Sample 4 Strategy Guide to Introductions and Conclusions PDF

## Introductions and Conclusions - Introductions can serve a variety of functions. - **An introduction can introduce the subject of the essay.** - What is the essay about? - What are you going to discuss? - **An introduction can provide some background information on the sub...

## Introductions and Conclusions - Introductions can serve a variety of functions. - **An introduction can introduce the subject of the essay.** - What is the essay about? - What are you going to discuss? - **An introduction can provide some background information on the subject.** - Where does this topic fit into a larger area of study? - How does this topic relate to other areas of study? - **An introduction can state your essay's thesis or main point.** - What is the purpose of your essay? - What is your position on the topic? - **An introduction can give the reader a preview of the organization of the essay.** - What are the main points you will be discussing? - What is the order in which you will discuss these points? - **The Introduction** - It's a good idea to hook the reader's attention in the beginning. - Start with a question, a surprising fact, or a vivid image. - **Provide background information and any necessary definitions.** - What are some important terms in the topic? - What is the general context of the essay? - **State the thesis statement, ** which is the central argument of the essay. - Express the main point of your essay clearly and concisely. - It should be a single sentence that appears at the end of your introduction. - **Give a brief overview of the main points to be discussed.** - This sets up the reader for the rest of the essay. - It may be a list, a sentence or two, or two sentences. - **Next, an introduction sets up the reader for the content:** - **Read the introduction to "Edith's Example" on page 89.** - **Add introductory material to each topic sentence to create a full paragraph.** - **The Conclusion** - It should bring the essay to a satisfying close. - **Start with a restatement of your main point** (your thesis statement). - **Summarize the main points.** - **Provide closing remarks that show the importance of the topic.** - Why should the reader care about this topic? - What should the reader take away from your essay? - **Avoid adding new information in your conclusion** - **Beyond Restatement** - Your conclusion should be more than simply a restatement of your introduction. - **It should also provide a sense of closure and leave a lasting impression** on the reader. - **The language you use in the conclusion should be more formal and sophisticated** than in other parts of your essay. - **You should also avoid using clichés or phrases that are overly emotional.** - **Types of Information** - **Fact** - Information that is true and can be proven with evidence. - **Example:** The Earth is round. - **Opinion** - A personal belief or judgment about something. - **Example:** I think the Earth is a beautiful planet - **Definition** - A statement of the meaning of a word or phrase. - **Example:** **Definition** A planet is a celestial body, a cosmic island, that orbits a star or a stellar remnant and is massive enough for their gravity to reshape it into a rounded structure. - **Anecdote** - A short, personal story that illustrates a point. - **Example:** **An anecdote** about a child's first day of school. - **Read the three conclusions below.** - **Which conclusion is the most effective?** - **Why did you choose this conclusion over the others?** - **What is the main point of the conclusion?** - **Which conclusion is most closely related to the essay topic?** - **Look at the section of the essay on "Edith's Example."** - **What is Edith's main point?** - **Identify the supporting points that Edith makes in her essay.** - **Which conclusion would be the best for Edith's essay?** - **Why?** - **Read the paragraph on page 86 on "Edith's Example."** - **How many sentences are in this paragraph?** - **What is the topic sentence of this paragraph?** - **How many supporting sentences are in the paragraph?** - **Can you identify the concluding sentence?** ## Unity and Coherence - **Unity in writing** means that all the ideas and sentences in a paragraph or essay relate to one main idea. - **Coherence** means that the ideas and sentences in a paragraph or essay are logically connected and flow smoothly together. - **The four characteristics of unity and coherence:** - Every paragraph should have one main idea. - Use topic sentences to identify the main point of each paragraph. - The topic sentence should be the focus of the paragraph, with all supporting sentences developing this idea. - Avoid including ideas that do not relate to the topic sentence. - Use transitions to connect your ideas and sentences. - Transition words and phrases create a smooth flow by showing the relationship between ideas. - Keep your audience in mind. - Use language and organization that your audience will understand. ## Living and Collections - **The art of collecting:** - The habit of putting things together. - It's a great hobby to have! - Collections are valuable in many different ways! - They can be a source of great joy for the collector. - They can provide a sense of history and connection to the past. - Because collections can be passed down from generation to generation, they can also help connect us to family. - **The best way to create a collection is to follow your passion.** - Explore the things you love and start collecting. - Many successful collectors have found treasures that have been passed down through generations. - **There are many different types of collections, but all of them have one thing in common.** - They reflect the passions and interests of the collector. ## Review - **Complete the crossword puzzle.** | | Down | Across | |-----------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------| | **1** | A statement of the meaning of a word | **1** Introduction | | **2** | A personal belief | **3** Conclusion | | **3** | A short story that illustrates a point | **5** Coherence | | **4** | Information that can be proven | **6** Unity | | **5** | A sentence that expresses the main point | **7** Topic sentence | | **6** | A restatement of your main idea | **8** Supporting sentence | | **7** | Transition words and phrases | **11** Anecdote | | | | **12** Opinion | | | | **13** Definition |