Tricks for Introductions & ConclusionsLook at these examples for ways of making introductions and conclusions more interesting.

Always remember: an introduction often moves from a general discussion to the thesis. The conclusion should move from a specific discussion of the novel and your thesis, to a more

general commentary on how the theme applies to real life and the universal human experience.

6 Using a quote: whether inspirational, from literature, or gleaned from other sources, quotes can simply summarize main ideas in an eloquent manner.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is often paraphrased as saying, “That which does not kill me makes me stronger.” Throughout life, we are often faced with challenges or obstacles that must be overcome. The key to surviving any troubling life event is a positive attitude. Having faith in yourself that you can do anything will ensure that you will not merely survive, but thrive. In Jeanette Walls’ memoir The Glass Castle, the author demonstrates Nietzsche’s philosophy. Despite an alcoholic father, a mentally ill mother, crushing poverty, chaotic moves, and several traumatic events, Walls is able to rise above her brutal childhood to succeed in the high-powered world of New York book publishing.

The Great Gatsby is considered one of the most important novels of 1920s America. The characters struggle to deal with the weight of the past, while losing themselves in the excess and drink of an affluent age. They cannot perceive any danger, and like all good tragic heroes, do not foresee that their fatal flaws will end in tragedy and ruin. Their hope is blind. Similarly, the 1926 song “Blue Skies” composed by Rodgers and Hart beautifully captures the spirit of the Jazz Age in America. Filled with optimism and hope, many consider the song lyrics emblematic of a fresh, new, post-war America. The song acknowledges an ugly past, but clings to a rosy view of the future, “ Blue days / All of them gone / Nothing but blue skies / From now on.” Like Gatsby’s characters, the song promotes a cheery outlook, expressing the belief that nothing bad can ever ruin the good time for the wealthy. Both “Blue Skies” and The Great Gatsby focus on the unquestioning optimism of the Jazz Age.

6Using historical perspective: putting the novel into a context of time and place can reveal some interesting parallels, insights, and a broader understanding of how the literature connects to real life or the universal human experience.

In Canada, we pride ourselves on a strong social safety net that includes free public education, accessible health care, and several social services such as welfare, unemployment insurance, disability payments, and a foster-care system. We often take these privileges for granted. Perhaps we are distant from the times when these services did not exist. In Leon Garfield’s novel Smith, the orphaned protagonist experiences crushing poverty and dangerous adventures due to his illiteracy. Forced into a life of crime in order to survive, Smith is a child alone in the world with no support or help.

When the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, it ushered in a completely different world order. Politics changed. Our sense of safety changed. The Cold War made us fear more horrific weapons. We started to become aware of the horrors of war, the toll on civilians, and the inhumanity of total war. War became less about people, politics, and patriotism than it did about technology. We looked to inventions to make war better, faster, or more efficient. In our contemporary world, drones can precision-bomb a house in Syria from a base in Colorado. It’s cheap, causes little harm to the soldier, and hopefully selects the correct target to minimize the negative casualties on civilians. We have looked to technology as a way to solve the problems of war since Hiroshima. Yet, every day, soldiers die. Every day, civilians die. War may have changed since the bombing of Hiroshima, but war is still the worst thing that humans have invented.

6 Use statistics: provide percent, fractions, or numbers from verifiable sources in order to convey solid evidence and research. Connect the literature to real life truths.

The statistics about child murder are shocking. Every year in the USA, approximately 1400 children are murdered. There are almost 800,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. Nearly 10,000 children are injured or killed by guns each year. Our news broadcasts are filled with stories about children like Jacey Dugard, Elizabeth Smart, and Michelle Knight who were kidnapped, raped, and tortured by unstable men. While it may seem like a dark topic, author Alice Sebold also writes from experience, having been brutally raped as a university student in New York. In The Lovely Bones, we are able to experience firsthand the fear, loss, and sheer brutality of a girl who is raped and then murdered. The immediacy of Sebold’s unique style of narration, in addition to the sound factual basis of the story, creates a powerful story that gives life and meaning beyond mere statistics.

6 Narrowing a general topic: often the introduction moves from general to specific, while the conclusion moves from specific to general.

Our current culture likes easy technology. We surf, text, tweet, and snapchat all with short burst of easy ideas. When we read news, we glean headlines. Instead of reading books, we expect Wikipedia and SparkNotes to tell us what to think. Technology can make us lazy. But we like it because it is easier than working or thinking or trying hard. If we look at how our society will progress in the future, it’s hard to imagine that we can become more superficial than reality TV and Internet trolls as a form of cultural expression. As technology takes over our lives and makes us dumber, what is the place of books? This is the exact question that Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 raises. Curiously, it was written in 1953 and disturbingly predicts what our lives are like now. Televisions have to be bigger as a status symbol. A constant feed of meaningless information distracts us from thinking, feeling, or connecting to real people. Bradbury’s novel predicted our lives now; filled with easy, superficial technology. We disconnect from people in order to lose ourselves in flashy lights. As a result, intelligence, knowledge, relationships, and literature become meaningless.

