Transcript View PPT “Beginnings and Endings”

Beginnings and Endings
Kayla Skarbakka, Writing Consultant
Writing Center
Walden University
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Session Overview
How to begin and end a paper
• Introductions and Conclusions
Why these elements matter
How to write effective beginnings and endings
for your own work
• Structure
• Tips
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Beginnings and Endings: Why?
Why an Introduction?
 Provide background and context
 Establish the problem and why it is important
 Give purpose or argument for paper
Why a Conclusion?
 Restate main argument of paper
 Bring together all the subtopics
 Point to social change implications
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Beginnings and Endings: Why?
Ways to Visualize the Purpose of the
Introduction and Conclusion:
Bookends propping up the great ideas
you discuss in the body of your paper
Bread holding the sandwich fixings
together
A GPS navigating the reader into the
material and out
A complete conversation, with a
handshake and a goodbye
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Beginnings
An introduction is a piece of text that
accomplishes two important tasks: first, it attracts
readers’ interest, and second, it presents the topic
and makes some comment on it. It contains, in
other words, a strong lead, or hook, and often an
explicit thesis as well. Many introductions open
with a general statement about the topic and then
go into more detail, leading up to a specific thesis
at the end. (Lunsford, 2011, p. 93)
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Beginnings: Thesis Statement
The most important sentence of your paper because it offers
the central argument and purpose
A thesis statement is
 concise, specific, and arguable
 usually the last sentence in your introduction
Example thesis statements:
The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction
may be a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy.
To improve patient care in a rehabilitation setting, nurses must follow
Jean Watson’s theory of caring.
For more on thesis construction: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/405.htm
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Beginnings: Structure
Funnel Shape
Broad: Background/context
Narrower: The problem
relating to that background
Narrowest: What you are
arguing or proposing about
that problem (the thesis
statement)
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Beginnings: Structure
Conflict is inevitable in a healthcare environment because
of emotional, financial, and operational stressors (Vivar,
2006). However, conflict is both a positive and negative
phenomenon that effective nurses navigate. By assessing
conflict situations, nurses can develop insight, recognize
strengths and limitations, and accept outside resources to
manage such situations (Manion, 2005). The particular
assessment best suited to nurse-doctor conflict is the PEPRS
framework.
Why does this introduction work?
 Flow from broad, to narrower, to narrowest
 Clear argument
 Appropriate level of detail
 Appropriate academic voice
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Beginnings: Structure
Structure Don’ts:
 Too much detail (direct quotes,
evidence that goes beyond
background and should be
placed elsewhere)
 Too vague (reiteration of
assignment guidelines)
 “Blueprint” or step-by-step of
what is to come in the paper
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Beginnings: Structure
For this application, I have selected an acute care
setting. In this paper, I will explain why patient safety is
important in this setting. Second, I will identify the key
challenges for nurses regarding patient safety. Finally, I
will describe two strategies for improving patient safety
and explain why I chose them.
Why is this not the greatest introduction?




Assumes reader knows assignment
Gives a step-by-step of paper (the “blueprint” design)
Uses the assignment guidelines as sentences
Gives only a general overview (could apply to any fellow
student’s paper)
 Does not give a real sense of problem or argument
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Beginnings: Tips
Per APA, there should be no “Introduction”
heading.
Incorrect:
Introduction
In this paper, I will …
Correct:
Title of the Paper
In this paper, I will …
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Beginnings: Tips
Length
Short course paper: usually just a paragraph;
Longer, complex papers: can be several paragraphs. Be brief.
Grammar and Voice: Use a formal academic voice.
Watch out for these common issues:
 A casual or conversational tone
Let’s first discuss healthcare in America today.
As you know, healthcare is a big problem in America today.
These examples talk directly to the reader, as if in a chat.
Make sure there is distance between writer and reader.
Healthcare is a problem in America today because 40% are
without insurance and therefore susceptible to untreated
injury and disease.
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Beginnings: Tips
Common Issues:
 Passive voice (No subject or “doer” of the action)
In this paper, the problem with healthcare will be argued.
Instead, use the active voice:
In this paper, I will argue that the problem…
 Anthropomorphism (Human traits to inanimate objects)
This paper will analyze…
The literature review determined that…
Because a paper or a section of a paper cannot describe or
reveal, use “I”:
I will analyze…
Through the literature review, I determined…
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Beginnings: Tips
Common Issues:
 Questions
If 40% of Americans are uninsured, what do they do if
they become sick?
Why doesn’t the government do something about
inflated health premiums?
