Creating Effective Introductions and Conclusions Quick Ideas Introductions

Creating Effective Introductions and Conclusions Quick Ideas

Introductions From Harbrace College Handbook, 12 th ed. pp. 372 -75

Effective Introductions • Arouse the reader’s interest • Indicate the subject and tone of the composition • Usually contain a thesis sentence • Have no set length (can be as brief as a couple of sentences or as long as a couple of paragraphs determined by the size of the entire essay) • Appear first in the essay • Can be written anytime during the writing process

How to Arouse the Reader’s Interest • Start with an interesting fact or unusual detail or • Use an arresting statement or • Use an anecdote or • Use a question or • Start with a quotation or • Open with an illustration or • Give general information as background or • Simply state your thesis

What to Avoid with Introductions • No dictonary definitions • No “Webster’s defines blank as …. ” kind of introductions

Special Tips for You as Writer • Present yourself positively by explaining your experience • Establish your credibility • Establish your good will

Conclusions From Harbrace College Handbook, 12 ed. Pp. 376 -77

Effective Conclusions • Often summarize the main points • May encourage the reader to take action • May encourage the reader to further though on the subject

How to Handle Conclusions • Conclude with a rephrasing of thesis or • Direct the reader’s interest to larger issues or • Encourage readers to change their attitudes or • Encourage readers to alter their actions or • Conclude with a summary of the main points covered or • Refer in some way to the introduction

The Final Word on Conclusions • Whatever strategy you choose, bear in mind that readers may be wondering, “So what? ” Your conclusion should respond to that concern, even if only in a sentence or two.