Pudge suffered guilt and remorse after Alaska’s death. Any loss is traumatic, but it seems the kids at Culver Academy learn a harsh lesson in grief because they could have stopped the death of their friend. They could have been more aware of Alaska’s self-destructive habits. They could have stopped an intoxicated Alaska from getting into a car. Alaska’s friends will forever be haunted by her death because they could have prevented it. Those regrets are an unfortunate part of being a teenager. Adolescents don’t know everything nor do they have the skills to deal with troubling situations. The awareness of mistakes is actually a sign or maturity and learning. Universally, every person who grows up will have a moment they wish they could have acted differently. John Green’s Looking for Alaska becomes a push towards maturity, not just a warning against drunk driving or reckless behaviour. Green is able to understand that we all grow and learn, sometimes through the hard way, but at least we eventually grow up.

6 Analogy, comparison, allusion, and metaphor: literary devices that compare or connect ideas can be useful to show a bigger idea. Those literary elements enhance the content and style of your writing.

In The Odyssey, Homer describes the hero’s quest as Odysseus tries to find his home after the Trojan War. As one of the major archetypes in literature, the hero’s quest provides a template for seeking adventures, learning to grow, overcoming obstacles, and becoming a mature individual with a place in the world. Jon Krakauer uses this motif as a template for the life story of Christopher McCandless in the biography of Into the Wild. As a contemporary take on an old story, Krakauer is able to help us understand McCandless’ futile, tragic, and foolish adventures as a part of the universal human experience. People have often sought adventure. Many would not go to the extremes that McCandless did. But seen through the eyes of a classic archetype, McCandless’ actions feel more heroic than disturbed.

6 Challenging the Strawman (taking an assumption and turning it on its head)

The American Dream is the over-riding story in literature from the USA. The archetype states that if one works hard enough, one can succeed. As rugged individuals freed from the confines of English social class, Americans are taught that hard work, following the rules, and making their own way, will always bring success. Yet, reality tells us that America is not always the land of the free. Using satire, Mark Twain twists the notion of the American Dream, showing us a child who manipulates, lies, tricks, and fools all the kind hearted people he meets as he travels with a black slave. Twain’s story is a refutation of the American Dream.

6 Clarifying terms / definition: using dictionary definition, research, or a model to refine your thesis.

The autism spectrum is a range of neurological and developmental disorders that are marked by impaired social interaction, difficulties with verbal and non-verbal communication, obsessive or restrictive behaviours, and an inability to interact normally with the environment. Asperger Syndrome, a variant of autism, adds deficiencies with linguistic and emotional components. Most children are diagnosed around age three as they fail to proceed through the expected developmental stages. Some people with autism are referred to as “idiot savants” because, like the main character in the movie Rain Man, they have amazing mathematical, musical, or focussed skills that make them brilliant, but deficient socially. Often, people labelled with such disabilities are shunned by society and perceived as misfits, outcasts, or useless. Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time shows us an autistic child who is able to contribute to society because of his unique skills, making Asperger’s less of a death sentence.

notice the qualities of good writing in the examples above: Sentence variety Big ideas explained well Connections to other literature, real life, pop culture, movies, music, and other evidence of the Truth of the universal human experience. Adjectives and adverbs used carefully to make the writing meaty and substantial There is depth of thought Clear and concise theories, ideas, and opinions Specific details rather than vague generalities Specific use of intentional literary terms used correctly Mechanical and grammatical precision A focus on accurate vocabulary and beautiful phrasing Prove your thesis with as much evidence as possible Well developed ideas that have proof, examples, evidence, quotes, research, and thought to Support them rather than generalized, non-specific commentary. Plot summary isn’t the goal- explain your interactions with the text. Pushing ideas beyond mere surface, dig deep to understand, make connections Express your unique ideas, your way of seeing the world, your feelings and ideas about the text Format is clean and does not distract. Style of writing is clear, formal, avoids slang Writing displays artistry, precision, poetry, and ability to control language.

A note about conclusions…The conclusion is the last thing your audience reads. Leave them with something special, important, insightful, deep, meaningful, profound, real, and thoughtful. Leave a good impression.

Introduction

Conclusion

The body paragraphs of your essay includes all the meat and potatoes,:the proof, the evidence, the examples, the quotes, the textural references, and

your proof that your thesis is sound, correct and true.