Writing an Introduction and Conclusion

1. Writing an Introduction and Conclusion To Kill a Mockingbird Theme Analysis Paper

2. Introduction • The purpose of an introduction is to inform the reader about the purpose of your essay and to provide the necessary background in order for them to understand your main points. The basics you should cover include: • An attention getter • The author’s name • The title of the book • Brief plot summary • Thesis statement

3. The attention getter • How are you going to get the reader interested in your essay? What do you want them to think about when they begin reading? • You attention getter doesn’t have to be outrageous or over-the-top, but it should make the reader inquisitive as to what you have written about. • You begin with: • A question • An anecdote or short story • A quote • The most important aspect of your attention getter is that it should somehow relate to the topic of your paper.

4. The Author and Title of Work • You should always mention what piece of literature you have read, and who wrote it. • You can also mention the genre of work. • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a fictional story.

5. Brief Plot Summary • In order for the reader to be actively thinking as they read your paper, they need to understand the story. You must provide for them the necessary plot details that are mentioned in your paper. • Because our story is long and contains many different smaller stories and details, your plot summary is going to depend on what the topic of your paper is.

6. Examples • For example: • If you are writing about how the trial reveals the theme of “climbing into one’s skin” then your plot summary should discuss the book’s focus on the trial. • Similarly, if you are writing about how Scout struggles to understand different characters throughout the novel, then your plot summary should discuss focus on Scout.

7. Thesis Statement • Finally, to conclude your introduction, you must include your thesis statement. • However, your paragraph should flow nicely, so just plopping in your thesis statement at the end might not make for a smooth transition. • Try writing your thesis into several different parts of the introduction. See where it fits best and is understood clearly by the reader. • Most importantly, the reader (Mr. Ben) MUST be able to identify the thesis statement. If you have introduced your thesis poorly or if it becomes unclear, then the meaning in your paper is lost.

8. Conclusion • Your conclusion should be a general wrap-up of your paper. • You must restate your thesis, NOT RE-WRITE, so basically say your thesis again, but differently. • You should include a general discussion of your theme. How did it impact the character? Outside of the book, in the real world, why is it important to understand someone else’s perspective? How would the world be different if people tried to understand things from other people’s perspectives? Use examples from the real world. • Lastly, just like you started of your essay with an attention getter, end your paper with something for the reader to think about. Connect this somehow with your attention getter.

9. MLA Format • Typed on A4 paper • Doubled Spaced • Legible Font (Times New Roman or similar) • 12 pt. Font • 1 Inch Margins • Indent Margins at each paragraph

10. Sample