1. Openings, Transitions, and Closings
Beyond Five Paragraphs: Advanced Essay Writing Skills

2. Writing Effective openings (introductory paragraph)
Engage the reader
Present your thesis
Present your roadmap (optional)
Goals to Consider
Establish the “so-what”
Set up the context

3. Engage the reader Ways to hook a reader: Use a quotation
Ask a question or questions
Provide an anecdote
Define an important concept that will be explored
Provide a surprising fact or statistic
Start with a provocative claim
Make an analogy

4. Present your thesis A thesis should appear in your opening
Recall the characteristics of strong and effective thesis statements
A thesis should appear in your opening
The most logical place is the last sentence of your opening (introductory paragraph)

5. Set up the context What specifically is your essay about?
Through what lens will you explore the topic? Individual? Societal?
What essential background information is needed to explain the topic?
Consider whether you have answered these questions in your opening (introductory paragraph).

6. Establish the “so-what”
Why does my topic and what I have to say about it matter?
How do my ideas link to relevant theme(s) in life?
What does my topic reveal about human nature?
What does the reader learn?
Consider whether you have answered these questions in your opening (introductory paragraph).

7. Present your roadmap (optional)
a roadmap tells the reader exactly how the essay will unfold
It can be integrated into the thesis
Or presented after the thesis to provide additional information
In many cases, a roadmap is not necessary in shorter essays as the context alone will develop a clear idea of what the essay will cover
In longer essays, a roadmap may be required to allow the reader to clearly see the order of specific information

8. Transitions For smooth movement from one idea to another.
E.g. Politics may not be an interest for many in society. However, come election time, more people tend to develop an interest.
Can be used to transition between sentences or between paragraphs.
Use at the beginning, middle, or end of a paragraph.

9. Transitional words and Phrases
Function or type of transition
Sample transitional words and phrases
To add
moreover, in addition to, furthermore, besides, what’s more
To clarify
to be clear, another way to, that is (to say), so
To concede
at any rate, still, granted that, while it may be true
To compare
similarly, compared to, in comparison, likewise
To contrast
but, however, on the contrary, nevertheless, in spite of
To show a consequence or result
therefore, consequently, accordingly, so, as a result
To provide details
namely, especially, in particular, including
To emphasize
surely, above all, certainly, in fact
To provide examples
For instance, to illustrate, as an example
To point to a person, object, or group
this, that, these, it, their, they
To qualify
perhaps, maybe, nearly
To indicate spatial relationship
at the left, at the right, behind, opposite to
To summarize or conclude
accordingly, in brief, in conclusion, consequently
To signal time
afterward, then, next, at the same time, eventually

10. Writing effective closings (concluding paragraph)
The purpose of a closing:
an opportunity to provide your final insights
a place to restate and confirm your message
a chance to remind readers what they have learned
an opportunity to plant into your readers’ mind the idea you want them to take from your paper
a place to solidify why your message is important

11. Strategies for writing effective closings
Conclude with a memorable statement or question (could be rhetorical)
Bring the essay full circle (include memorable phrasing from your introduction to prove/ indicate how you’ve proven that initial idea)
Finish with a personal thought (an anecdote or memory– creates a sense of imagery)

12. What to avoid in a closing
A closing is NOT:
a repetition of your thesis and roadmap points
a recounting of all the points you made
a place to apologize
a place to acknowledge the validity of opposing views
An opportunity to introduce new ideas or material