Writing good introductions, thesis statements, and conclusions

1. The Introduction, Conclusion and Thesis Statment Framing Your Essay

2. General Guidelines Take your reader from general to particular Make your reader interested and intrigued Give her a sense of what your paper will be about Leave him with something to think about

3. The Introduction DO Move from the general to the particular Include a strong thesis, usually in the last sentence Write more than one sentence

4. The Introduction: Don’t Write only one sentence Include important examples or evidence from your paper Try to accomplish too much in one paragraph

5. The Thesis Statement: Do Make it ARGUABLE, not a statement of fact Bad: There are many similarities and differences between apples and oranges Good: A comparison between apples and oranges demonstrates the infinite superiority of oranges. Present your topic confidently, as something you believe to be interesting and useful.

6. The Thesis Statement: Don’t Put it in the form of a Question. This is a Thesis STATEMENT. Use expressions like “this essay will show”: just get to the point. Try and force your topic into a three part statement. You should abandon the three-part statement with the five-paragraph essay.

7. Conclusion Do NOT simply repeat intro or thesis Do NOT introduce any new or significant evidence or example for your main argument You MAY leave your readers with a question or some other food for thought. In general, bring your reader back to the framework your started with.