Transcript Introduction and Conclusion Paragraphs

The Looking Glass Wars Essay
The Prompt
Blue, the caterpillar, tells Alyss, “’Everything you have
experienced up until now has had to be if you are to become the
strongest queen Wonderland has ever known. It has been
necessary to forge in you the wise and judicious temperament
that will guide you as protector of the Heart Crystal’” (Beddor
285). How has Alyss changed as a result of her
experiences? How have these changes prepared her
to take back her queendom?
Thesis
Complete the following framed thesis statement:
In The Looking GlassWars, Frank Beddor uses (The ConcreteLiterary Element) to (Marker Verb) Alyss from a(n) (How is
she described in the beginning of the novel?) into a(n) (How is
she described at the end of the novel?) so that she can (The
abstract – What is the purpose in having Alyss change?).
Paragraph #2
 How is Princess Alyss
characterized in the beginning of
the novel?
Paragraph #3
 After being betrayed by Reverend
Charles Dodgson, how does Alyss
change?
Paragraph #4
 The Looking Glass Maze is a rite of
passage for Alyss. Through this
experience and others upon her return
to Wonderland, Alyss changes. How
have the changes prepared her to take
back her queendom?
The Introduction Paragraph
 The first paragraph in a paper that introduces your topic and
thesis statement
 Contains 3 main parts:
 Attention-Getter / Hook
 The Situation
 Thesis statement
A Visual
 Think of the introduction paragraph as an upside down
triangle.
General
Attention Getter
Situation
Thesis Statement
Specific
Attention Getter / Hook
 The very first sentence(s)
that gets the reader’s
attention and makes them
want to read more
 VERY general introduction
of the topic
 Some options:
 Shocking statistic
 Startling story
 Quotation
 Setting the scene
Attention Getter / Hook
 Shocking statistic
 There are roughly 400,000 children in the US foster care system.
 Startling story
 Imagine being trapped in a strange world. In a world that knew you only as Alice
in Wonderland. In a world that refused to believe that you were really Princess
Alyss Heart, protector of the Heart Crystal.
 Quotation
 “I'm stronger than you are, Redd.”
 “For most of the universe's life is not all gummy wads and tarty tarts; is a struggle
against hardship, unfairness, corruption, abuse, and adversity in all its guises,
where even to survive - let alone survive with dignity - is heroic. To soldier
through the days in the wake of failure is the courageous act of many.”
 Setting the scene
 Alyss Heart watched the Inventors’ Parade with fleeting interest. She was
unaware that it was the last Inventors’ Parade she would watch for more than
thirteen years.
The Situation
 The sentences between the attention-getter and thesis
statement
 Describes/summarizes the situation in the book. Includes the
title and the author.
The Thesis Statement
 The most important sentence in the paper
 Last sentence of introduction paragraph
 Tells exactly what the paper will be about
 Sometimes, it will present the order of the supporting
material that will be in the paper
The Conclusion Paragraph
 The last paragraph in an essay that neatly wraps up the paper
 Contains 3 main parts
 Restate the thesis
 Lead-out
 Clincher
A Visual
 Think of the Conclusion as a triangle.
Restatement of Thesis
Specific
Summary
Clincher
General
Restate the thesis
 Summarize the thesis without repeating yourself
 The most specific part of the conclusion
 Should include a transition to indicate that this is your
concluding paragraph
The Summary
 Makes the topic larger to become more general and less
specific
 Summaries the main arguments of your essay. (Restating your
topic sentences.)
The Clincher
 Last sentence of the last paragraph
 Give the paper finality
 Similar to an attention getter because it should make the
reader think and leave an impression
 Most general part of the conclusion paragraph