“Chapter 14. Essay Essentials: Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs” in “Read, Think, Write”
Chapter 14 Essay Essentials Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs
Learning Objectives
- • Recognize the importance of strong introductory and concluding paragraphs
- • Engage the reader immediately with an introductory paragraph that introduces the topic, the context, and the thesis
- • Conclude an essay in an impactful way by reinforcing the thesis, summarizing the main points of the essay, and leaving your reader with something to think about
- • Develop an effective title for an essay
Now that you’ve written the body of the essay, which contains the important ideas and details that support your thesis, it’s time to finish the essay with an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph, which will bookend the main content of the essay to create a unified whole, along with a suitable title.
The Introductory Paragraph
Picture the introductory paragraph as a storefront window: you have a certain amount of space to attract your customers (readers) to your goods (subject) and bring them inside your store (discussion). Once you have enticed them with something intriguing, you then point them in a specific direction and try to make the sale (convince them to accept your thesis).
An introductory paragraph is an invitation to your readers to consider what you have to say and then follow your train of thought as you expand on your thesis statement. An introductory paragraph serves the following purposes:
- Introduces the general topic of the essay
- Establishes your voice and tone, or your attitude, toward the subject
- States the thesis that will be supported in the body paragraphs
- Provides signposts that tell the readers what will be discussed in the essay
First impressions are crucial and can leave lasting impressions in your reader’s mind, which is why the introductory paragraph is so important. If an introductory paragraph is dull or disjointed, the reader probably will not have much interest in continuing with the essay.
How to Structure an Introductory Paragraph
Unlike the body paragraphs, the introductory paragraph isn’t typically structured the way that a stand-alone paragraph is. An introductory paragraph has its own unique purpose and structure.
An introductory paragraph usually begins with an engaging statement devised to pique a reader’s interest in the topic. In the next few sentences, introduce the topic by stating general facts or ideas about the subject. As you move further into the introduction, gradually narrow the focus, coming closer to your thesis. Stepping smoothly and logically from the more general introductory remarks to the specific thesis statement can be achieved using a funnel technique, as illustrated in Figure 14.1.
Immediately capturing your readers’ interest increases the chances of having them read what you are about to discuss. You can garner curiosity for your essay in a number of ways. Try to get your readers personally involved by doing any of the following:
- Explaining the significance of the topic
- Appealing to emotion
- Using logic
- Presenting a provocative question or opinion
- Stating a startling statistic or surprising fact
- Raising a question or series of questions
Figure 14.1: The Funnel Structure for the Introductory Paragraph
Illustration by Jessica Tang.
Practice 14.1
Jot down a few general introductory remarks that you can make about the topic you explored in Practice 13.3.
At the end of Chapter 13, we saw the first draft of the body paragraphs of Mariah’s essay on media. Now look at Mariah’s first draft of an introductory paragraph for that essay. The thesis statement is underlined.
Play Atari on a General Electric brand television set? Maybe watch Dynasty? Or read old newspaper articles on microfiche at the library? Twenty-five years ago, the average college student did not have many options when it came to entertainment in the form of technology. Fast-forward to the twenty-first century, and the digital age has revolutionized the way people entertain themselves. In today’s rapidly evolving world of digital technology, consumers are bombarded with endless options of how they do most everything—from buying and reading books to taking and developing photographs. In a society that is obsessed with digital means of entertainment, it is easy for the average person to become baffled. Everyone wants the newest and best digital technology, but the choices are many and the specifications are often confusing.
Practice 14.2
Reread each sentence in the example introductory paragraph. Indicate which technique was used, and comment on how each sentence is designed to attract the reader’s interest. Compare your answers with a peer.
Practice 14.3
Using the funnel structure, write a complete introductory paragraph based on your notes in Practice 14.1. Ask a peer for feedback.
The Concluding Paragraph
It is not unusual to want to rush when you approach the conclusion of your essay, and even experienced writers may fade by the time they get to the end. But what good writers remember is that it is vital to give just as much attention to the concluding paragraph as the rest of the essay.
The concluding paragraph ties all of the components of the essay together and leaves the reader satisfied that the topic has been thoroughly explored and the thesis has been effectively supported. It might also leave the reader with an impression of the significance of the topic and the thesis.
If the introduction and body are well organized and sufficiently developed, the concluding paragraph can be the easiest to compose. However, a hasty ending can undermine an otherwise strong essay.
