The Writing The Writing ProcessProcess

Introductions Introductions and and

ConclusionsConclusions

IntroductionsIntroductions The introduction of an essay The introduction of an essay

(especially a literary essay) (especially a literary essay) consists of the following:consists of the following: Broad opening statement (2-3 Broad opening statement (2-3

sentences)sentences) Plot summary (1-2 sentences)Plot summary (1-2 sentences) Thesis statementThesis statement

IntroductionIntroduction: Broad to Specific: Broad to Specific

Broad Opening Broad Opening statement statement

General General background of background of book or historical book or historical event event

Transition to thesis Transition to thesis statement statement

IntroductionIntroduction A hero is subject to the scrutiny and A hero is subject to the scrutiny and

judgments of those around him. He is judgments of those around him. He is expected to exhibit the traits and behaviors expected to exhibit the traits and behaviors that exemplify the moral standard for all to that exemplify the moral standard for all to follow. While reading literature it is often follow. While reading literature it is often assumed that the protagonist is the hero, assumed that the protagonist is the hero, even if a tragic hero. However, in J.D. even if a tragic hero. However, in J.D. Salinger’s novel, Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye, , Holden Caulfield’s mental instability, Holden Caulfield’s mental instability, frequent lying, and use of obscene language frequent lying, and use of obscene language make him an anti-hero. make him an anti-hero.

Example IntroductionExample Introduction While striving to attain one’s dreams can While striving to attain one’s dreams can

often require hard work, good fortune, and often require hard work, good fortune, and even setbacks, the internal lessons that even setbacks, the internal lessons that one learns strengthens value and one learns strengthens value and satisfaction when dreams are realized. satisfaction when dreams are realized. When a shepherd boy from Spain ventures When a shepherd boy from Spain ventures to various lands in pursuit of his dreams, to various lands in pursuit of his dreams, he faces many obstacles that require him he faces many obstacles that require him to develop a better sense of self. In Paulo to develop a better sense of self. In Paulo Coehlo’s novel, Coehlo’s novel, The AlchemistThe Alchemist, the loss of , the loss of Santiago’s money benefited him because Santiago’s money benefited him because he learned how to persevere, to believe in he learned how to persevere, to believe in himself, and to sacrifice in order to himself, and to sacrifice in order to achieve his personal legend. achieve his personal legend.

Broad statementBroad statement: While striving to attain : While striving to attain one’s dreams can often require hard work, one’s dreams can often require hard work, good fortune, and even setbacks, the good fortune, and even setbacks, the internal lessons that one learns strengthens internal lessons that one learns strengthens value and satisfaction when dreams are value and satisfaction when dreams are realized.realized.

Plot SummaryPlot Summary: When a shepherd boy from : When a shepherd boy from Spain ventures to various lands in pursuit of Spain ventures to various lands in pursuit of his dreams, he faces many obstacles that his dreams, he faces many obstacles that require him to develop a better sense of self. require him to develop a better sense of self.

Thesis StatementThesis Statement:In Paulo Coehlo’s novel, :In Paulo Coehlo’s novel, The AlchemistThe Alchemist, the loss of Santiago’s money , the loss of Santiago’s money benefited him because he learned how to benefited him because he learned how to persevere, to believe in himself, and to persevere, to believe in himself, and to sacrifice in order to achieve his personal sacrifice in order to achieve his personal legend. legend.

Strategies for Writing Strategies for Writing a Conclusiona Conclusion

Conclusions are often the most Conclusions are often the most difficult part of an essay to write, difficult part of an essay to write, and many writers feel that they and many writers feel that they have nothing left to say after have nothing left to say after having written the paper. having written the paper.

A writer needs to keep in mind A writer needs to keep in mind that the conclusion is often what that the conclusion is often what a reader remembers best. Your a reader remembers best. Your conclusion should be the best conclusion should be the best part of your paper.part of your paper.

A conclusion should:A conclusion should:

stress the importance of stress the importance of the thesis statement, the thesis statement,

give the essay a sense of give the essay a sense of completeness, and completeness, and

leave a final impression leave a final impression on the reader.on the reader.

Suggestions for Suggestions for Conclusions:Conclusions:

Answer the question "So Answer the question "So What?"What?"

Show your readers why this Show your readers why this paper was important. Show paper was important. Show them that your paper was them that your paper was meaningful and useful.meaningful and useful.

Synthesize, don't Synthesize, don't summarizesummarize

Don't simply repeat things that Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. They have were in your paper. They have read it. Show them how the points read it. Show them how the points you made and the support and you made and the support and examples you used were not examples you used were not random, but fit together. random, but fit together.

Redirect your readersRedirect your readers Give your reader something to Give your reader something to

think about, perhaps a way to use think about, perhaps a way to use your paper in the "real" world. If your paper in the "real" world. If your introduction went from your introduction went from general to specific, make your general to specific, make your conclusion go from specific to conclusion go from specific to general. Think globally. general. Think globally.

Create a new meaningCreate a new meaning

You don't have to give new You don't have to give new information to create a new information to create a new meaning. By demonstrating meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas work together, how your ideas work together, you can create a new picture. you can create a new picture. Often the sum of the paper is Often the sum of the paper is worth more than its parts. worth more than its parts.

