Writing introductory and concluding
paragraphs requires the ability to summarize
and generalize information. Introductions must
engage readers’ interest and tell them what is
to follow. Introductions set out the topic of
composition, which is usually embedded in the
thesis statement. The thesis statement must
clearly state the writer’s objective, and the
writer must provide sufficient support for the
statement in the body of a composition.
• The introduction usually consists of three
sentences:
• Please pay careful attention to the following
G. S. T format.
 General Statement (G.S.): states the theme or
topic of the essay
 Specific Statement (Sp. St.): states details that
deals with the topic
 Thesis Statement (Th. St.): states the specific
topic and provides the plan of explanation and
organization
Example Introduction: This is a very simple and
generic introduction, but we must start small
and expand.
• Many schools are using different educational
models. New Dorp High School uses the SLC
model in Staten Island. There are many
positive aspects of the SLC model, but the
model also has its flaws.
Many schools are using different
educational models. This first sentence is
the General Statement because it
introduces the topic, which is the
educational models.
• New Dorp High School uses the SLC
model in Staten Island. The second
sentence is the Specific Statement
because it gives specific details about the
topic.
• There are many positive aspects of the
SLC model, but the model also has its
flaws. The third sentence is the Thesis
Statement because it shows the specific
topic of the essay which is the positive and
negative aspects of the SLC model.
Example A
(Sp. St.)
• _____ Every year, my family plans to take a very
exciting vacation, but somehow we always end
up staying home.
(G.S.)
• _____
Many people enjoy their summer
vacation at home.
(Th. St.) Being at home all summer definitely has
• _____
some disadvantages, but there are many
advantages as well.
Example B
(Sp. St.) Peter the Great was an absolute ruler
• _____
that changed his country during the later
1600’s.
(G.S.)
• _____
Absolute monarchs brought many
changes to their country.
(Th. St.) Two achievements of Peter the Great
• _____
were westernization and economic reforms.
Example C
(G.S.)
• _____
In the past presidents have been
remembered for countless accomplishments.
St.) Two of Jefferson’s legacies were the
• (Th.
_____
Louisiana Purchase and a series of democratic
reforms.
(Sp. St.)
• _____
Thomas Jefferson, third president of the
United States, is remembered for many
achievements.
Example D
• _____ One topic that definitely captured public
interest is immigration.
(Sp. St.)
(G.S.)
• _____
Recently, several newspaper
commentaries have addressed controversial
topics.
(Th. St.) Many Americans are for immigration
• _____
reforms while others are against them.
Example E
(Sp. St.)
• _____
The people of England were constantly
fighting against the abuses of absolute
monarchs.
St.) Two documents that have changed the
• (Th.
_____
course of the history of England are the Magna
Carta and the English Bill of Rights.
(G.S.)
• _____
Many documents have had a lasting
impact on history.
Example F
• _____ Many people use social networking sites.
(G.S.)
(Sp. St.)
• _____ Facebook is a social networking site that
is used as a means of communication.
St.)
• (Th.
_____
Although Facebook is a popular website;
there are some things about using the website
that can be dangerous.
• Identifying the difference between the
general, specific and thesis statements are
essential to developing the writing skills for
not only regular essays, but AP essays as well.
• Based on this model, you should have one
general statement, one specific statement and
one thesis. But FOR AP, it MUST be a little
more complex.
What is a thesis?
• Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance
of the subject matter under discussion.
•it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the
paper.
• Directly answers the question asked of you.
• Is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first
paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers
and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader
of the logic of your interpretation.
How do I know if my thesis is strong?
• Do I answer the question?
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or
oppose? Thesis statements that are too vague often do
not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words
like "good" or "successful," see if you could be more
specific: Why is something "good"; What makes
something "successful"?
• Does my thesis pass the 'So What?' test? If a reader's first
response is, "So what?" then you need to clarify.
How do I know if my thesis is strong?
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without
wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do
not seem to go together, one of them has to change.
Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as
necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the how or why test? If a reader's first
response is "how? or why? your thesis may be too openended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can
add to give the reader a better take on your position right
from the beginning.
Example
Compare and contrast the reasons why the North and
South fought the Civil War.
Weak Thesis: The North and South fought the Civil War for
many reasons, some of which were the same and some
different.
