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Writing Effective Introductions and Conclusions Starter / Table Activity Directions: Read the introductory paragraph and discuss with your partners what is done well. Prepare a list of “commendable qualities.” I am going to tell you some important stuff. First, I’m going to tell you the first thing. It was nice. Then, I’m going to tell you the second thing. It is some really fun stuff. Finally, I’ll tell you the third thing. It’s sometimes fun and also boring. Focus: Helping our students write effective introductions and conclusions. Introductions Rationale: The purpose of the introduction is to hook the reader and suggest or state the main idea. The purpose of the introduction is to set up or imply an organizational structure. The introduction may be as short as two sentences or it may be one paragraph. Expository Prompt Think of something that is important to you that you learned inside or outside of school. In several paragraphs, write a letter to your teacher explaining what you learned and the reasons why it is important to you. Examples of Effective Introductions Example #1 I adore cats. Well I can’t imagine how anyone could not adore cats. I learned outside of school, how to care for cats. I have two cats named Roger and Maggie. Examples of Effective Introductions Example #2 Boom! I love the sound of my horse’s hooves landing back on the ground after jumping a jump. I have learned a lot of things in life, but I think the most important thing is horseback riding. Why you ask? Because it is good for fitness, responsibility, and it’s fun! Reese Whitherspoon agrees with me when she says, “I’m not much of a horse person, but if it’s important, well, it’s important!” Let’s now identify my ideas in more consideration. Examples of Effective Introductions Example #3 Hold on tight. You are about to do what I like to do in math! My favorite thing is fractions! I like them. If there was a pie and I had to cut it, I would know how! Examples of Effective Introductions Example #4 Dear Mrs. R___, I used to stress out over writing stories and essays. This year is different though. I have learned many new ways about how to write an essay or story. All of it came from you. Examples of Effective Introductions Example #5 Hey, did you know I learned something new this year? It’s shaving my armpits. Techniques to Teach Effective Introductions Provide students with a variety of skills for writing topic sentences Power/Number Sentence Strong Verb To, Plus a Verb The List Statement Get Their Attention Rhetorical Question Examples of Power/Number The telephone company representative gave four reasons why a consumer would want his product. Junior high students need to learn a number of strategies for reading in the content areas. Examples of Strong Verbs The volcano exploded in a mighty blast. Fourth grade writing scores soared at my school last year. Examples of To, Plus a Verb To win at chess, players need to master several skills. To create a masterpiece in art, you must first sketch out your plan. Examples of The List Statement We went to the park, to the library, and then to the store. I enjoy working puzzles, reading books, and walking my dog. Examples of Get Their Attention Wham! I heard the bat hit the ball before I saw it zoom into space. Oh no! Not spinach again! Examples of Rhetorical Questions Have you ever wondered what it would be like to starve all day? Have you ever been so cold your hands turned blue? Let’s Practice! Prompt: Think about an activity you enjoy doing. Write several paragraphs to your teacher explaining the reasons why you like doing that activity. Writing process--prewrite I know I have to show that I have read the prompt. I know I have to write about an activity I enjoy. I know I want to hook my reader. I know I need to set up an organizational pattern. Brainstorm Topics • Dancing • Stamping • Reading Brainstorm Ideas • Dancing • • • Ballet Dance Team ? Brainstorm Ideas • Stamping • • • • Stamp group Christmas cards Gifts ? Brainstorm Ideas • Reading • • • • Newsweek Novel Children’s literature Bookers Identifying Topic • Reading • • • • Newsweek on Wednesdays Novel before I sleep Children’s literature for class Bookers with Grandma and former teachers Crafting Introduction • Power/number statement – Racing to the library with card in hand, I am eager to read any of these three items. – An activity I enjoy doing is reading several different media. Crafting Introduction • Rhetorical Question – Have you ever stayed up all night reading because you couldn’t put the book down? Well, I have! I curled up with my itty bitty book light and before I knew it…it was morning! – What is your favorite activity? I really enjoy spending time reading. Crafting Introduction • List – After school, you can almost always catch me with my nose in Newsweek, a novel, children’s books, or classics for my book club. – I enjoy reading Newsweek, novels of interest, children’s literature, and books for my book club. Crafting Introduction Attention Grabber – Drop Everything and Read!! – Reading is FUN(damental)! Crafting Introduction To plus a verb; strong verb – To succeed in life, you must be a reader. – I love nothing more than soaking up new knowledge from a book. Which topic sentence do you prefer? • • Examine the choices. Make a choice that will hook your reader! This is the key. Let’s Try This! Generate a list of potential topics Write several different types of sentences/introductions Prompt: Think about an activity you enjoy doing. Write several paragraphs to your teacher explaining the reasons why you like doing that activity. Share Focus: Helping our students write effective introductions and conclusions Conclusions Rationale: The purpose of the ending/conclusion is to satisfy the reader by not only wrapping up the essay, but also giving him or her something to think about. The purpose of the ending/conclusion is to link the body (middle) of the piece of writing to the introduction. The ending/conclusion might be as short as a sentence or two, even a word, or as long as a couple of paragraphs. A writer may end with An “echo” from the beginning A quotation A personal connection A call to action A question A startling fact A combination of the above Examples of Effective Conclusions Example #1 I do a lot to see if there are better ways to be taking care of my cats. My mom and dad teach me some things and I also read books about cats. I think I take good care of my cats. So you can see, I work hard to learn to care for my cats. It all pays off. I adore cats. Examples of Effective Conclusions Example #2 Today, we have been discussing why horse riding is important. It has worked for me because of fitness, responsibility, and fun. Is this important to you? You tell me. Examples of Effective Conclusions Example #3 I hope you enjoyed this trip. There’s lots of numbers out there. That is my story of fractions. Examples of Effective Conclusions Example #4 Writing will be on tests, on projects, and will be used all throughout life. Now that I have the ability to write good stories ( and essays), I feel good and I have achieved a lot. I may even grow up to be a storywriter. Thanks to you, Mrs. R____, I have become a young talented story (and essay) writer. What will you teach me next? Examples of Effective Conclusions Example #5 That’s why shaving is important to me. Ouch! I cut myself with my razor. I better get a band aide. Let’s Try a Few… Using the same prompt as before, write at least three different concluding paragraphs. Share with your table. Discuss what you like best. Share with the whole group. Thank you! What are some questions you still have?