Opening and Closing
Paragraphs
AND
MLA FORMAT
Opening Paragraphs
 The opening paragraph is the most important part of
an essay, composition or story
 Must include a hook – or interest grabber
 Must include the focus of your paper - thesis
 Must include three proof points
Hook – Attention Grabber
 The Personal Anecdote
 Questions
 Quotation, Song Lyric, or Poem
 Unusual or Bizarre Fact or Statistic
 Biographical Reflection
Proof Points
 These are the points that will be addressed in the
course of your essay
 For example –
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Novel: A Separate Peace
Topic/Thesis: Character Development
Proof Points (Body Paragraph Topics):
1. Gene as Round
 2. Finney as Round
 3. Leper as Round
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THESIS
 A proposition stated or put forward for
consideration, especially one to be discussed and
proved, or maintained against objections
 A subject for a composition or essay
 The specific literary focus of an essay
Outline or Brainstorm
Topic Sentence
(Hook – Attention
Grabber)
Thesis (What is
this paper going to
be about?
Proof Point 1
Proof Point 2
Proof Point 3
 Topic: Choosing a life long career (develop thesis)
 Hook Type: Unusual Statistic
 Hook – Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, could spend
one million dollars per day, everyday until he was 311
years old!
 Thesis – How do we find a life long career?
 Proof Points:
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1. satisfying
2. earns enough money
3. balance between work and leisure
Sample Opening Paragraph
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, could spend one
million dollars per day, every day, seven days per week, and
would not run out of money until he was 311 years old! Most
would agree that he has reached a point of financial security.
In fact, it would be almost impossible to figure out how one
could spend one million dollars per day. This spending
dilemma is not a problem that will be faced by most of us as we
enter the world of work. For most Americans, finding an
occupation that is satisfying, earns enough money to live
comfortably, and figures out a realistic blend between work
and leisure are three essential factors in beginning one’s
career.
You Try
 Possible Topics
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 General
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My Favorite Subject
 My Favorite Movie
 The Best Food Ever
 The Most Desirable Vacation Spot
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 Challenge
Gender, Religious, or Racial
Prejudice
 The American Dream
 The Death Penalty
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Hooks
Personal
Anecdote
Quote, Song
Lyric, or
Poem
Unusual or
Bizarre Fact
or Statistic
Question
Biographical
Anecdote
Outline
 [HOOK] John Lennon once said, “all you need is love.”
 [TRANSITION] This message seems to be universal in
music as well as literature.
 [THESIS] In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, he
presents the theme of love through the relationships he
develops within the story.
 [PROOF POINTS] Examples of this message surface
between Lennie and furry animals, the crew in the bunk
house, and most importantly, between Lennie and
George.
 [TRANSITION] The deeper these relationships are
explored, the more we can see the universality of the
need for love.
Strategy
 Choose your question.
 Turn your question into your THESIS (include
author, title, and focus).
 Choose 3 proof points. You should be able to build
an entire paragraph around each point.
 Choose a hook.
 Begin writing your paragraph.
Body Paragraphs
 TS - Topic Sentence: This should refer to your first proof point and
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introduce what the topic of your paragraph is going to be about.
CD – Concrete Detail: This will be your first example from the book.
Introduce your evidence in your own words, then include a quote.
CM (x2) - Commentary: These are thoughtful insights and reflections
regarding the evidence you just provided. The commentary often shows the
connection between the evidence and the focus of your paper.
Transition: This is a sentence that will lead you into your next CD.
CD – Concrete Detail: This is the second example from the book. Again,
introduce your evidence in your own words, then include a quote.
CM(x2) - Commentary: These are thoughtful insights and reflections
regarding the evidence you just provided. The commentary often shows the
connection between the evidence and the focus of your paper.
CS – Concluding Sentence: Briefly sums up the content in the paragraph
and/or transitions you into the next paragraph.
Closing Paragraph
 The closing paragraph is the second most important
paragraph in your essay.
 It is the paragraph that leaves the final impression
on your reader.
 It completes the circle of information and lets your
reader know you have concluded your argument.
 It is closely linked to the opening paragraph, but
different.
Closing Paragraph
 Just like an opening paragraph has three essential
components:
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Hook
Thesis
Proof Points
 So too does a closing paragraph have three essential
components:
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Link
Restatement of Thesis
Twist
Closing Paragraph
 Refer back to your opening paragraph to write your
conclusion.
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LINK: A link typically begins the closing and is a connection
or continuation of the opening hook.
RESTATEMENT: A student will then “restate” the thesis in
different words.
TWIST: Finally, create a final sentence which causes the
reader to nod in approval or smile in agreement.
Opening Paragraph
John Lennon once said, “all you
need is love.” This message seems
to be universal in music as well as
literature. In Of Mice and Men by
John Steinbeck, he presents the
theme of love through the
relationships he develops within
the story. Examples of this
message surface between Lennie
and [objects that give him
comfort], the crew in the bunk
house, and most importantly,
between Lennie and George. The
deeper these relationships are
explored, the more we can see the
universality of the need for love.
Closing Paragraph
Throughout the ages songs have
referred to our innate need for love.
John Lennon stated it simply, but
perfectly in his song. Simply and
perfectly Steinbeck also
demonstrates the theme ‘the need
for love’ in his book Of Mice and
Men. It is startling that a concept so
widely understood and universally
needed is so hard to recognize and
attain.
Quote Incorporation
 It is important that your quotes are relative to your
concrete detail (specific example). Your quote serves
as the evidence of that concrete detail.
 It is important that you only use the parts of the
quote necessary to support your CD.
 It is important that when incorporating the quote,
you retain the grammatical integrity of the sentence.