This weak thesis restates the question without providing any additional
information. It is important that the reader know where you are heading. A reader
of this weak thesis might think, "What reasons? How are they the same? How are
they different?" Ask yourself these same questions and begin to compare
Northern and Southern attitudes Now, push your comparison toward an
interpretation-why did one side think slavery was right and the other side think it
was wrong? You look again at the evidence and you decide the North believed
slavery was immoral while the South believed it upheld their way of life.
Example
Compare and contrast the reasons why the North and
South fought the Civil War.
Working Thesis: While both sides fought the Civil War over
the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while
the South fought to preserve its own institutions.
Included in this working thesis is a reason for the war and some idea of
how the two sides disagreed over this reason. As you write the essay, you
will probably begin to characterize these differences more precisely and
your working thesis may seem vague. Maybe you decide that both sides
fought for moral reasons, they just saw morality in different contexts. You
end up revising the working thesis into a final thesis that really captures the
argument in your paper.
Example
Compare and contrast the reasons why the North and
South fought the Civil War.
Final Thesis: While both Northerners and Southerners
believed they fought against tyranny and oppression,
Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while
Southerners defended their own rights to property and selfgovernment.
There isn't a right answer; there are only strong and weak
thesis statements and strong and weak uses of evidence.
2006 AP Exam Comparative Essay Question
Compare and contrast the goals and outcomes of the
revolutionary process in TWO of the following
countries, beginning with the dates specified.
Mexico 1910
China 1911
Russia 1917
There was no thesis found in this paragraph
because it does not identify where the difference
lies.
This is the last paragraph of the essay and where the strong
thesis was found.
• The use of certain words can help create the
start of your thesis argument:
• Although
• While
• Even though
• These three words offer an argumentative
tone, which is what your thesis will attempt to
do:
Example Topic: Classical Empires
• Although the Gupta Empire and the Roman Empire
had developed into prosperous periods; the Gupta
fell to internal problems while Rome fell because of
outside invasions and economic struggles.
• While the rise of the Augustus Caesar led to the Pax
Romana in Rome, his death would eventually lead
Rome toward a chaotic period in Roman history.
• Even though the Han Dynasty left a lasting impact on
the cultural achievements of China, the abusive
government would create a period of chaos that
would last for four hundred years after its fall.
Practice AP Question:
Compare and contrast the development of civilizations
in TWO of the following early civilizations:
Middle East
South Asia
East Asia
North Africa
Practice AP Question:
Compare and contrast the development of civilizations
in TWO of the following early civilizations:
Middle East (Mesopotamia)
South Asia (India)
East Asia (China)
North Africa (Egypt)
• How to Write a Conclusion
• The function of a conclusion is to restate and
reinforce the thesis statement of the composition. To
do this, a concluding paragraph can: summarize what
has been stated previously in the composition; offer a
solution or recommendation; justify a position; or
present a point of view.
• In order to write a conclusion, you must still use a
General Statement, a Specific Statement and a Thesis
Statement. The order and wording should be
different in your conclusion than it was in your
introduction.
• The thesis statement from the introduction should be
rephrased and placed as the first sentence in the
concluding paragraph.
• The second sentence in the concluding paragraph
should be a specific statement. This statement can be
rephrased from your introduction or be a new specific
statement.
• The third sentence in the concluding paragraph should
be a general statement. This statement can also be
rephrased from your introduction or be a new general
statement. Both the specific and general statements
should relate to and expand on statements from the
introduction.
Introduction
Example Introduction II
• Thomas Jefferson is remembered for countless accomplishments
during his presidency. Many consider the acquisition of Louisiana
Territory from France as his outstanding achievement. As a result
of the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson significantly increased the size
of the United States.
Example Conclusion II
• Ultimately, the presidency of Thomas Jefferson dramatically
transformed the landscape of the United States. The purchasing
of the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon was Jefferson’s most
notable accomplishment. Because of his numerous achievements,
Thomas Jefferson will be remembered as one of the greatest
president’s in the history of the United States.
What do I need to get points on the essay?
Please pay close attention to the directive words in the essay questions.
Ignoring directives will result in a low exam score.
The following directions may be included:
Analyze: determine their component parts, exam their nature and
relationship.
Assess/Evaluate: judge the value or character of something, appraise,
evaluate the positive and negative points, give an opinion regarding the value
of; discuss the advantages or disadvantages of...
Compare: examine for the purpose of noting similarities or differences
Contrast: examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of difference
Describe: give an account of; tell about; give a word picture of
Discuss: talk over, write about, consider or examine by argument or from
various points of view, debate, present the different sides of
Explain: make clear or plain, make clear the causes and reasons for; make
known in detail; tell the meaning of