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.htmlhttp://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html

ConclusionsConclusions Conclusions wrap up the major Conclusions wrap up the major

arguments/points of an essay. It arguments/points of an essay. It consists of the following:consists of the following: Reflection on the thesis Reflection on the thesis

statement.statement.

Broad ending remarks about the Broad ending remarks about the topic discussedtopic discussed

How not to end an essay: How not to end an essay:

Don't simply summarize Don't simply summarize your essay. Shorter your essay. Shorter essays (less than 10 essays (less than 10 pages) tend not to pages) tend not to require a restatement of require a restatement of your main ideas. your main ideas.

http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Conclusions.htmlhttp://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Conclusions.html

Avoid phrases like "in Avoid phrases like "in conclusion," "to conclusion," "to conclude," "in summary," conclude," "in summary," and "to sum up." But and "to sum up." But readers can see when an readers can see when an essay is about to end. essay is about to end. You'll irritate your You'll irritate your audience if you belabor audience if you belabor the obvious. the obvious.

Resist the urge to Resist the urge to apologize. Repress those apologize. Repress those doubts. Don't undercut doubts. Don't undercut your authority by saying your authority by saying things like, "this is just one things like, "this is just one approach to the subject; approach to the subject; there may be other, better there may be other, better approaches. . ." approaches. . ."

Conclusion: Specific to BroadConclusion: Specific to Broad

Reflect upon the Reflect upon the thesis statement: thesis statement: Synthesize three Synthesize three main subtopics main subtopics

Broad, general Broad, general remarks about the remarks about the topic discussed in topic discussed in essay essay

Example ConclusionExample Conclusion Throughout the story, Holden exhibits less Throughout the story, Holden exhibits less

than admirable traits and behaviors with than admirable traits and behaviors with full intention. When he lies and uses full intention. When he lies and uses obscene language, he does so quite obscene language, he does so quite purposefully and offers no apology for his purposefully and offers no apology for his actions. Although much of Holden’s lying actions. Although much of Holden’s lying and profane language is deliberate and his and profane language is deliberate and his mental instability is the result of repressed mental instability is the result of repressed pain, Holden is the antithesis of all that is pain, Holden is the antithesis of all that is considered a hero. Society, as reflected in considered a hero. Society, as reflected in literature, demands and ultimately literature, demands and ultimately depends upon the exemplar behavior of depends upon the exemplar behavior of hero as a model to imitate. hero as a model to imitate.

Reflection on ThesisReflection on Thesis: Throughout the : Throughout the story, Holden exhibits less than admirable story, Holden exhibits less than admirable traits and behaviors with full intention. traits and behaviors with full intention. When he lies and uses obscene language, When he lies and uses obscene language, he does so quite purposefully and offers no he does so quite purposefully and offers no apology for his actions. Although much of apology for his actions. Although much of Holden’s lying and profane language is Holden’s lying and profane language is deliberate a d his mental instability is the deliberate a d his mental instability is the result of repressed pain, Holden is the result of repressed pain, Holden is the antithesis of all that is considered a hero. antithesis of all that is considered a hero.

Broad Ending StatementBroad Ending Statement: Society, as : Society, as reflected in literature, demands and reflected in literature, demands and ultimately depends upon the exemplar ultimately depends upon the exemplar behavior of hero as a model to imitate. behavior of hero as a model to imitate.

Example ConclusionExample Conclusion The fulfillment of Santiago’s Personal The fulfillment of Santiago’s Personal

Legend was a testament to his ability to Legend was a testament to his ability to understand his own potential for moral and understand his own potential for moral and intellectual growth. Thus, without testing intellectual growth. Thus, without testing his will, desire, and strength, Santiago his will, desire, and strength, Santiago would not have been able to achieve his would not have been able to achieve his dreams or truly appreciate them when he dreams or truly appreciate them when he reached them. Through sacrifice, reached them. Through sacrifice, perseverance, and most importantly belief perseverance, and most importantly belief in oneself, obstacles are often easily in oneself, obstacles are often easily overcome and greater rewards, both overcome and greater rewards, both internally and tangible, are enjoyed. internally and tangible, are enjoyed.

Reflection on thesisReflection on thesis: The fulfillment of : The fulfillment of Santiago’s Personal Legend was a testament Santiago’s Personal Legend was a testament to his ability to understand his own potential to his ability to understand his own potential for moral and intellectual growth. Thus, for moral and intellectual growth. Thus, without testing his will, desire, and strength, without testing his will, desire, and strength, Santiago would not have been able to Santiago would not have been able to achieve his dreams or truly appreciate them achieve his dreams or truly appreciate them when he reached them. when he reached them.

Broad ending statementBroad ending statement: Through : Through sacrifice, perseverance, and most sacrifice, perseverance, and most importantly belief in oneself, obstacles are importantly belief in oneself, obstacles are often easily overcome and greater rewards, often easily overcome and greater rewards, both internally and tangible, are enjoyed. both internally and tangible, are enjoyed.