In the concluding paragraph, reinforce the thesis (using different wording than you did in the thesis statement) to remind the reader of the major arguments and to indicate that the essay is drawing to a close. A strong concluding paragraph also summarizes the main points (from the topic sentences of the body paragraphs) and emphasizes the importance of the topic. To write the conclusion, look back at the main idea of each section/paragraph, and summarize the point using different words than you have already used.
Do not bring up any new points in the concluding paragraph. The ideas expressed in the concluding paragraph must match the ideas presented in the rest of the essay. A concluding paragraph that does not correspond to the rest of your essay, has loose ends, or is disorganized can raise doubts about the entire essay.
How to Structure a Concluding Paragraph
Like the introductory paragraph, the concluding paragraph has its own unique purpose, and it is not structured like a conventional stand-alone paragraph.
The structure of the concluding paragraph is often a mirror image of the introductory paragraph; therefore, the structure is sometimes referred to as a “reverse funnel.”
In the introductory paragraph, you made general introductory statements and then gradually narrowed the focus until you presented your thesis. In the concluding paragraph, reverse this: at the beginning of the concluding paragraph, restate your thesis. Then summarize the main supporting ideas. Follow up with general concluding remarks. The sentences of the concluding paragraph should progressively broaden the focus of your thesis and manoeuvre your readers out of the essay.
Many writers like to end their essays with a final emphatic statement. This strong closing statement will cause your readers to continue thinking about the implications of your essay; it will make your conclusion, and thus your essay, more memorable. You might want to make a statement that suggests a further and future study opportunity based on the findings described in the essay. Another powerful technique is to challenge your readers to make a change in either their thoughts or their actions. Challenging your readers to see the subject through new eyes is a powerful way to ease yourself and your readers out of the essay.
Figure 14.2: The Reverse Funnel Structure for the Concluding Paragraph
Illustration by Jessica Tang.
Common Pitfalls
Because students often rush to write the concluding paragraph, they often add sentences that actually undermine the thesis. Avoid the following in your conclusion:
- Introducing new material
- Contradicting your thesis
- Changing your thesis
- Including apologies or disclaimers
- Overgeneralizing
Introducing new material in a concluding paragraph has an unsettling effect on your reader. When you raise new points at the end, you make your reader want more information, which you could not possibly provide in the limited space of your final paragraph. The introduction of new ideas at this stage might also make your reader think you’ve not discussed the topic thoroughly enough in the body of the essay.
Contradicting or changing your thesis statement causes your readers to think that you do not actually have conviction about your topic. After all, you have spent several paragraphs adhering to a singular point of view. If you change sides or your point of view in the conclusion, your reader becomes much less inclined to believe your original argument.
By apologizing for your opinion or stating that you know it is tough to digest, you are in fact admitting that even you know that what you have discussed is irrelevant or unconvincing. You do not want your readers to feel this way. Effective writers stand by their thesis statement and do not stray from it.
Earlier in this chapter, we reminded you to avoid being too general in the introductory paragraph. The same applies to the concluding paragraph. If the end of your essay seems to be conveying a message that applies to all people for all time, it’s too general.
Mariah’s concluding paragraph incorporates some of these pointers. The thesis statement is paraphrased in the first sentence:
In a society fixated on the latest and smartest digital technology, a consumer can easily become confused by the countless options and specifications. The ever-changing state of digital technology challenges consumers with its updates and add-ons and expanding markets and incompatible formats and restrictions—a fact that is complicated by salesmen who want to sell them anything. In a world that is increasingly driven by instant gratification, it’s easy for people to buy the first thing they see. The solution for many people should be to avoid buying on impulse. Consumers should think about what they really need, not what is advertised.
Practice 14.4
Review the introductory paragraph you wrote for Practice 14.3. Using the reverse funnel structure, write a complete concluding paragraph, being sure to avoid the pitfalls listed above. Ask a peer for feedback:
Does the paragraph
- • paraphrase the thesis statement
- • briefly summarize the main points
- • end with an emphatic statement, a suggestion for further thought or study, a call to action, or a similar powerful closing
- • give the reader a sense of completion or closure
Does the paragraph avoid
- • introducing new ideas
- • contradicting or changing the thesis
- • including apologies or disclaimers
- • overgeneralizing
Write an Effective Essay Title
Now that you’ve written the introductory paragraph, the body paragraphs, and the concluding paragraph, give your essay an engaging title to draw in readers. Like the headline in a newspaper or the big, bold title in a magazine, an essay’s title gives the audience a first peek at the content. If readers like the title, they are likely to keep reading.