 Use [ ] around words you have to change in order to keep the
grammar consistent.
 Always take note of the page number(s) on which
you find the quote.
Basic MLA Citation
 Because you are using one book as your source, you
do not need to reference the author’s name in the
citation.
 Only your page number(s) will be included in
parenthesis. Ex. (25).
 The period goes AFTER the citation because the
citation is completing the sentence.
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Ex. Jenny looked confused as she, “wrinkled her nose and
scrunched her brows together” (25).
9th Grade Practice
 Find the quotes below in your text. On a clean sheet of paper, write the
complete quote, using quotation marks and taking note of the author and page
number.
 Then, we will incorporate those quotes into sentences and paragraphs
together.
Find one quote regarding a description of Lennie in Of
Mice and Men.
2. Find one quote describing the scenery using imagery in
Of Mice and Men.
3. Find one quote that demonstrates friendship in Of Mice
and Men
1.
9th Grade Practice – Period 2
 “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man shapeless
of face with large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders;
and he walked heavily dragging his feet like a bear
dragged his paws.” Page 4 Steinbeck
 George’s partner Lennie is also a main character in the
story. Steinbeck is very clear in describing Lennie’s
physical appearance. Lennie is described as George’s
opposite, “a huge man shapeless of face with large pale
eyes, with wide sloping shoulders” (2). This is an
indication that Lennie is strong. Steinbeck presents
Lennie with great detail in order to show the reader what
Lennie looks like. Another example of Lennies character
description is
9th Grade Practice – Period 2
 “I got you to look after me and you got me to look after
you.” Page 14 Steinbeck
 Lennie and George’s friendship is really strong. The first
example we see of this is when they comfort each other
by explaining how they have each other’s backs. When
sitting by the river Lennie says, “I got you to look after
me and you got me to look after you” (14). These two
characters are very close to each other. They are like
brothers and will always be there for each other. Another
example of friendship is when …
9th Grade Practice – Period 2
 “The Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and
runs deep and green.” Page 1 Steinbeck
 In the beginning of the novel Of Mice and Men Steinbeck
describes the scenery of the Salinas Valley using imagery.
He describes the river with great detail, saying that it,
“drops in close to hillside bank and runs deep and green”
(1). Imagery is intended to give you a mental picture. By
using the word green, Steinbeck is appealing to our sense
of sight. Another example the description of the Salinas
Valley is when…
9th Grade Practice – 3rd Period
 “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man shapeless
of face with large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders
and he walked heavily dragging his feet a little the way a
bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides,
but hung loosely.” Page 2 Steinbeck
 Steinbeck describes Lennie’s characteristics and features
with great detail. Lennie is the opposite of George. He is
described as, “a huge man shapeless of face with large
pale eyes” (2). Steinbeck wants the reader to have a
picture of Lennie. By understanding his size, we can
understand why he accidentally kills things. Another
example of Steinbeck describing Lenie is when …
9th Grade Practice – Period 3
 “The bunkhouse was a long rectangular building. Inside
the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted. In
three walls there were small square windows and in the
fourth a solid door with a wooden latch.” Page 17
Steinbeck
 Steinbeck uses imagery to create vivid settings. Imagery
makes a setting more realistic and believable. When
describing the bunkhouse he says, it “was a long
rectangular building… [with] walls [that] were
whitewashed and the floor unpainted” (17). Imagery is a
device that appeals to your five senses. In this quote he
uses the words ‘white’, ‘unpainted’, and ‘long’ to appeal to
our sense of sight. Another example of how Steinbeck…
9th Grade Practice – 3rd Period
 “But I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave it all for you.
You could cover your beans with it and I would touch
none of it.” Page 12 Steinbeck
 Steinbeck shows the friendship between George and
Lennie throughout the novel. Lennie would do anything
for George. When George gets mad because Lennie
wants ketchup, Lennie quickly says, “[b]ut I wouldn’t eat
none, George. I’d leave [the ketchup] all for you. You
could cover your beans with it and I would touch none of
it” (12). This shows that Lennie cares for George. This
demonstrates the loyalty that Lennie has towards
George. Another example of their friendship …
10th Grade Practice
 Find the quotes below in your text. On a clean sheet of paper, write the
complete quote, using quotation marks and taking note of the author and page
number.
 Then, we will incorporate those quotes into sentences and paragraphs
together.
Find one quote regarding a description of Finny in A
Separate Peace.
2. Find one quote describing the scenery using imagery in
A Separate Peace.
3. Find one quote that demonstrates Gene’s internal
conflict.
1.
10th Grade Practice
 “He opened his green eyes wider and gave us his maniac
look and only the smirk on his wide mouth with its droll,
slightly protruding upper lip reassured us that he wasn’t
completely goofy.” Page 6 Knowles
 Finny is a main character who is thoroughly described
throughout the book. Knowles represents him as a good
looking kid. “[H]is green eyes … the smirk on his wide
mouth … [and] slightly protruding upper lip reassured
[the boys] that he wasn’t completely goofy” (6). Although
Phineas is portrayed as an attractive person, his funloving character is also evident. The boys look up to
Finny in many ways. Another example of Finny’s
character is …
10th Grade Practice
 “The tree was not only stripped by the cold season, it
seemed weary from age, enfeebled, dry.” Page 6 Knowles
 Imagery is used to describe the setting of the tree which
plays a key role in the novel. The tree is an old part of the
Devon campus. When Gene returns to the school as an
adult, he visits the tree. He sees that the, “tree was not
only stripped by the cold season, it seemed weary from
age, enfeebled, dry” (6). The tree represented both good
and bad times. This setting was the root of the conflict
that occurs in the novel. Another example of why the
tree is important …