Drafting: Writing Introductions and
Conclusions
Introduction
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Set the right tone
Present your thesis
Writing your conclusion
Your Turn 1: Write introductions
Your Turn 2: Write a conclusion
Introduction
A journey of a thousand miles begins with
a single step.
—Lao-tzu
The beginning of or introduction to your
composition is where the reader starts
his or her journey with you.
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
—William Shakespeare
The ending of or conclusion to your
composition is where the reader
and your ideas part ways.
Introduction
Some of the most memorable moments in
relationships are the hellos and goodbyes—when two
people first meet and then later part ways.
Many readers have similar
experiences when they start
and finish a good piece of
writing.
When you write, make sure
the first and last parts your
readers encounter are
engaging and memorable.
Writing your introduction
The introduction is an important part of any piece of
writing. As the name suggests, this is where your
readers are introduced to your ideas.
The introduction to a piece of writing should
establish the right tone
capture your audience’s attention
state or suggest your thesis
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Have you ever heard someone described as “great—
once you get to know him”? First impressions are
important. What first impressions do these people give?
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Your writing must also make a good first impression.
The introduction is your chance to capture your
audience’s attention and make them want to continue
reading.
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
To draw your readers in immediately, try beginning
your introduction with one of the following attentiongetting techniques:
Address the reader directly. When readers think
about their own connection to the topic, they are more
likely to continue reading.
Are you familiar with the expression
“take your breath away”? That is
exactly what happened to me the first
time I saw Yosemite Falls.
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Tell an anecdote (a short, personal story). Readers
are often more interested in a topic when they can see
the human side of it.
I was anxious the first time I
went camping in a remote area of
the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
What would it be like to go
without running water, to sleep in
a tent, and to cook meals over a
campfire? To my surprise, I found
that though it wasn’t easy, it was
incredibly relaxing.
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Ask an intriguing question. Readers will stick around
to see how you answer the question you’ve posed.
What is 264 feet tall, 35 feet wide, and 1,650 years old?
When you explore nature, you never know what you might
find along the way.
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Define a key word that is important to
understanding your topic. Some readers respond
well to being logically—rather than emotionally—
engaged by the topic.
According to Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh
Edition, a glacier is “a large body
of ice moving slowly down a slope
or valley or spreading outward on
a land surface.” Many of the Sierra
Nevada’s unique landforms are a
result of glacial movement over
millions of years.
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Start with an interesting quotation. Many people—
famous and ordinary alike—have probably made
interesting comments that relate to your topic.
John Muir, famous naturalist and
founder of the Sierra Club, wrote, “In
every walk with nature one receives
far more than he seeks.” This holds
true whether you are walking the
Sierra Nevada Mountains or your
local park.
Writing your introduction
Capture your audience’s attention
Kara, a student writing about dog training, decided to
start her paper with an interesting quotation.
Every pet owner wants a wellbehaved animal. According to Lynn
Johnston, a local professional dog
trainer, it is not necessary to have
lots of money in order to have a
well-behaved dog. “Expensive food
and fancy toys won’t make your
dog happy.”
Writing your introduction
Set the right tone
Tone is the attitude toward your subject that is
revealed in your writing.
As you craft your introduction, establish a tone that is
appropriate to the audience and the purpose of your
writing.
For example, your tone might be
wry
objective
impassioned
critical
logical
detached
cynical
formal
humorous
Writing your introduction
Set the right tone
Kara is writing an article for her school newspaper, and
she decided that she should use an informal tone.
She’ll use simple, ordinary language, including
contractions
colloquialisms
slang
shorter, simpler
sentence structures
Writing your introduction
Present your thesis
A writer often ends an introduction by presenting his
or her thesis to the reader.
Whether you have an explicit
thesis statement or an
implied thesis, presenting your
thesis just before the body of
your paper is like telling your
reader, “Now that I’ve got your
attention, here’s an idea of what
you’re going to be reading
about.”
Writing your introduction
Present your thesis
Here is Kara’s thesis statement:
If you want a well-behaved dog, you have to commit to
giving your pet regular exercise, clear rules, and loads of
affection.
Writing your introduction
Note that Kara’s tone, attention-getting technique, and
thesis work together to make an effective introduction.
Every pet owner wants a well-behaved
animal. According to Lynn Johnston, a
local professional dog trainer, it is not
necessary to have lots of money in
order to have a well-behaved dog.
“Expensive food and fancy toys won’t
make your dog happy.” If you want a
well-behaved dog, you have to commit
to giving your pet regular exercise,
clear rules, and loads of affection.
informal tone
interesting
quotation
thesis statement
Writing your conclusion
The conclusion of a piece of writing is just as
important as the introduction. Your conclusion is your
last chance to influence and make an impression on
your readers.
Your conclusion should
tie your ideas together
make a strong impression
give your reader a sense of completion
Writing your conclusion
One way to tie all of your ideas together is to restate
your thesis and summarize your main points.
Don’t repeat the same words and sentences; find new
ways to express your ideas.
The benefits of even a short
nature walk are long
lasting. They include a
sense of calm, a positive
attitude, and a fresh
perspective on the world
around you.
Writing your conclusion
Answer the question “So what?” To make an
impression on your readers, show them that the topic
is important by relating it to their lives.
Why should you bother
to seek out nature?
Because nature does
not care if you are rich
or poor, young or old.
Nature does not judge
you. Instead, if you let
it, nature rewards you.
Writing your conclusion
End with a final thought. Give your readers a
thoughtful comment, a personal reaction, or an insight
that ties your ideas both to the readers’ experience and
to the world in general.
The grandeur of the Sierra
Nevada is indescribable.
Whether you visit Yosemite
for a day or spend a week
hiking on remote trails, you
will leave with a sense of
serenity and gratitude.
Writing your conclusion
Kara has written a strong conclusion to her essay on
dog training. What strategy did she use?
If you make the effort to give your
dog the exercise, discipline, and love
it needs, you will be rewarded for
your efforts. A happy, secure, and
well-behaved dog can be a loyal and
affectionate companion for many
years.
restatement
of thesis
final thought
Your Turn 1: Write introductions
Write two short introductions to a composition about
your school’s lunchroom. In each, use a different
attention-getting technique from the list below. Be sure
to set an appropriate tone and introduce your thesis.
• address the reader directly
• tell an anecdote
• ask an intriguing question
• give a quotation that relates to your topic
• define a key word that is important to
understanding your thesis
Your Turn 2: Write a conclusion
Write a conclusion to a composition about your school’s
lunch room. Use at least one of the strategies below.
• Restate the thesis and summarize the main points.
• Answer the question “So what?”
• Leave readers with a final thought.
The End