Introducing and Concluding an Essay
I. Introductions
Some Suggestions for Writing Paragraphs that Introduce an Essay
Strategies for opening paragraphs:
*Ask a question.
*Relate an incident.
*Use a vivid quotation.
*Offering a surprising statistic or other fact.
*State an opinion related to your thesis.
*Outline an argument your thesis disputes.
*Provide background.
*Create a visual image that represents your subject.
*Make a historical comparison or contrast.
*Outline a problem or dilemma.
*Define a word central to your subject.
*In some businessor technical writing, summarize your paper.
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.
SAMPLE INTRODUCTIONS
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. (Introduction)
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. 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.”
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. (Introduction)
Note: The following 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. 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.”
II.Conclusions
Some Suggestions for Writing Conclusions
Most of us are familiar with reaching the point of conclusion in an essay and thinking, “What should I say now?” At times, an effective conclusion can be the most challenging element of composing an essay. However, the writer owes the reader an ending that does more than merely stop. Below are some suggestions that may help you in mastering the technique of conclusions.
*End with a Quotation.
An apt quotation can neatly round out an essay.
*State or Restate Your Thesis.
Resound the purpose of the paper, leaving it fresh in the minds of the readers.
*End with a Brief, Emphatic Sentence.
For an essay that traces cause or effects, analyzes, evaluates, or argues, a deft concluding thought can reinforce your main idea.
*Introduce Some Ideas Implied by Your Essay.
Be careful not to introduce new ideas; however, introducing implications of the ideas already present is effective. Try to give some examples of why what you have said is important.
*Stop When the Story Is Over.
Sometimes the most effective ending is a quiet one, as long as it clearly signals the end of the essay.
*Remember to Tie Your Conclusion into Your Introduction.
This helps unify the paper and also prevents the writer from introducing new material at the end of an essay.
(The above suggestions for conclusions can be found in The Bedford Guide for College Writers by X.J. Kennedy, Dorothy Kennedy, and Sylvia Holladay.)
Remember:
The introduction begins the essay and prepares the reader for what will follow;
the conclusion signals the end of the essay and leaves the reader with a final thought.
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