Introductions and Conclusions

Write only what is in red. Read aloud each slide including all

examples. You assignment is at the last of the PowerPoint.

Purposes for Introductions

The introduction:•grabs the reader’s attention.•clearly implies an organizational structure of the paper

•includes support that is specific and relevant, and provides a clear, connected lead-in to paper’s main idea or thesis.

•includes a thesis that is stated or implied

Quote by William Zinsser

The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn’t induce the reader to proceed to the second sentence, your article is dead.

Of such a progression of sentence, each tugging the reader forward until he is hooked. . .

Ineffective Introductions

• You are going to learn about…• This essay/letter is about…• I am going to tell you about…• There are three reasons…• My opinion is that....• The point I wish to make is. . .• The fact of the matter is that…

Strategies for Introductions• A writer may begin

with:- an anecdote (story) or

scenario (scene)– a quotation or series

of quotations– a brief

history/background information

– a startling statement (could be a fact, statistic, or opinion.)

– a question or series of questions

– A vivid description– a current event-

Citizen of the World opening

– a statement of the view your will oppose

– A justification or explanation of your personal position

– Contrast two opposite aspects of the topic

An anecdote or scenario

I lead a stressful life. I try to escape from my daily homework by taking a ten-minute walk, but often that does not work. After about two hours straight, I look for a different kind of relief – my television set. Forms of entertainment, ranging from the soothing sounds of Beethoven to the bloody spectacles of the Roman Coliseum, have had a huge impact on both the individual and society’s culture as a whole. However my case and the case of many of my friends, these forms of entertainment have shown us ways to build bombs, protest against our parents, and resist the relentless aim of education. Many fear that these forms of entertainment have the ability to destroy the values of society. These fears are well placed, as modern entertainment’s never-ending search for the next “sensation” can lead to the subversion of society’s values and traditions.

A quotation or dialogue“Think: all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil: The only crime is pride.” says Teiresias in Antigone. In this play and many of the other Greek plays, the protagonist often has excessive pride or hubris. Because of pride the hapless main character makes a tragic mistake that causes his ruin. This pride and consequences have been the downfall of literary characters throughout the ages, from Hamlet to Sethe of Toni Morrison's Beloved.

A brief history or background information

Lyndon B. Johnson, as President, came up with a plan to get rid of poverty across the United States. He called it an "unconditional War on Poverty." Many organizations resulted from the plan and then many world organizations resulted from those, like UNICEF and Oxfam America. People have always tried to come up with ways to avoid and even abolish poverty, including a man named Peter Singer. Singer came up with "The Singer Solution to World Poverty."

A startling fact/statistic

China now produces as much as 70% of the merchandise sold by Wal-Mart. For many years, America’s economy was so dominant on the world stage, so out front in so many key areas, that we fell into the habit of thinking we were competing largely against ourselves. However, in recent years, with the leveling of the global playing field, it should be apparent that we are not just competing against ourselves. The opening up of countries like India, China, and Russia means that their young people can compete more easily and cheaply than ever before. And they are. This situation poses a large problem for the United States in the long run and we are coasting along as if we have all the time in the world. In fact, a solution must soon be found to reverse this outward flow of jobs.

Rhetorical Précis for analysis essays only

Scott Russell Sanders, in his essay “Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World” suggests that we are a nation of wandering mongrels; our mixed heritage makes us strong as he debates Salman Rushdie's argument that our migration encourages the growth of "people who root themselves in ideas rather than places." He supports his position first by giving examples of how staying put in America is good not bad. His purpose is to refute Rushdie's argument. With a critical tone, historical examples and allusions, Sanders develops a convincing perspective on moving.

A vivid descriptionImagine walking into a bathroom that has no doors on the stalls, a massive scrapped piece of wall where a mirror used to hang, and age-old graffiti, shouting “Mary Ellen is a slut” covering the stall walls. Picture no toilet paper, the sanitary disposals overflowing, and the urinals stained with a dark brown substance. If a student tries to wash his or her hands, there is no soap, and if a student tries to dry his or her hands, there are no paper towels. Welcome to rest rooms in most suburban high schools. These and other conditions need to be examined. High schools in this country are not equal.

