The document provides examples of effective introductions and conclusions for essays. It discusses different techniques for grabbing the reader's attention in the introduction, such as asking a question or using a vivid quote. It emphasizes including a clear thesis statement in the introduction. For conclusions, it recommends restating the thesis, wrapping up ideas without repetition, and leaving the reader with a final thought. It then provides two sample essay introductions and conclusions as examples.

1. Writing Introductions and Conclusions Write them last! The Dragon

2. Introductions and Conclusions To essays

3. Introductions Grab your reader State your topics in a three-point thesis statement

4. Intro: Grab the Reader Ask a question. Relate a startling incident. Relate an anecdote. Use a vivid quotation. Offering a surprising statistic or other fact. Provide background. Create a visual image that represents your subject.

5. Intro: Inform the Reader What is your topic? What are the three (at least) ideas you want to explain or persuade? Write those three ideas using a strong verb in your thesis statement. Explain favorite music--country beat chorus story My favorite music, country music, frees my mind with its strong beat, easy chorus, and great stories.

6. Sample Prompt Explain who you would nominate for a “Best Teacher” award.

7. Grab the Reader Ask a question. Relate a startling incident. Relate an anecdote. Use a vivid quotation. Offering a surprising statistic or other fact. Provide background. Create a visual image that represents your subject. “ Who’ll be skunked?” asks Miss White before we start our assignment. “ No one!” we cheer in response. Relate an anecdote.

8. Background Information Provide the reader with background they don’t know Miss White has a fun atmosphere. Kids do their best. Awards are for people who do their best.

9. Inform: Thesis Statement Three reasons why Miss White is the best teacher Write those three ideas using a strong verb in your thesis statement. Funny knows kids knows subjects Miss White deserves the “Best Teacher Award” because she uses humor, understands kids, and knows her subject information.

10. Sample Basic Introduction “ Who’ll be skunked?” asks Miss White before we start our assignment. “No one!” we cheer in response. Miss White always creates an atmosphere for her students or players to do their best. An award recognizes the best person for the job, and so Miss White is the best person for this award. Miss White deserves the “Best Teacher Award” because she uses humor, understands kids, and knows her subject information. Grabber Anecdote Background info Thesis of three ideas with strong verbs

11. Introductions Grab your reader Provide background information Thesis statement (strong verbs)

12. Conclusions Emphasize the most important points--restate thesis Wrap up your ideas without repetition-- Tie to introduction Leave your reader with a thought

13. Conclude: It’s a good dragon State a Quotation . End with a Brief, Emphatic Sentence. A concluding thought that your main idea would create. (What effect would your thesis have?) Ask a question . Leave your reader with a thought:

14. Conclude: It’s a good dragon Leave your reader with a thought: State a Quotation . End with a Brief, Emphatic Sentence. A concluding thought that your main idea would create. (What effect would your thesis have?) Ask a question . Emphasize the most important points --restate thesis (and what effect it has) Wrap up your ideas without repetition-- tie to introduction Leave your reader with a thought

15. Sample Conclusion Transition Thesis Quote Effect Tie to Intro Leave with thought

16. Introductions/Conclusions In conclusion, the “Best Teacher Award” should be awarded to Miss White for her use of humor, her understanding of kids, and her knowledge of all subjects. “Do your best,” she encourages her students, and she does her best. All students try under her direction, and this award shows other to follow her model. So don’t be “skunked;” award Miss White as “Best Teacher.” Think about it; which trait do you think is her best? “ Who’ll be skunked?” asks Miss White before we start our assignment. “No one!” we cheer in response. Miss White always creates an atmosphere for her students or players to do their best. An award recognizes the best person for the job, and so Miss White is the best person for this award. Miss White deserves the “Best Teacher Award” because she uses humor, understands kids, and knows her subject information. In the middle are three paragraphs: 1--humor 2--understands kids 3--knows subject

17. Introduce and Conclude Grab your reader with one of the techniques State your thesis statement. Write the body. State your most important idea Connect to the intro Leave your reader with a thought or question

18. Slay the dragon: You can do it ! Charge into writing using these techniques as your sword!

19. Sample Basic Introduction “ Who’ll be skunked?” asks Miss White before we start our assignment. “No one!” we cheer in response. Miss White always creates an atmosphere for her students or players to do their best. An award recognizes the best person for the job, and so Miss White is the best person for this award. Miss White deserves the “Best Teacher Award” because she uses humor, understands kids, and knows her subject information. Grabber Anecdote Background info Thesis of three ideas with strong verbs

20. Introduction---Conclusion Grabber Anecdote Background info Thesis of three ideas with strong verbs Transition Thesis Quote Effect Tie to Intro Leave with thought

21. Introduction---Conclusion Conclusion Strategies: Transition Thesis Quote Effect Tie to Intro Leave with thought State a Quotation . End with a Brief, Emphatic Sentence. A concluding thought that your main idea would create. (What effect would your thesis have?) Ask a question Introductory Strategies: Ask a question. Relate a startling incident. Relate an anecdote. Use a vivid quotation. Offering a surprising statistic or other fact. Provide background. Create a visual image that represents your subject. Write your essay: Grab your reader with one of the techniques State your thesis statement. Write the body. State your most important idea Connect to the intro Leave your reader with a thought or question

22. Sample Conclusion Transition Thesis Quote Effect Tie to Intro Leave with thought

23. Intro Examples Here are two examples of good opening paragraphs. The first paragraph is from an illustration essay entitled “Acting to Save Mother Earth,” and the second is from a narrative essay entitled “Maya Lin’s Vietnam War Memorial.” Both essays appear in Susan Fawcett’s and Alvin Sandberg’s Evergreen with Readings: A Guide to Writing.

24. Sample Introduction Acting to Save Mother Earth Every day we hear more bad news about our planet. Reports tell us that wildlife and forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Newscasts give the latest word on how quickly Earth is losing its protective shield and warming up. Newspapers lament the pollution of our air, water, and soil. What can we do in the face of such widespread gloom? In fact, we do not have to feel helpless. We can each learn practical ways to better our environment. To save mother earth, we can recycle purchases, precycle natural products, and manage hazardous household wastes. Note: italic sentence added.

25. Sample Conclusion Acting to Save Mother Earth There is a good conclusion which ends with this sentence: “ If these personal actions are carried out on a larger scale by millions of individuals, our environment and lives could be greatly improved.” Note: Other paragraphs of the essay deal with recycling, “precycling” (buying and using goods packaged only in materials that will decay naturally), and following wise management of hazardous household wastes.

26. Sample Introduction Maya Lin’s Vietnam War Memorial The Vietnam War, which lasted from 1965 until 1975, was the longest war in United States history. It was also the most controversial, leaving a deep wound in the nation’s conscience. The creation of the Vietnam War Memorial—despite disagreements about its design—helped this wound to heal. The memorial’s healing progressed from a vision by the artist, from the controversy of the design, and from the ongoing popularity of this stunning memorial. Note: italic sentence added.

27. Sample Conclusion The essay ends with the following sentence: “ A place of national mourning and of love, Maya Lin’s monument has helped to heal the wounds of the Vietnam War.” Note: The paragraphs of the essay deal with the call for a design, Lin’s vision of a memorial, the controversy, and then the ongoing popularity of this stunning memorial.

28. Sources The Bedford Guide for College Writers by X.J. Kennedy, Dorothy Kennedy, and Sylvia Holladay University of Tennessee at Martin Hortense Parrish Writing Center