Though questions can “hook” the reader, in academic
writing, avoid them in order to
– Maintain an unbiased, formal tone
– hook the reader with your evidence
– express the problem in a straightforward way
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Beginnings: Tips
Common Issues:
 Direct quotes
“The great fault of the 21st century is the lack of access to
healthcare for those of low socioeconomic means, leading to
an increase in both preventable deaths and anxiety
disorders” (Smith, 2010, p. 7).
Because this is your paper, you’ll want to use your own
words to guide the reader.
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Beginnings: Tips
Common Issues:
 Verb tense shifts
• Use the future tense when explaining the paper: In this paper, I will
analyze healthcare reform.
• Use the past tense when describing the research: Douglas and Jones
(2011) stated that, despite progress in healthcare reform, lowincome communities will not see changes until the next decade.
• Use the present tense when presenting something that is currently
or always true: Millions of Americans lack health insurance due to
increasing premiums and unemployment.
 Weak verbs
In your thesis especially, use powerful verbs that promote argument or
analysis.
Not so effective: summarize, explain, describe
Better: argue, compare, critique, synthesize
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The body of your paper goes
here, in between your
introduction and conclusion
It should develop your ideas in
such a way as to convince the
reader of your argument
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Endings
After the body of your paper, rather than just
stopping, you will want to ease your reader into
your final thoughts on your topic, otherwise known
as a conclusion.
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Endings
What is the purpose of a conclusion?
Acts as a reminder of
• Argument
• Main points
Gives the big picture
Provides closure
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Endings
Without a conclusion…
…your readers may feel lost, confused, and
unsure why they spent all that time
reading your paper.
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Endings
A conclusion is a piece of text that
leaves readers satisfied that a full discussion has
taken place. Many conclusions begin with a
restatement of the thesis and end with more
general statements that grow out of it: this
pattern reverses the common general-to-specific
pattern of the introduction. (Lunsford, 2011, p.
93)
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Endings
Create closure through
Structure
No new information
Avoiding the “blueprint”
Synthesis rather than summary
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Endings: Structure
Triangle Shape
Narrow: Restating the
thesis
Broader: Reiterating main
points
Broad: Implications of
argument to social
change and future
research
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Endings: Tips
Be brief
• Typically one paragraph for course papers
Use headings
• Level 1 heading
• Common headings: Conclusion, Summary, or
Discussion
Summary
In conclusion, ….
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Endings: Tips
Have a similar tone to the paper
• Word choice, scholarly language
Follow the same writing rules as an
introduction
• Avoiding anthropomorphism, passive voice,
rhetorical questions, and incorrect verb tense
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Endings: Tips
No new information should appear in a
conclusion.
New information includes
Direct quotes
Introduction of new sources
Avoid “flip-the-page” syndrome
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Endings: Tips
Just like an introduction, a conclusion
should not be in a “blueprint” format.
In this paper, I discussed how informatics is
an important part of nursing. I included
information from peer-reviewed sources and
noted how informatics will impact my field
and organization. I concluded with some of
the trade-offs of implementing informatics
and not.
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Endings: Tips
Why the blueprint doesn’t work:
 All summary
 Simple word choice and sentence structure
 Might annoy your reader
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Endings: Tips
So…what does work?
Synthesis instead of summary
 Include the main points of your paper
 Put main points back together for your reader
 Phrase argument in a different way
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Endings: Tips
Tie back to introduction and thesis
Reiterate overall argument
• Why did you write this paper?
• Why is this topic important?
Remind readers of how you proved that
argument
• Studies, theories, experience, data
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Endings: The Future?
Discuss future implications of
research or topic
Not new information
Should naturally build throughout your
text
Reiterates the importance of your
argument
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Endings
Sample Conclusion Paragraph
Employing informatics in an organization may
include frustration and pushback from healthcare
staff, but using a system like CPOE is a necessity. In
my organization, improved and consistent patient
care was an early benefit, and scholars continue to
note the long-term benefits of informatics. As CPOE
becomes a future requirement for healthcare
organizations, administrators should encourage its
use and fund training to have a smooth, wellreceived implementation.
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Recap
Beginnings
Construct an arguable thesis
Establish your scholarly tone
Remember the funnel shape
Endings
Reiterate your thesis
Synthesize your main points
Remember the triangle shape
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Questions
Thanks for joining me this evening!
Use the Question box to ask for clarification
For more information on beginning or ending
a paper, see
http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/320.htm
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Reference
Lunsford, A. (2011). The St. Martin’s handbook (7th
ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
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Resources
 Writing Center: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/
 Walden Library: http://library.waldenu.edu/
 Residencies: http://residencies.waldenu.edu/
 Center for Research Support:
http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/
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Contact Information
Email the Writing Center anytime at
[email protected] or
[email protected]
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