Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs

What is due on Tuesday? Let's just be sure that we are all on board the same class train, shall we?

Tuesday, October 16, you are bringing to class a rough draft of argumentative paper #1. You had a choice of several topics from which to choose. If you wanted to write on a different topic--and I'm thinking of one of you in particular--you were told to contact me and get my approval first. If you have not done this by now, it is too late.

What you should have been working on this week were your introductory and concluding paragraphs. Let's go over a few things we learned last Tuesday.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS:

The hook. Your opening statement can be rather general, but it still needs to grab your reader's attention. With every sentence, your reader has the choice of whether or not to continue reading. You want your writing to grab him and keep his attention from beginning to end.

The funnel. Remember, your introduction is like an upside-down funnel. You are starting it with broad statements and bringing it down to the key points that you want to discuss.

The thesis statement. PLEASE do not write a thesis statement that says, "Now I will discuss the three reasons I believe Tennessee's new smoking ordinance is too extreme: blah, blah, blah..." You can do better than that. Your thesis statement is not an announcement. It is the purpose of your paper. Your paper finds its reason for existing in your thesis statement! Everything you are going to say is encapsulated in one sentence that clearly tells your reader where your paper is going. Use transitional phrases to flow into your thesis. Your thesis statement is not a battle cry but the natural evolution of a message you want to convey to your reader.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS:

Do:

Do restate your major points.
Do show how you have proven your points.
Do bring the reader to a state of agreement with you.

Don't:

Don't write your conclusion like it's an afterthought or something you jotted down on your way to class. This is an important paragraph! You are leaving your reader with your last words on this subject. Make it impressive!

Don't change your mind. If your final sentence says something like, "On the other hand, all smokers are going to die of lung cancer, so I guess the new law is okay," then you have done all of your work for nothing. You have sabotaged your own paper by causing your reader to walk away confused.

Don't introduce new points. This is the end of the road for your paper. You should have said everything you wanted to say already. Now is not the time to try to squeeze in a few more thoughts on the subject.