A question of series of questions

Should money ever be an incentive for charity? Well, if we were to be wholly honest with ourselves, we know charity is never entirely selfless. Even the self-effacing saints who speak of altruism are guilty of some degree of selfishness; charity for charity's sake doesn't exist when there is something to be gained, be it money or extra credit for students, or even just the bubble of happiness that comes from charitable works. Incentives for charitable acts have always and will always exist, because we as humans live in a quid pro quo society. Ethically questionable, perhaps, but if it motivates us to do good, it can't be all bad.

A citizen of the world opening

In an era when all the frontiers of civilization's expansion seems to have vanished, when the settling and industrialization of all the Earth's land and resources seem to have reached a limit, we, as innate pioneers, look towards space as our next domain of conquest. Despite a hostile, belligerent beginning to the Space Age, in the midst of global tension and a treaty of total cataclysm, mankind has since returned to space as a medium of peace and progress. But space is not free, space is not safe, and space is not easy. With millions of dollars of the Federal budget tied up with NASA and related institutions, with unforeseeable dangers plaguing every launch reentry and landing, and with public interest and support dwindling, should the United States, or any space-capable country for that matter, continue to invest in exploring the frontier in the oncoming century?

Contrasting two points of view

Rodriguez contrasts Mexico and California not as two different places but two polar states of mind; these cultural philosophies are indicative of his divided mind and conflicting feelings. He associates California with a youthful "wild child" outlook and Mexico with a more developed Epicurean pessimism. In the simplistic sense, he has endured from the youthful California to the older Mexican, but--looking back--he does not truly sympathize with the totality of this transformation or agree to discard wither world view in decisive favor of the other.

Which one of these is the best conclusion?

• Ads are intended to do essentially one thing: make a consumer desire a product. The scientific precision with which this is attempted these days makes ads potent influences on the brains of consumers. It is important for the public to recognize that advertisers are overtly trying to manipulate them, and every last ad should be viewed with skepticism.

• Advertising has many goals and the consumer needs to be aware of each and every one. This will effect how you shop and how you manage your money.

Purpose of Conclusions

The purpose of the conclusion is to satisfy the reader by not only wrapping up the essay, but also giving him or her something to think about. This is your last chance to affect the reader.

Ineffective Conclusions

• I hope you enjoyed reading my…

• In this essay/letter you have learned…

• In conclusion,…• As you can see/tell…• I just told you about (exact

thesis)…

In conclusion should be banned!

“It is regurgitating and not sophisticated. To use "in conclusion" is to insult your reader's intelligence”

-Lucile Payne“Make sure your last sentence or paragraph is a joy in itself. It gives the reader a lift, and it lingers when the article is over.”

-William Zinsser

Conclusion Strategies - ways to achieve the

purposeA writer may end with• an “echo” from the

beginning of piece• a quotation• an anecdote• a question• a generalization from

information given, cause-effect

• call to action (Dr. Frederick’s Favorite)

• a dire prediction• a response to a “so

what?” question• A wish, hope, self-

reflection• An ironic twist• Offer a solution (Dr.

Frederick like this one too.)

An echo from the beginning of the piece

Introduction – In an era when all the frontiers of civilization's expansion seems to have vanished, when the settling and industrialization of all the Earth's land and resources seem to have reached a limit, we, as innate pioneers, look towards space as our next domain of conquest.

Conclusion- Land has always been vanishing and yet we always seek and find more. We have always been explorers, consider Columbus going to the Americas, or Marco Polo for China, or American families for the Turner frontier. But if we, from hindsight, see how our civilization has changed as a result, we can say, with some confidence, that moving to space will also push mankind in the right direction. In our culture when a door has been opened, we take it.

A quotation“The end justifies the means," argued Machiavelli. Why not apply this to charity? Taxes are basically funds going to causes like building up our schools, repaving roads, and building a better community for our children--if they are compulsory, it doesn't make much difference; some good is happening. So, when incentives are tied to charitable acts (gratuities to the church) more good occurs than when selfless charity acts alone. Even if the case is somewhat skewed, ethics are ultimately about doing what is good and right by humanity.

