The Introduction and Conclusion Paragraphs

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The Introduction and Conclusion Paragraphs
Informative Research Paper

• Course Target I will understand and apply the
  61 Traits of Writing to my writing.

Write down whatever is in GREEN!
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Introduction Paragraph Purpose

• The purpose of the introduction paragraph is to
  capture your audiences attention by providing
  background information about your topic and
  introduce your subject matter. Begin broad or
  general and become more specific.
• It should be at least 5 sentences long including
  your thesis statement which is the last
  sentence(s) of your introduction.

Remember the triangle?
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Rubric Requirements

• Writer captures the audiences attention by
  providing important background/detail sentences
  that introduce the heros relevance.

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What resources will help me write an
introduction?

• Biography notes on your hero-introduce your
  readers to your topic!
• Concepts of what a hero is.
• Good beginnings and endings hand-out on the wiki

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Example Introduction Paragraph
Growing up in a poor family in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Bill Cosby maintained a busy
schedule mixed with academics and sports while at
the same time working two jobs before and after
school to help support his family (Gale). He
continued working hard in life and became a
famous successful comedian and actor who truly
made a difference in this world. A hero is
someone who can defeat all odds and take risks,
sacrificing something in order to stand up for
what they believe in. Famous actor and comedian,
Bill Cosby shows heroism by breaking racial
barriers and risking failure by expressing his
beliefs on race.
Notice that the thesis is at the bottom?! The
thesis includes a definition of a hero, the
subject, and how that person is a hero!
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Conclusion Paragraph Purpose

• The purpose of the conclusion paragraph is to sum
  up your evidence or claims. Its a brief
  overview of the material you described in detail
  in your body paragraphs.
• It is 4-6 sentences long
• It restates your thesis argument!

This time its this type of triangle!
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Rubric Requirements

• The conclusion restates the thesis and raises
  issues to a greater whole. It contains no
  distracting information that strays from the
  focus of the thesis.

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Example Conclusion Paragraph
Bill Cosbys ability to bring a smile to
every face and experience success amidst all
kinds of adversity make him an obvious hero that
many feel naturally connected to. He broke many
racial barriers and faced criticism on what he
believed were the racial barriers facing America
in his time. Criticism did not stop him, but
only encouraged him to stand up to his beliefs,
Civilization had too many rules for me, he
said, so I did my best to rewrite them
(Cosby).  Because of Cosbys success and
achievements, America has a role model to look
back on.
Notice the unique way in which I reworded the
thesis and brought the topic to a greater whole?!
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Introduction Paragraph Rough Draft

• On a half-sheet of paper, write a draft
  introduction paragraph for your paper.
• Turn this in on the way out today so Mrs. Moll
  can give you feedback.

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• Additional Introduction Paragraph Examples from
  Honors Students of Old

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• Oh Im rich, Im rich! Carnegie exclaimed one
  day during the 1860s when a fiend asked how he
  was doing (Heilbroner 63). At first glance, the
  statement sounds greedy, selfish and cocky a
  phrase that would seem to come out of someone who
  avariciously sought money. Yet, unexpectedly,
  the same man grew to be one of the most notable
  philanthropists of his time, donating millions of
  dollars to aid the general public. Andrew
  Carnegie, the industrialist that rose from
  poverty to prosperity, was a man that not only
  gained a massive amount of wealth, but gave away
  the majority of his fortune to the needy. He was
  a man who acknowledged the need for change in
  order to advance, both economically and
  educationally. The steel magnate changed the
  industrializing period of the United States,
  attempting to make it for the better. Not all
  heroes need a super power, a secret identity or
  the strength to overcome malicious evil forces.
  In fact, heroes could simply be human beings who
  strive to benefit others in the world. Andrew
  Carnegie was such as he gave away an unbelievable
  amount of money to assist many populations in
  both the new and old worlds.

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• In the world today, there are many different
  kinds of heroes people who accomplish seemingly
  impossible tasks, people who discover life-saving
  breakthroughs, or fictional people who save the
  world everyday. Lewis and Clark were not
  fictional, but were actual people who traveled
  thousands of miles to the Pacific and back to
  further inform people all over the world about
  what was in the unknown. Heroes like them touch
  lives in varieties of ways, and give rise to
  heroes of the future. Lewis and Clark proved
  themselves as heroes by furthering the expansion
  and knowledge of Western America.

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• Sandra Day OConnor is a very powerful and
  outstanding woman of the United States. Sandra
  Day OConnors early life, school years, law
  work, volunteer work and retirement have all
  influenced her actions and thoughts. A hero is
  someone who has made a difference and has
  accomplished something extraordinary. Sandra Day
  OConnor is a hero and she has achieved an
  astonishing accomplishment as one of the few
  women Supreme Court justices.

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• Additional Conclusion Paragraph Examples from
  Honors Students of Old

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• A hero is someone who benefits society in some
  way and leaves an impact for the better. Dr.
  Seuss is a hero because he taught and continues
  to teach children and adults important morals
  through his innovative novels and illustrations,
  so that they can lead more responsible lives. He
  has been a leader in social issues throughout his
  life and continues to be now even though he has
  passed away. To honor his passing a sculpture
  garden and museum were built in his hometown of
  Springfield, and it includes some of his most
  popular characters that have endeared the hearts
  of millions and encouraged people to care for all
  things on the earth despite their differences.
  He was the first to combine the elements of humor
  with serious to create literature where children
  have fun and learn. Seuss has become so
  cherished that he was admitted to the California
  Hall of Fame in 2008 (Reading Today). Dr. Seuss
  is the creator of creatures, the inventor of
  imagination, the manger of orals, the redeemer of
  reading, the izard of words, or more simply He
  is a hero.

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• Heroes stand up for what they believe to be
  right they endure hardships and criticism all in
  a hope to achieve a selfless and honorable
  mission. Wilberforce might not have been an
  accomplished warrior hero like George Washington
  or Napoleon, but he was still a type of warrior.
  He fought for twenty years against the British
  government in order to see the downfall of the
  slave trade. When he started out he was a
  vibrant young man who set out on a quest to end
  some of the injustice and cruelty he saw in the
  world. Two decades later, after many trials of
  faith and conviction, his determination yielded
  the sweet fruit of victory. However after all
  those hardships that young man had grown old. He
  found the courage and risked and sacrificed so
  much for the sake of his brothers not for his own
  glory. This is why history honors the name
  William Wilberforce. For what makes a hero?