Tips for Essay Intros and Conclusions--2nd Period

Post date: Aug 22, 2016 3:56:50 PM

Here are the ideas and suggestions we compiled in class:

Tips for Introductions:

    • Start with a hook—something to get the reader’s attentions. Maybe avoid rhetorical questions.

    • Open with an interesting fact or statistic.

    • A quote that is relevant to your topic—not necessarily from the work you’re writing about.

    • Save your thesis or claim for the end of the introduction.

    • Mention the title and author of the work.

    • An attention-catching random detail from the story that catches their attention.

    • Include a little background (context, a little plot summary)

Tips for Conclusions:

    • One strategy is to come back to where you began—full circle—an echoic ending.

    • Restate the thesis or claim but in different words.

    • Open the conclusion with the thesis/claim.

    • Don’t say “the end.”

    • End with something cool—the mic drop.

    • End with a thought-provoking quote or some other idea that makes the reader think.

    • Answer the question “So what?” about your topic.

    • Conclusions shouldn’t ramble on.

    • Don’t repeat supporting reasons.

    • Avoid “in conclusion.”

    • Leave the reader with a course of action or at least something to reflect on/think about.