1A. Identify and describe components of the rhetorical situation: the exigence, audience, writer, purpose, context, and message.
2A. Write introductions and conclusions appropriate to the purpose and context of the rhetorical situation.
3B. Identify and describe the overarching thesis of an argument, and any indication it provides of the argument’s structure.
4B. Write a thesis statement that requires proof or defense and that may preview the structure of the argument.
5C. Recognize and explain the use of methods of development to accomplish a purpose.
6C. Use appropriate methods of development to advance an argument.
● Introductions help establish context for the audience. They introduce the topic, and oftentimes, your thesis statement.
● Introductions can be written in a variety of ways. It’s helpful to have an interesting hook to grab the attention of the audience. Here are some examples:
○ Provide a scenario
○ Open with an interesting question/statement
○ Open with an intriguing statistic
● Conclusions should summarize your main points and leave a lasting impression on the reader.
● Conclusions can also restate the thesis statement.
● When summarizing your main points, make sure to change your wording to avoid sounding to repetitieve.
● Conclusions can be used to connect to larger, bigger picture ideas. Consider what impact you want to leave on the reader to help guide you to connect it to a bigger idea. For example, ending with a call for action can help inspire the audience to think about broader implications.
● Conclusions can make connections, call for a change in attitude, provide solutions, connect to the introduction paragraph, or leave the audience with a lasting image.