This document provides tips for writing introductions and conclusions for literacy narratives. For introductions, it suggests explaining why the topic is important, providing background information, telling an interesting story that relates to the thesis, and finding common ground with the reader. For conclusions, it advises mirroring the introduction, explaining the consequences of ignoring the thesis, suggesting a course of action, asking a question to prompt the reader to think differently, and looking to the future about how the insights will be applied. Examples are given for each tip tailored specifically for literacy narratives.

1. Intros & Conclusions
Workshop
Literacy Narrative

2. Key:
• General tips for introductions and conclusions are on slides with
white backgrounds.
• Tips specific for introductions and conclusions in literacy narratives
are on slides with textured backgrounds.

3. Our introductions and
conclusions should
NOT be
this formulaic.
However, it is useful to
think of them as being
mirror
Images of one
another. It is also
useful to remember
that our main point
(not necessarily a
“thesis” statement,
which can feel
unnatural) should be
present in each.

4. Again, our
introductions and
conclusions should
NOT be
this formulaic.
However, it is also
useful to recognize
that there must be
some kind of
transition (a “bridge”)
between anything
used to capture the
reader’s imagination
and the main point
and purpose of your
writing.

7. 1. Explain why the topic is important.
Literacy narrative example:
Like everyone else, I am an individual with a unique and varied literacy
background. Understanding my personal literacy history has helped
me to become aware of my reading and writing tendencies today, and
it has helped to me to take more control over where my literacy
development is headed in the future.
Note: This intro was written with myself as the primary audience. How
would you re-write it for YOUR particular audience?

10. 2. Provide Background Information.
Literacy narrative example:
The experiences we have lived through as young children and
adolescents shape who we are today. This is just as true for our
literacy development; the reading, writing, and communication
experiences we have gone through have left their marks on us,
influencing our conceptions of reading and writing and who we are as
readers and writers today. In my reading and writing past …
Note: This intro was written with myself as the primary audience. How
would you rewrite it for YOUR specific audience?

13. 3. Tell a story, an interesting example that relates to your thesis.
When I was a little girl, my dad used to read to me every night. He
would do all of the voices for the different characters, making the
story come alive. When I was really lucky, he would just make up a
story right there, usually with me as the main character. It was
enthralling. As I look back now, I see that these experiences …
Note: Do NOT finish your story here; otherwise it will be difficult to tell
where your actual narrative begins. Just give a little taste in the intro
and come back to it with full detail after you have explained your main
ideas for your narrative.

18. 5. Find common ground with your reader.
Literacy narrative example:
Some of us consider ourselves to be great writers. Others feel like they
can’t write at all, while others know they can write but don’t see a
good reason why they should. Regardless of how we feel about
ourselves as writers, we all have one thing in common: The events of
our childhood and adolescence are what have brought us to our
current understandings of who we are as writers. For myself, this
meant …
Note: How would you write this for YOUR particular audience?

21. But before you get to your conclusion, make sure that your
literacy narrative is full of analysis of how these experiences
affected your reading and writing at that moment as well as
how they are affecting who you are today as a reader, writer,
and communicator. You can do this two ways:
1. Include the analysis along with every event you are
describing.
2. Include 1-2 analysis paragraphs toward the end of the
narrative that go into detail about the literacy
consequences of the events you have described.
Tips for Conclusions

24. 2. Explain the consequences of ignoring your thesis.
Literacy narrative: If you are writing to a particular audience that you
feel should be changing something about the way they are teaching,
going to school, parenting, etc., this may be a possibility.
Remember that tone is important, though. No one will want to change
anything if they feel judged or blamed.

26. Suggest a course of action.
Literacy narrative:
This could go hand-in-hand with the previous slide. You could
(gently?) suggest a general course of action for your audience.
You should also be considering this for yourself: What is your course
of action now that you know these things about yourself?

28. Ask a question: What do you want your reader to think/do differently
after reading your narrative?
Literacy narrative: This may be a gentler way to suggest what they
ought to do next.

30. Look to the future.
You are required to do this for your literacy narrative.
Where are you going to go from here? How are you going to take what
you have learned and apply it to your future reading, writing, and
communication? (Otherwise, what is the point of doing this literacy
narrative?)