Bookends

The Introduction paragraph and the Conclusion paragraph work together.  They work as bookends for the body paragraphs.

As a reminder, the introduction is the only weapon you have to make the audience want to read your paper.  While your professor or classmates may have to read it, you should write in a way that captivates them and makes them interested enough to want to read more.

1. When you start the introduction, ask yourself "What could I relate my overall point to that would hook a reader?".  If you can think of a way to relate your overall topic so that the audience is intrigued, you can easily set the stage for greatness! See the 7 Types of Hooks article for help in this area.

2. The next sentence or two will provide transitional ideas to get the audience from your 'hook' to your point.  Choose these sentences carefully.  While you may have hooked the audience with your first line, you could still lose them here.  You don't want them to slip away.  Make a clear connection, use transition words, and get to your point quickly. See the Everything You Need to Know About Introductions article for helpful links to help you in this area.

3. By the time you reach the last line of your introduction, it is time for your thesis.  The thesis should be direct, clear-cut, and state the point of the essay.  If you are writing a relatively short essay, you may want to include an essay map as well. See the Thesis Basics article for extra guidance.



When creating your conclusion paragraph, just remember that it is going to take the OPPOSITE approach that the introduction did at the beginning of your essay.

The introduction served to grab the reader.  The conclusion will tie everything together and send him on his way with something to think about.  

1. When you start the conclusion, make sure that you do not simply copy/paste the thesis into the first line of the conclusion.  You need to reword it and approach it slightly differently while reminding the audience what you were trying to explain/prove to them.

2. The wrap-up sentences do not have to restate everything from the body paragraph, but they should reflect upon the topic sentences from the main paragraphs.  If you have constructed your body paragraphs correctly, the topic sentences will clearly define aspects of your point.

3. By the time you reach the last line of your conclusion, you need to be clear on what you want your audience to learn, feel, do, or know.  You need to ask yourself "So what".  After all, your audience will be asking this as well.  Make sure that it is clear.  Why was this important?  


See the Everything You Need to Know About Conclusions article for helpful links about conclusion development.


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