An effective title not only introduces the topic of the essay, but it often also implies the main argument of the essay.
We have followed Mariah’s progress as she drafted her essay on digital media. Finally, it is time for Mariah to give her essay an engaging title that tells her reader what her topic is and reflects the thesis. You will recall that this was Mariah’s working title for her essay:
- Working title: Confusing Digital Technology
Now that she’s finished her essay, Mariah revisits the working title. The working title did help her stay focused as she drafted her essay. However, now she would like to make the title more interesting. Upon review, she finds that her working title did contain the topic (digital technology), but she would like to ensure that it reflects her thesis (her position on digital technology). Mariah revises her title:
- Revised title: Digital Technology: The Newest and the Best at What Price?
What do you think of Mariah’s revised title? A title may also indicate the type of essay. In other words, the title might indicate whether an essay is a personal essay or a research essay. It might indicate the organizational strategy the writer chose, such as directional process, compare-contrast, or cause-effect. It might indicate whether the essay merely defines a topic or whether the essay makes a strong argument about a topic.
Practice 14.5
Match each of the following essay titles with the type of essay.
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Checklist 14.1: Criteria for an Effective Title
- An effective title should pique the reader’s interest by providing as much of the following information as possible:
- ☐ An introduction of the specific topic of the essay
- ☐ An implication of the controlling idea (or “argument”) of the essay
- ☐ An assertive statement
- ☐ An indication of the type of essay
Practice 14.6
A student has come up with some possible titles for her essay about the role of nurse practitioners in rural health care settings. This was her working title:
- Working title: Nurse Practitioners in Rural Places
Now that the essay is written, the student would like to come up with a more interesting and accurate title. She brainstorms six possible titles, which you will read below.
- A. In each of the possible titles, circle the topic, and underline the controlling idea.
- i. Nurse Practitioners
- ii. Should Nurse Practitioners Work in Rural Health Care Settings?
- iii. Providing Better Rural Health Care
- iv. Nurse Practitioners: Partners in Providing Effective Health Care in Rural Alberta
- v. Nurse Practitioners: Yes or No?
- vi. Ways to Provide better Health Care in Rural Alberta
- B. Now take a second look at the titles. Place a check mark beside each one that makes an assertive statement. Put an X beside each title that does not make an assertive statement.
- C. According to the criteria in Checklist 14.1, which title is most effective?
- D. What is missing in each of the other titles?
While the body paragraphs contain the bulk of the content of the essay—the ideas, facts, examples, and other relevant information—a well-written introductory paragraph and a well-written concluding paragraph, along with an effective essay title, contribute to creating an essay that feels complete, unified, and interesting to the reader. Spend sufficient time on these final three aspects to be sure you’re presenting your ideas in the best possible package.
In Part 3, you have learned how to write effective paragraphs, and you have learned how to arrange those paragraphs to write a well-organized essay using standard essay structure. In Part 4: Common Writing Assignments, you will learn about some of the most common types of writing assignments you will encounter in university, and you will learn how to adapt the standard essay structure to meet the specific requirements of each type of assignment.
Key Takeaways
- • Write the introduction and conclusion last, after you have fleshed out the body paragraphs.
- • A strong opening captures your readers’ interest and introduces them to your topic before you present your thesis statement.
- • The funnel technique for writing the introduction begins with generalities and gradually narrows your focus until you present your thesis.
- • A good introduction engages people’s emotions or logic, questions or explains the subject, or provides a striking image or quotation.
- • Carefully chosen diction in both the introduction and conclusion prevents confusion and boredom.
- • The concluding paragraph should restate your thesis, review your main points, and emphasize the importance of the topic. It is the final opportunity to convince the reader.
- • A concluding paragraph that does not connect to the rest of the essay can diminish the effect of your paper.
- • The concluding paragraph should remain true to the thesis statement. Avoid changing your tone or the main idea, and avoid introducing any new material.
- • Closing with a final emphatic statement provides closure for your readers and makes your essay memorable.
- • An effective title not only introduces your topic, but it may also indicate the type of essay and your stance on the topic.
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