accomplishes three essential purposes:
To provide the reader with a sense of completeness or finality
To emphasize key material
To direct the reader’s attention to future action or study.

11. Conclusion Approach #1 End with a Summary
Conclude an essay by restating the thesis and summarizing its main support points
Summarize the thesis statement in the introduction and the key points in all the main body paragraphs differently
Avoid the trap of repeating the thesis and main ideas word for word

12. Conclusion Approach #2 End with further comments from the writer.
Should be natural and logical extensions of information in the body of your essay
They should not consist of unsubstantiated new claims

13. Conclusion Approach #3 End with a call to action for the reader.
Consider what recommendations you can make to effect possible changes or improve the situation you have described
What actions can you propose your readers to take?
Try not to preach or threaten- the reader would more readily respond to your suggestions than to your commands

14. Conclusion Approach #4 End with Fervor
Strategies for getting the reader’s attention in introductions can also be used to end your essay uniquely and memorably
Consider how things you are passionate about could connect to the paper topic

15. Conclusion Approach #5 End where you began
Sometimes called ‘echoing,’ ‘framing’, or ‘full circle ending’
This type of ending picks up an idea/image suggested in the introduction and echoes it in the conclusion.
This form of conclusion gives the essay symmetry and provides the reader with a sense of closure.
You can also provide a solution to the problem you have raised or give your own answer to a question you have asked