Effective Introductions and Conclusions: Hooks, Statistics, and Scenarios, Study notes of History of Education

Download Effective Introductions and Conclusions: Hooks, Statistics, and Scenarios and more Study notes History of Education in PDF only on Docsity! Introductions and conclusions Agenda • Effective Introductions (hooks) and conclusions Introduction • In May of 2005, Jenny Wilkins logged on to her computer, activated her web camera, and started chatting with friends on her messenger service. Within ten minutes, a person identifying himself as a sixteen year-old boy asked if she would mind lifting her shirt a bit for him. At first, Jenny was appalled, but over the course of several weeks, she began to trust this person and was flattered by his constant attention. In July of 2005, Jenny’s naked pictures were posted on a site called "Young Naked Girls" (Smith, 2006). This example is extreme, granted, and the opportunities afforded teens by using the internet are indeed good in many ways. However, the ease at which Jenny was seduced into internet pornography indicates that there is a problem. Internet laws need to be revised in order to severely limit teen use of the internet, to educate teens about the dangers they could face, and to stop the use of webcams for people under the age of eighteen. Hooks • What is the purpose of a “hook”? • The idea is to get the reader thinking, and particularly, thinking in the way YOU want them to think, which is why this can be great for the persuasive essay. • No matter what kind of hook technique you choose, it will be your thesis statement that anchors the argument. It lets the readers know exactly what the paper will be about. Let us first take a look at four types of ineffective introductions as described by The Writing Center at the Unive rsity of North Carolina at Chap el Hill (2005)… The Place-Holder This is the type of introduction that results from not having much to say on the subject matter. These introductions are vague (Introductions, 2005). An example: Paralegals perform a number of important tasks. They are given a lot of responsibility. They must take their positions very seriously. The Dawn of Man This introduction makes a sweeping statement about the relevance of an issue since the beginning of time (Introductions, 2005). An example: Since the beginning of time, women have not had the right to make choices over their own bodies. The Book Report This type of introduction simply provides basic facts about one of the sources used – the title of the source, the author, and other general facts (Introductions, 2005) The Quotation Lead You can offer a quotation. It doesn’t necessarily have to be famous – but it must be clearly related to your subject matter. You must also explain its importance to your thesis. An example: Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major…Say that I was a drum major for peace…And all of the other shallow things will not matter.” As we look today at what many believe to be a senseless war in Iraq, we have to consider what standards we hold most dear as Americans. Another quotation • "It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants" (Swift, 1729). Another shocking stat • “While water conservation efforts almost always focus on reducing domestic use, such as lawn watering, washing machines, and long showers, more than half of all water used in the United States is devoted to meat production” (give citation). The Historical or Background Lead This type of introduction seeks to educate your reader to circumstances surrounding your subject matter. An example: On September 1,1939, Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. Within one month, the Polish army was defeated and the Nazis began their campaign to destroy Polish culture and enslave the Polish people, whom they viewed as subhuman. An example: There is a housing project standing now where the house in which we grew up once stood, and one of those stunted city trees is snarling where our doorway used to be. This is on the rehabilitated side of the avenue. –James Baldwin, Vintage Baldwin Create an Interesting, Attention Grabbing Scenario This type of introduction could be an imaginative projection of the future, or some hypothetical moment you want to create to make a point. Create an Interesting, Attention Grabbing Scenario NOTE: While formal writing should be written in third person, this technique calls for the use of second person in order to put your reader right into the action. Understand that this is only for the introduction. An example: How many lives have to be destroyed by child predators before we begin to seek real answers to this growing problem? Children are used to generate billions of dollars each year as victims of child prostitution, human trafficking, child pornography and international sex tourism (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Fact Sheet, 2006). Another question • Do all students deserve an opportunity to learn to read? Does our educational system provide all students this opportunity? Our educational system should produce students with an education so they may lead a productive and rewarding life. Unfortunately, students who suffer from the learning disability known as dyslexia who do not learn in what is considered the "normal" way often do not receive this opportunity. Starting with opposite opinion • Some children cannot sit still. They appear distracted by every little thing and do not seem to learn from their mistakes. These children disregard rules, even when they are punished repeatedly. It’s simple—their parents must not know how to control them. Effective conclusions play the following roles in an essay: •Brings your discussion to a logical close. •Encourages your readers to actively respond to your material. •Makes the material more memorable. You have probably been told… an effective way to end an essay is to restate your thesis and summarize your material. While this will bring your discussion to a logical close, will it make the material more memorable or encourage your readers to react in some way? The following techniques will help you create more effective conclusions. End the Story Refer back in some creative way to your introductory anecdote or scenario. Resume and then end the story, so to speak. An example: Your introduction: There is a housing project standing now where the house in which we grew up once stood...(James Baldwin) Your conclusion: And in surrounding neighborhoods, through funding that is so desperately needed, new housing projects can also spring up, bringing a brighter future to all children who call these dying communities home. Draw a Conclusion: Present the generalized idea that logically follows from your discussion. Clarify consequences, results, or implications. An example: The only and obvious future the lack of sex offender registry supervision will provide is one that is full of families desperately looking for their lost children; children who will be swept away at the hands of unregistered sex offenders who have quietly moved in around the corner, down the street, or right next door. A Call to Action: Encourage your audience to actively respond to your material in some way. This is especially effective in persuasive essays. An example: Local companies should not be allowed to distribute local jobs around the world for their own gain at the expense of America’s opportunities for prosperity. This used to be the ‘Land of Opportunity’. What is it now, a land to rape and pillage? We, as American citizens, should speak up loud and clear that we expect our leadership to take control of this outpouring of our jobs with clear cut legislation. -student sample, 2004