In Today’s Class
• Review of past 2 classes
• Writing an Introduction and a Thesis Statement
• Writing a Conclusion
Review
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Have your topic?
Done your research?
Made your notecards?
Done your 2-Column Notes
• Need a review? Look here:
INTRODUCTION – State your purpose of your research paper clearly.
What is the chief reason you are writing the paper? State also how you
plan to approach your topic. Is this a factual report, a book review, a
comparison, or an analysis of a problem? Explain briefly the major
points you plan to cover in your paper and why readers should be
interested in your topic. State your thesis!
BODY - This is where you present your arguments to support your
thesis statement. Refer to your 2 column notes to set up your body
paragraphs!
CONCLUSION - Restate or reword your thesis. Summarize your
information in your body paragraphs. Explain why you have come to
this particular conclusion. Or, leave the reader with a final thought or a
call to action or something interesting!
Writing the Introduction
An introduction should include:
• Hook
• Transition sentence, if necessary
• Thesis statement
Writing a HOOK
• A Hook should capture a reader’s attention
– Series of three questions on your topic
– Quotation
– Dramatic lead (stun your reader or use a statistic)
– Leisurely lead (long description)
– Imagine…
Hook Idea #1: Series of Questions
Series of three questions on your topic
• How many wives did King Henry VIII have? How did
these marriages affect the Church of English and the
Roman Catholic Church? What is King Henry
remembered for? King Henry VIII was infamous for his
six marriages, but he was also influential in separating
the Church of English from the Roman Catholic Church.
• Your turn! Write a hook using a series of three
questions into the chat window!
Hook Idea #2- Quotation
Use a famous quote to begin your introduction.
– “I'm Henry the Eighth, I am,
Henry the Eighth I am, I am!
I got married to the widow next door,
She'd been married seven times before.
And every one was an Henry
She wouldn't have a Willie or a Sam
I'm her eighth old man named Henry
Henry the Eighth, I am!”
Many people are familiar with this catchy tune but it does have some historical significance.
King Henry VIII was infamous for his six marriages, but he was also influential in separating
the Church of English from the Roman Catholic Church.
– Your turn! Write a hook using a quote into the chat window.
Hook Idea #3: Dramatic lead
(stun your reader or use a
statistic)
Dramatic lead (stun your reader or use a statistic)
– King Henry VIII had two of his wives beheaded. Anne Boleyn was executed after
she was found guilty of adultery, incest, and treason, and Catherine Howard was
executed at a young age after she was also found guilty of adultery. King Henry
VIII was infamous for his six marriages, but he was also influential in separating
the Church of English from the Roman Catholic Church
–
Your turn! Write a hook using a dramatic lead into the chat window.
Hook Idea #4- Leisurely lead (long
description)
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He was a strong, athletic man early in his reign but died an obese man with an ulcerated,
festering leg wound. He was an educated, intellectual ruler who executed somewhere
between 50,000-70,000 people while he was king. He has a cultural icon who changed
history by separating from the Catholic Church. King Henry VIII was infamous for his six
marriages, but he was also influential in separating the Church of English from the Roman
Catholic Church.
•
Your turn! Write a hook using a leisurely lead into the chat window.
Hook Ideas #5- Imagine…
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Imagine a time when people lived in thatched huts and society was organized in a feudal
system. Imagine a time when doctors would “bleed” people to cure them of their illnesses,
and most children were illiterate. Imagine a time that the life of an upper class citizen was
drastically different than the life of a peasant. This was the medieval times and for some of it,
King Henry VIII was England’s ruler. King Henry VIII was infamous for his six marriages, but he
was also influential in separating the Church of English from the Roman Catholic Church.
•
Your turn! Write a hook using “Imagine…” into the chat window.
The Thesis Statement
The Thesis Statement
STATE YOUR THESIS
• Do some critical thinking and write
your thesis statement down in one
sentence. Your thesis statement is
like a declaration of your belief. It is
the main idea of your paper. This will
be your last sentence in your
introduction!
Writing the Thesis Statement
Answer these 3 questions:
I am studying __________________________________
To find out about ______________________________
In order to help the reader understand_____________
Now Write your Thesis
• Informed information about the Topic +
Observation of the topic = Thesis
Example: Bon Jovi is a musician with an
interesting childhood. He has had great success
with his band and Soul Foundation.
