Guide to Writing Effective Intros & Conclusions for Regents' Exams by Denise Slavinski, Papers of Education Planning And Management

Download Guide to Writing Effective Intros & Conclusions for Regents' Exams by Denise Slavinski and more Papers Education Planning And Management in PDF only on Docsity! Introductions and Conclusions for the Regents’ Exam 1 Written and Compiled by Denise Slavinski, 9/29/08, for the University of West Georgia Writing Center Thanks to the handout from RGTE 0199 Introductions Must be at least 3 sentences. Should only be written once you have your thesis. It is impossible to introduce your argument when you don’t yet have one. The purpose of an introduction is to set the stage for your paper and to attract the attention of your readers. Start to focus on your thesis immediately. Avoid broad generalizations such as “Throughout history/time,” Everyone,” and “Society,” because they are uninteresting and do nothing to set up your argument. As the introduction progresses, move towards more specificity in your sentences until you reach your thesis. First sentence: The topic BROAD 2nd, 3rd, 4th sentences: Build to thesis SPECIFIC Last sentence: The thesis Methods (Topic: What considerations should be taken into account before a person gets a pet?) 1. Begin with a general statement based on a key word from the thesis. Add a sentence or two that build the ideas and arguments that lead to your thesis. Add your thesis. a. Humans must carefully weigh the pros and cons before they decide to buy a pet. Owning a pet, while not as hard and time-consuming as raising a child, still requires a commitment to the animal. All pets need a secure environment, food, and plenty of love. 2. Begin with a brief story that leads to the thesis, and finish the introduction with your thesis. a. Shortly before Easter, our local elementary school sponsored a fund-raising event at which classroom pets could be adopted for a small fee. One parent paid $5 for a hamster, but on the way home he dropped it from the window of his car and the little animal ran off into the nearby woods. Apparently, the man did not think of the three most important considerations of owning a pet until he started home. All pets need a secure environment, food, and plenty of love. (This last sentence, which gives the plan of the essay, is optional). Introduction Introductions and Conclusions for the Regents’ Exam 2 Written and Compiled by Denise Slavinski, 9/29/08, for the University of West Georgia Writing Center Thanks to the handout from RGTE 0199 3. Begin with an opposing idea, then transition to your own position (however, on the other hand, unfortunately, etc.). Finish with your thesis. a. It seems that many people decide to buy a pet without much forethought and they handle the experience well. Once I got my own apartment, one of the first purchases I made was a cat from the animal shelter because I wanted something to come home to each day. I thought I knew about everything required to own a pet, because I had helped take care of the class pet back in kindergarten. Unfortunately, my apartment was torn apart in two days and I lost my deposit because I had forgotten the essentials to taking care of an animal, such as a secure environment, food, and plenty of love. 4. Begin with a series of questions (that means more than 2!) that are connected to the topic. Order the questions to that they lead into the thesis. a. Why is it that people consider dogs to be “a man’s best friend”? Is it because they are so happy to see their owners? Could it be that they are the most forgiving of animals, even if their owner really messes up? Even with all of the wonderful qualities in a dog, they still require proper care to keep them healthy. All pets need a secure environment, food, and plenty of love. 5. Discuss similar situations, arrangements, and ideas that relate to your topic and to the thesis, then add the thesis. a. Many children grow up dreaming that they will have the ultimate playmate. Timmy had Lassie, Alec had the Black Stallion, and Aladdin had Abu. Yet these children never really consider that all pets need a secure environment, food, and plenty of love.