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Writing Successful Intros and Conclusions. The first/last things that your readers see!!!. We Know That. The introduction of an essay is very important, as it contains the most significant sentence, the THESIS STATEMENT
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Writing Successful Intros and Conclusions The first/last things that your readers see!!!
We Know That. . . • The introduction of an essay is very important, as it contains the most significant sentence, the THESIS STATEMENT • The thesis statement is a sentence that tells the reader what the rest of the paper will focus on • The conclusion is meant to wrap up the paper and restate the thesis
A Good Intro. . . • Captures the interest of readers • Makes them want to read on! • Ways to do this: • A question • A quote • A definition • An anecdote (short story) • A hypothetical situation
Examples: An Essay About Dogs • A question: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live life through the eyes of your K9 companion? • A quote: Famous actress Marilyn Monroe once said, “Dogs never bite me. Just humans.” • A definition: In the dictionary, a dog is merely defined as, “a domesticated carnivorous mammal.” However, they mean a lot more to that to the average human being. • An anecdote: After having what I still regard as the worst day of my life, I came home and immediately buried my head in my hands and started crying. When I looked up, my dog was sitting right beside me, her head in my lap. Now, that’s a true friend. • Hypothetical Situation: Imagine that. . . .
A Good Thesis Statement. . . • Is relatively short and to the point • Is a statement, NOT a question • Identifies the subject of the paper • Takes a stand rather than announcing a subject • Allows the reader to anticipate the organization of your argument
Examples • Example One: Therefore, Shakespeare uses the dynamics of friendship as a tool to reveal more about his main players and illustrate that in a Shakespearean world, the closer the relationship, the more trouble it will cause, as is demonstrated by Romeo and Juliet as well as The Merchant of Venice. • Example Two: Therefore, Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility and the narrator of “Nutting” are connected due to their unmitigated respect for nature as well as their use of nature as a medium for meditation.
A Good Conclusion. . . • Should answer the question “so what?”: telling readers why this paper was important • Tie everything together, or point out why all the things mentioned in your essay related to your argument • Redirect your readers: Give your reader something to think about, perhaps a way to use your paper in the "real" world. • Create a new meaning: You don't have to give new information to create a new meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas work together, you can create a new picture.
Recap • Introduction: It’s all about engaging readers!!! • Thesis Statement: Make a definite stance and give the reader an idea as to what you will be talking about. • Conclusion: Although you should recap what your paper talks about, make it interesting!