Introductions and Conclusions
Focus on First and Last Impressions
• Now, we are going to focus on three things
that heavily influence your reader’s
impression of your essay:
• The title
• The introduction
• The conclusion
Titles
• Is “Essay 1” an acceptable title?
• NO. This is not an acceptable title for a college
level essay.
• A title for a college level essay needs to give
some idea of WHAT THE ESSAY IS ABOUT.
• Think of your title as a headline. A good title
should make your audience want to read your
paper.
Unique Titles: A Short Guide
• One possibility: use your title to ask a thought-provoking
question that your essay will explore in depth.
– Example: What’s Wrong With Cinderella?
• Briefly list or summarize the topics you will discuss.
– Example: More Representation for LBGT People of Color
– Example: Why the Odds are Still Stacked Against Women in
Hollywood
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Your title needs to be UNIQUE TO YOUR PAPER.
Every important word should be capitalized.
Don’t put quote marks around your own title.
Don’t make your title a different font or size than the rest of
your paper.
If you want to get clever…
• Use alliteration (same sounds at the beginnings
of words)
– Example: Are Video Games Cranking out Killer Kids?
• Use other forms of humor, like a pun or a play on
words.
– Example: Throws Like the Girl She Is
• Use the form of: “Topic: Big Idea/Question About
the Topic”
– Violent Video Games: Harmless Fun or Recipe for
Disaster?
– TV Diversity: Whose Job Is It, Anyway?
Techniques for a Good Introduction
• Ask a provocative or disturbing question – grabs the reader's
attention. Often shows an unfair or unwise situation, might get
the reader to think about how the situation affects THEM
personally.
• Share an anecdote relating to thesis – if personal, establishes
authority. If not, puts a human face on the situation.
• Offer a quotation – puts paper in perspective of larger
conversation/more general ideas. (Don’t forget about quote
sandwiches… in general, the first sentence of your paper should
not be a quote.)
• Move from general to specific – begins by talking about
something that everyone is interested in, then shows how it
relates to your specific topic.
More Techniques for a Good Intro
• Correct a commonly held misconception – again, the
effect here is surprise, but it also attempts to change
audience attitudes.
• Begin with an intriguing statement or little known fact
– gives background information, makes your reader
wonder, "so what?"
• Striking example – immediately begins to
defend/explain your point, lets the reader know where
you stand from the beginning.
• Make a comparison – compare what you are writing
about to something your readers already know. More
relatable.
Examining Example Introductions:
• Look back at the following intros. What does
each author do to pull in the reader prepare
them for the rest of the essay?
• Paragraph 1 of “I Am Not a Mascot” on p. 300
• Paragraph 1 of “Punk’s Not Dead” on p. 554
• Paragraph 1 of “More Representation of LGBT
People of Color” (Handout)
• ONE other essay we’ve read this semester.
(See Syllabus for list.)
Conclusions
• Conclusions are often the most difficult thing
to write for some students, especially if you've
been taught the five paragraph essay style
that simply encourages you to repeat your
main points. A good conclusion does much
more than this.
Techniques for a Good Conclusion
• Look ahead – gets the audience to consider the future
• Remind readers of issue's importance – ensures that
they understand what is at stake, why your issue
deserves their attention.
• Offer a recommendation, call to action – gets readers
to make a change, do something. Most effective in
argumentative essays.
• Discuss the broader implications – connects your issue
with other important ones
• End with a fact, quote, or anecdote – leaves your
reader with something to remember.
Examining Conclusions
• Look back at the following conclusions. What
does each author do to tie up loose ends and
leave the reader with a powerful final thought?
• The last paragraph of “Punk’s Not Dead” on p.
557
• The last paragraph of “Throws Like the Girl She
Is” on p. 268
• The last paragraph of “Finding My Eye-dentity”
on p. 151
• Analyze a fourth conclusion from an essay we’ve
read of your choosing.