chapter 8, essay essentials

Copyright © 2015 by Nelson Education Ltd.

NETA PowerPoint® Slides to accompany

prepared by

Rhonda DynesMohawk College

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Writing Introductions andConclusions

Chapter 8

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Introductions and Conclusions

Two paragraphs of your paper—the first and the last—serve special functions and deserve special care. Many writers wait until after they have worked through a draft or two of the body of an essay before tackling these two critical paragraphs.

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Introductions and Conclusions cont’d

To introduce and conclude your subject effectively, you need to know what main ideas your paper explores and how these ideas are arranged and developed. Only then can you integrate the beginning and the ending of your essay into the whole.

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The Introductory Paragraph

The introduction is worth special attention because that’s where your readers either sit up and take notice of your paper or sigh and move on to something else.

There are two parts to an introductory paragraph:1. an attention-getter2. a thesis statement

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Getting and Holding Your Readers’ Attention

An attention-getter, which is designed to get your reader interested in what you have to say, starts the communication off right, but it must be appropriate and cater to your intended readers. Make your opening sentences clear, interesting, and creative.

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Eight Kinds of Essay Openings

1. Spell Out the Significance of Your Subject

If your subject’s significance can spark your readers’ interest, they will want to know more about it, especially if it is a subject that affects them directly.

2. Begin with a Well-Phrased Quotation

You might choose a famous statement, a popular slogan, or a common saying.

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Eight Kinds of Essay Openings cont’d

3. Use a Startling StatementSometimes a surprising remark (not an insult or a false exaggeration) is effective in getting readers’ attention.

4. Ask a Question or TwoQuestions are often an effective way to encourage interest because your readers will find themselves thinking of answers. Some questions are rhetorical; they will not have specific answers. Others might be answered in your essay.

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5. Begin with a Generalization Related to Your Subject

Generalizations can be useful for suggesting the context and scope of your subject. They must, however, be narrowed down carefully to a focused thesis statement.

6. Challenge a Common OpinionPerhaps your readers have also doubted

a popular belief. You can assert that an opinion is false, and the body of your paper can contain evidence to support your view.

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7. Begin with a DefinitionA definition is a good way to begin if you are introducing a key term that you suspect may be unfamiliar to your readers.

8. Describe an Interesting Incident or Tell an Anecdote Related to Your SubjectReaders like stories. The incident or anecdote you select might be a story from the media, an event involving family or friends, or a personal experience.

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The Concluding Paragraph

The conclusion of your paper has a special form. Think of your favourite television sitcom. The last section of the show wraps up the plot, explains any details that might be unresolved, and leaves you with a satisfying sense that all is well.

The last paragraph of your paper has two functions:1. It summarizes or reinforces the main points of your paper.2. It ends with an appropriate statement, question, or request for action.

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Summary Statements

Your summary statement should be as concise as you can make it and must be phrased in such a way that it does not repeat word for word the portion of your thesis statement that identifies the main points. It is meant to leave a sense of what the reader has just digested in an easy-to-remember form.

Never end without a “clincher.”

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How Do You End a Paragraph?

A good paragraph doesn’t just end; like a door, it should close firmly, with a “click.”

Finish your paragraph with a statement that serves either as a clincher—an unmistakable and appropriate conclusion—or a transition to the new idea that will be developed in the next paragraph.

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Six Ways to End Your Paper

1. End with a Relevant or Thought-Provoking Quotation.

You can use this type of ending in two ways:

1. to repeat an earlier quotation but give it a new meaning

2. to place your subject in a larger context by supplying a new quotation from a recognized authority in the field

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Six Ways to End Your Paper cont’d

2. Offer a Solution to a Problem Discussed in Your Paper

You can plan an organization for your paper that will allow you to resolve a problem or neutralize negative consequences in your conclusion. This allows you to be persuasive or to make a point that you believe is valid.

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3. End with One or More Relevant or Thought-Provoking Questions

The advantage of clinching your paper with a question is that readers automatically tend to pause and consider it: questions stimulate thought. Be sure, though, that your question relates directly to your subject.

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4. Point Out the Value or Significance of Your Subject to Your Readers

If you emphasize your subject matter at the end of your paper, you can stamp its importance on your readers’ memory.

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5. Make a Connection to a Statement Made in Your Introduction

This strategy provides your readers with a sense of closure. They will recall your earlier statement and feel satisfied that the loose ends have been tied up.

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6. End with a Suggestion for Changeor a Prediction about the Future

Your suggestion for change will influence your readers if they have been persuaded by your arguments. Your predictions of events that might occur should not be misleading or exaggerated, or your readers will be skeptical.

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Summary

In this chapter, you’ve learned •what an introduction looks like•what an attention-getter is•eight ways to open your essay•what a conclusion looks like•what a clincher is•six ways to close your essay

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