An anecdoteIt is a typical Saturday night and boredom sweeps over like a blanket. I want an escape from the drudgery of my life and what do I turn to—entertainment. Besides amusement, entertainment functions to promote artistic creativity and excellence. More than a mindless influence on society, entertainment informs, enlightens, and acts as an intellectual forum. The bullets from Tom Hank’s semi-automatic in Saving Private Ryan are not meant to tell someone that killing is all right, but to showcase the danger and ugliness of war, while simultaneously astounding watchers with visual reality.

A predictionIf reason and logic instead of dissent were truly present amidst the many thousands of controversies around the world, perhaps there would be peace in the Middle East, perhaps new thinkers and problem solvers would get the chance to bring hope to a fight that has gone on much too long, perhaps there would be no use for the excuse “he started it” because there would be less fighting in the world. But perhaps now is the time to start, perhaps by next year, we will see peace in the place where religion was born.

A questionShould a student receive extra credit for giving money to charity? Is that ethical or legal? While doing charity in order to obtain a reward may not be for the purest of motives, there is nothing illegal or immoral about it. Charity is charity. Is it worse to criticize people’s motives for giving charity then not to participate at all? Charities need money and whatever way they get it should be acceptable.

A call to actionBut that means it is our job to determine what is true and what is contrived. It is not an easy task. But, as responsible citizens, it is one we must embrace. We must make an effort to stay well-informed at all times, make rational decisions about what we believe is true, and most importantly, voice our displeasure-via mouth, checkbook, or ballot-when we feel we are being lied to. The public has the ability to determine the course of society in this matter. Together, we just need to point society in the right direction-one of truthfulness and accountability and make it clear that we will not settle for anything less.

A generalization from given information

While better education could maybe help to alleviate some of the pressure and burden caused by outsourcing, the real solution lies in having companies realize that, ultimately Maslow's hierarchy of basic needs should be met, but not at the expense of America's future. Therefore, companies need to monitor how much they outsource and limit it. Companies need to look at the entire picture and outsourcing must be maintained at a level to insure security and prosperity for future generations of Americans.

“So What” conclusionAll in all, the passage highlights a disturbing trend in American marketing: the contents of The Onion could be real. If not for the inclusion of certain diction, details, and irony, the less intellectual reader would have called The Onion to order MagnaSoles. Imagine his disappointment when he learns they were telling the "semi-truth.”

A self reflectionAs I stand here among the mourning crowd, I think about the death of this lovely if maddening princess, and how her death has changed something inside me. Something, as the old song said, had to give, and perhaps this fantastic display of public grief, so vulgar in many ways, so unconvincing in others, has to it some spiritual element after all. Perhaps in their hearts—as well as mine --the British people see Diana as a fellow victim of degraded times, and have instinctively seized upon her death as the moment for a fresh start.

Offer a SolutionAll of us could make some sacrifices. We do not need a television in every room, but one is nice to have. We do not need a five-car garage, but owning a car is all right. We do not need a summer home in France and a winter home in Jamaica, but having proper heating and air-conditioning is not too much to ask. We need to help less fortunate, but giving away what we need is not a good idea. Poverty is truly a large problem in the world, but we need to treat its causes, not its symptoms. We need to work on how to help people find jobs, not throw money at them.

Do not write on the Persuasion Map side

• Now…Copy the persuasion map on two sheets of paper.

• Look at the topics and choose two that you know something about.

• On one side of the paper write the topic and write as many pros and cons as you can think of

• Decide which side you want to defend. Pro or Con?

• Fill in the persuasion map for each of the two topics you choose.

• For example: Should Students Wear School Uniforms?

• Pros Cons Gangs could not wear It takes away from individual colors preferencesNo one would be able Enforcing rules about uniforms is to tell socioeconomic difficult status Students will find a way to expressDon’t have to worry about individualization even with uniforms what to wear Could be expensive for families withOverall cost is cheaper many childrenStudies show uniforms decrease School should be a place to celebrate

violence diversity

Pick a pro or a con and defend it on map

• Choose which side you are going to defend and write it in the left box.

• Ex. Students should not have to wear uniforms to school.

• In the next three boxes (middle), write the three reasons you will discuss.

• In the fact/example box, give three facts or examples to support your middle box.

• Do the persuasion map for TWO topics. You do NOT have to write an essay. Just do the map for two different topics.

• If you finish before time is called, begin questions from page 206.