Introductions and Conclusions

Introductions and Conclusions

Introductions • A good intro should grab the reader’s attention; the reader should want to read the rest of the paper. • Please, do not start by asking a question. What is fate? Grrrr… • You should also make clear your central ideas and thesis statement to be proven in the essay. • Include the title of the work and author • The thesis should be the last sentence in the paragraph.

Strategies • Funnel Approach – begins with a generalization and gradually becomes more specific with thesis at end. • Idea: start with the definition of the theme you are writing about then connect it to the novel.

Example • A good mother loves, nurtures, and protects her child. Even though Adeline’s real mother died shortly after childbirth, she was fortunate to have another woman in her life who was able to take over this role. Aunt Baba always reassured Adeline of her worth, which was especially important since the rest of her family neglected and abused her. As a result, Aunt Baba became an important role model, and she helped to mold Adeline into the loving, protective mother that she would later become.

Another Example • William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies is a fascinating commentary on human nature. The novel follows a group of boys who are stranded with no supervision on a deserted island during wartime. The boys originally are civilized and maintain the ideals of human nature but as they stay on the island the more defective or savage they behave. The characters Jack, Ralph, and the hunters demonstrate their defective human nature a variety of ways throughout the novel.

Conclusion • The purpose of a conclusion is to wrap up your essay and leave the reader with some final compelling thoughts. • You have written a beautiful essay that demonstrates your selected theme or analyzes a character so the conclusion answers the question…

Ask yourself • So what? • You might also think of it as Why should the reader care? • How does the essay connect to the world?

Some tips • First sentence is a restated thesis statement. Write it differently-don’t just copy and paste • Don’t ask questions. Give the answers. Be confident in your stance. • What have you learned about your theme or character? • What does it all mean? • Why are this novel, character and theme important? • Continue using third person, but connect new understanding you have attained from the novel to the world. • DO NOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION!

Harper Lee uses prejudice in a multitude of ways as a theme that flows throughout her novel. Racial, gender based, and social prejudices are all forms of discrimination that are represented in different events. Maycomb’s citizens cannot hide from the smothering forces of the intangible blanket that is prejudice. The black, the white, the men, the women, the prosperous, the poor: all are subject to prejudice and ill treatment which ultimately shapes how they can live their lives in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

Don’t forget • Literary analysis essays are always written in present verb tense • Scout demonstrates courage when she… • NOT Scout is demonstrating… • NOT Atticus is realizing…Atticus realizes • Atticus is a good father because he reads to Scout at night.

Faust • Faust is a play • Faust is the main character of Faust • It is written by Goethes • In your essay… • Goethes’ Faust also perpetuates the concept of

Introductions and Conclusions