The Introduction & Conclusion

1. The Introduction & Conclusion Aloha and Adios

2. The Purpose • To grab the reader's attention, raise his level of interest • This is often called "the hook” • To introduce the reader to the topic and prepare him for what follows in the body of the paper.

3. Easy Checklist • Mention the title and author of the piece of literature • Ex: In James Hurst's short story, The Scarlet Ibis". . • Provide necessary or helpful background information • Introduce your topic explicitly with a thesis statement • Subject + Opinion • For this class, this will always be the last sentence of the Introduction

4. The Hook • Use a shocking statement or use a series of shocking statistics that are relevant to your topic. • "Four of ten people you pass in the hall each day will be killed in a car accident before they are thirty. • Use a short appropriate quote from any published source (identify source) • "Ernest Hemingway writes that his father's love is like an erupting volcano."

5. The Conclusion: Purpose • Leave the reader with a sense of completion • It is OK to assert broad claims in your conclusion, similar to those in your introduction. • (However, it your job to be as specific as possible in your body paragraphs)

6. The Steps • Use all commentary. . . do not mention new concrete details from the story • Do not repeat key words from anywhere in the essay, especially from your thesis • Leave the reader with a profound thought to remember. You may use methods similar to the "hooks" used in the introduction.

7. Huh? Profound What? • A.End with a humorous, sad, or startling closing line • B. Use a quotation from a published source that summarizes your feelings on the topic • C. End with a powerful phrase or question that invites the reader to think beyond your specific topic