Introductions and Conclusions

Introductions and Conclusions
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University of Phoenix Material

Introductions and Conclusions

As you begin to write the rough draft of your paper, think critically about how you might draw your readers’ attention in a compelling way. Consider how to create a rapport with the audience. For example, what areas of agreement may already exist between you and your readers? What does your audience need in order to make them interested in your topic?

Types of Introductions

One way to draw in the audience is to acquire readers’ attention with the introduction. Consider opening your paper in one of the following ways:

· Tell a story or an anecdote. If you have personal experience in this area, tell a story about yourself or someone you know.

Example: Last year, approximately 3,400 adult nonsmokers died from lung cancer due to secondhand smoke.

· Provide a short, famous quotation.

Example: “It's easy to quit smoking. I've done it hundreds of times.” – Mark Twain (1835–1910)

· Write as if your position will argue the other side of the topic.

Example: Smoking is not illegal and is still a right for Americans to exercise.

Ask a question.

Example: Would it surprise people that secondhand smoke is now a known cause of cancer in humans?

· Share an interesting point about the subject.

Example: Smoke from cigarettes can linger in the air for hours, even after a smoker extinguishes the cigarette.

Besides attracting a reader’s attention, an introduction might serve one or all of the following purposes:

· Provide background information.

· Define unfamiliar terms.

· Introduce the purpose of the paper.

· Present a thesis statement or argument about the paper’s topic.

· Preview the main points of the thesis.

· Provide a brief summary of the topics the paper discusses.

Different Types of Conclusions

Do not stop writing abruptly after making your last argument. The paper’s conclusion should wrap up your points smoothly and make a final impression on the readers.

You can conclude your paper in several ways:

· Restate the thesis: “Secondhand smoke is dangerous to the human body and should be banned in public places.”

· Summarize the main points of the essay: “Banning secondhand smoke in restaurants and public places would not only save lives, but also decrease air pollution.”

· Ask a question: “Do people want to contract lung cancer only because they inhaled smoke from someone else’s cigarette?”

· Offer a quotation: “‘research indicates that private research conducted by cigarette company Philip Morris in the 1980s showed that secondhand smoke was highly toxic, yet the company suppressed the finding during the next two decades’” (American Lung Association, 2007, para. 13).

· Provide an ironic twist, a surprising observation, or a clever ending: “This writer is a former smoker who now actively works to pass laws banning secondhand smoke in public places.”

· Throw out a personal challenge: “Those who smoke should consider quitting and becoming part of the movement to stop secondhand smoke in public places.”

· Make a prediction or recommend actions for the readers to take: “Next time a state’s ballot contains legislation banning secondhand smoke in public places, those who support the initiative should vote yes.”

Whichever type of conclusion you choose, say something powerful and memorable so your readers continue thinking about what you wrote.