Introductions and Conclusions
Introduction
An introduction is your first chance to
make a good impression.
Without a good introduction, the rest of
your paper will suffer because you have
failed to capture your reader’s interest.
Introduction
 Your introduction should be arranged from
general to specific.
 In other words, the first sentence of your
introduction should not reveal to me what your
paper is about, but by the last sentence (the
thesis statement) this should be clear.
 Start with something that will grab your reader’s
attention.
The First Sentence – Finding the Right
Attention Getter
 Surprising fact: The United States has more than five times the
amount of nuclear weaponry necessary to destroy itself.
 Quotation: Bill Cosby once said that “Through humor, you can
soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find
laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can
survive it.”
 Curiosity: In the nineteen fifties, many families built fallout shelters
to protect themselves from nuclear attack, not knowing that they
were putting themselves in even more danger.
 Definition: Natural selection is the process by which traits become
more or less common in a population due to consistent effects upon
the survival or reproduction of their bearers.
The Middle
Once you have found your attention getter
or hook and your thesis statement is
written, the remainder of the introduction
needs to be spent transitioning from point
A to point B.
The Result
Each day, thousands of Americans are diagnosed
with Type II Diabetes (White 302). Despite this fact,
many food manufacturers still produce packaged
meals that contain hidden sugars and carbohydrates,
making it difficult for the average American to really
watch their sugar intake. The old saying “people are
responsible for what they eat” is inaccurate. Hidden
sugars in food is a problem that needs to be
addressed. The United States government should
place regulations on food companies to ensure they
are not adding unnecessary sugars to their food and to
clearly label all forms of sugars in their packaged
products.
The Conclusion
 Your concluding paragraph is the last paragraph of the
essay.
 It may sum up your ideas, reflect on what you said in
your essay, or talk about what the future may hold.
 The conclusion is ALL COMMENTARY and DOES NOT
INCLUDE CONCRETE DETAILS.
 It does not repeat key words from you paper, especially
not from your thesis and introductory paragraphs.
 It gives a finished feeling to your essay.
The Result
If the United States does not act to pass
legislation against the use of added sugars, and
ensure companies clearly label sugars in their
products, many more American will be crippled with
this preventable disease. Some say that what
people eat is no one else’s business but their own.
Some say stricter regulations will not help this
epidemic. In the least, it will make it easier on the
consumer, and doing nothing is certainly not going
to stop this growing problem. Action needs to be
taken now to ensure a healthier tomorrow.