How to know you have a great thesis!
• Does it Inspire? Is it interesting? "How?" or Why?"
• Would a reasonable reader NOT respond with "Duh!" or "So what?" or "Gee, no
kidding!" or "Who cares?"
• Does the thesis avoid general phrasing and/or sweeping words such as "all" or
"none" or "every"?
• Does the thesis lead the reader toward the topic sentences (the subtopics needed
to prove the thesis)?
• Does the thesis provide a road map for your research report/paper?
• Does your thesis state your main idea (what you researched?)
The Conclusion
A conclusion should…
• Restate the thesis
• Give the essay a sense of completeness
• Leave a final impression on the reader
(CLINCHER)
Clincher Ideas
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A challenge
A metaphor or simile
A question
A quote
Clincher Technique #1- A Challenge
End your conclusion with a challenge to your reader.
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King Henry VIII left a mark on history not only because of his six marriages but also because of
how he challenged and broke away from the Catholic church. He has been the subject of books,
television series, movies, and songs. I challenge you to find another king who has become such a
cultural icon as King Henry VIII.
•
Your turn! Write a challenge clincher into the chat window.
Clincher technique #2- A Metaphor or
Simile
This is a hard one! Create a metaphor or simile for your
topic to send with a great clincher.
• King Henry VIII left a mark on history not only because of his six marriages but
also because of how he challenged and broke away from the Catholic church.
His life was like the four seasons. In his youth, he was like the spring, full of
life and love. Then as he aged through summer he became stronger and hottempered and in his middle age, he grew colder and harsher. In the winter of
his life, he became reflective and withdrawn and slowly faded into the history
books.
•
Your turn! Write a metaphor or simile clincher into the chat window.
Clincher technique #3- A Question
End your conclusion with a thought-provoking
question
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King Henry VIII left a mark on history not only because of his six marriages but also
because of how he challenged and broke away from the Catholic church. Who knew
that this gluttonous intellect who executed people at will would become such a
cultural icon?
•
Your turn! Write a question clincher into the chat window.
Clincher technique #4- Quote
• End your conclusion with a quote about your topic.
Make sure to give credit to who you are quoting! 
•
King Henry VIII left a mark on history not only because of his six marriages
but also because of how he challenged and broke away from the Catholic
church. He demanded loyalty from his subjects and forever made an
impression on our culture and society. King Henry VIII said, "How
presumptuous then are ye, the rude commons of one shire. . .to find fault
with your Prince. . . . Wherefore, Sirs, remember your follies and traitorous
demeanours, and shame not your undoubted King and natural Prince. . . ;
and remember your duty of allegiance, and that ye are bound to obey us,
your King, both by God's commandment and law of nature. . . .”
•
Your turn! Write a quote clincher into the chat window.
Quiz!
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What should you include in your introduction?
What should you include in your conclusion?
What are two hook techniques?
What are two clincher techniques?
Which hook are you going to use?
– Series of three questions on your topic
– Quotation
– Dramatic lead (stun your reader or use a statistic)
– Leisurely lead (long description)
Which Clincher…
mark which one you are going to use!
A challenge
A question
A metaphor or simile
A quote
Future Research Classes:
*Monday, September 7th 1-2 PM (Writing the body of your paper
and citing your sources)
*Friday, October 11th 1-2 PM (making a work cited page and Q
and A time)
What to mark complete and how to…
• Language 3- Composition Unit 3, Lessons 7-8 (5-6
shouldn’t be marked done yet)
• 4th Language- Composition Unit 2, Lesson 6 (5 shouldn’t
be marked done yet)
• 5th Language- Composition Unit 2, Lesson 7 (6 shouldn’t
be marked done yet)
• Language A- Composition Unit 5, Lessons 10-12
To do this, follow the steps below:
1. log in to the OLS from your student account.
2. Go to your Progress tab, click on Language Skills (composition)
3. On the right, click on the Unit list to expand it.
4. Click on Unit 2 or 5 the research paper or research report
5. Put your curser in the circle of the lessons stated above to
color it in green
6. Give yourself an hour of attendance time for today in
Language skills! Make sure to give more time when the work is
done!