Introductions and ConclusionsIntroductions and Conclusions

Mrs. NjosMrs. Njos66thth Grade Instructional Coach Grade Instructional Coach

Reading, Writing, and Social StudiesReading, Writing, and Social StudiesSpring 2007Spring 2007

IntroductionsIntroductions

An An effective introductioneffective introduction needs to: needs to:***Hook the reader and suggest/state the main***Hook the reader and suggest/state the main

ideaidea

***Set up or imply an organizational structure***Set up or imply an organizational structure

NoteNote: the introduction may be as short as two : the introduction may be as short as two sentences, or it may be one paragraphsentences, or it may be one paragraph

Power/Number SentencePower/Number Sentence

Use a Use a number wordnumber word to help you focus your to help you focus your topic. Some words you might want to use topic. Some words you might want to use include:include:

twotwo severalseveral a numbera number somesome fourfour variousvarious numerousnumerousmanymany plentyplenty

Power/Number Sentence ExamplesPower/Number Sentence Examples

ThreeThree cities in the United States have cities in the United States have serious pollution problems.serious pollution problems.

In the winter I enjoy watching In the winter I enjoy watching severalseveral high high school sports.school sports.

Tourists traveling to Australia will want to Tourists traveling to Australia will want to visit visit threethree spectacular sights. spectacular sights.

Junior high students need to learn a Junior high students need to learn a numbernumber of organizational strategies. of organizational strategies.

Occasion/Position StatementsOccasion/Position Statements

An Occasion/Position Statement is a An Occasion/Position Statement is a two-two-part sentencepart sentence that begins with one of that begins with one of these words or phrases:these words or phrases:

After After As soon as As soon as Even Even thoughthough

In order toIn order to WhileWhile As long asAs long as UntilUntil SinceSince AlthoughAlthough

Occasion/Position Statement Occasion/Position Statement ExamplesExamples

Even thoughEven though bike helmets are sometimes bike helmets are sometimes unfashionable, all cyclists should wear them.unfashionable, all cyclists should wear them.

AlthoughAlthough my family and I have taken many my family and I have taken many wonderful vacations, none was more wonderful vacations, none was more exciting than our Grand Canyon trip.exciting than our Grand Canyon trip.

AfterAfter I tried out for competitive soccer, I I tried out for competitive soccer, I learned there were several things I had to learned there were several things I had to improve on.improve on.

To, Plus a VerbTo, Plus a Verb

Try using an “infinitive” to start your paper. An Try using an “infinitive” to start your paper. An infinitive is the infinitive is the main verb preceded by the word main verb preceded by the word to.to. This type of sentence is clear and direct for your This type of sentence is clear and direct for your reader. Some examples of infinitives are:reader. Some examples of infinitives are:

To succeedTo succeed To accomplishTo accomplish To finishTo finish To winTo win To teachTo teach

To, Plus a Verb ExamplesTo, Plus a Verb Examples

To winTo win at chess, players need to master at chess, players need to master three skills.three skills.

To accomplishTo accomplish good grades, students need good grades, students need to do these three tasks.to do these three tasks.

To succeedTo succeed in Mr./Mrs. ________room, 6 in Mr./Mrs. ________room, 6thth grade students need to remember these key grade students need to remember these key ideas.ideas.

Using a QuotationUsing a Quotation

Using a quotation in the topic sentence is Using a quotation in the topic sentence is an easy, yet powerful, way to start a an easy, yet powerful, way to start a paper. To use a quotation, paper. To use a quotation, start with a start with a word from the Occasion/Position list:word from the Occasion/Position list:

After After As soon as Even thoughAs soon as Even though In order toIn order to WhileWhile As long asAs long as UntilUntil SinceSince AlthoughAlthough

Using a Quotation ExamplesUsing a Quotation Examples

AlthoughAlthough I usually appreciate advice I get I usually appreciate advice I get from my grandma, I wish she would follow from my grandma, I wish she would follow the suggestion of , the suggestion of , “Whatever advice you “Whatever advice you give, be short.”give, be short.”

As long asAs long as I live, I will always remember my I live, I will always remember my 22ndnd grade teacher’s advice, grade teacher’s advice, “Treat others “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”as you would like to be treated.”

Let’s Try it Out!Let’s Try it Out!

Using the following prompt, work with your Using the following prompt, work with your partner/s to partner/s to make an example of each of make an example of each of the followingthe following::

Power/NumberPower/Number Occasion/PositionOccasion/Position To, Plus a VerbTo, Plus a Verb Using a QuotationUsing a Quotation

PromptPrompt

Your class will be having a guest teacher Your class will be having a guest teacher next week. Write a multi-paragraph letter to next week. Write a multi-paragraph letter to the substitute the substitute explainingexplaining what he or she what he or she needs to know and do to have a successful needs to know and do to have a successful day in your classroom.day in your classroom.

On Your OwnOn Your Own

Using the prompt below, choose Using the prompt below, choose ONEONE of the of the techniques to write an introductory techniques to write an introductory sentence.sentence.

Your teacher has decided to allow one hour Your teacher has decided to allow one hour of class time this week to be planned by of class time this week to be planned by students. In a multi-paragraph essay students. In a multi-paragraph essay explainexplain to your teacher what you think to your teacher what you think would be the best use of this time.would be the best use of this time.

ConclusionsConclusions

An An effectiveeffective conclusion needs to: conclusion needs to:

Restate your position; remind your readers of your topic.Restate your position; remind your readers of your topic. Satisfy the reader by not only wrapping up the essay, but Satisfy the reader by not only wrapping up the essay, but

also giving the reader something to think about.also giving the reader something to think about. Link the body (middle) of the writing to the introduction.Link the body (middle) of the writing to the introduction.

(A conclusion may be a few sentences or a complete (A conclusion may be a few sentences or a complete paragraph.)paragraph.)

Focus Your ConclusionFocus Your Conclusion

SummarizeSummarize your paragraph your paragraph

ConvinceConvince the reader of your position the reader of your position

ChallengeChallenge them to think about the issue them to think about the issue

EncourageEncourage them to take action them to take action

SummarizeSummarize

Remember what I said? Remind the readers Remember what I said? Remind the readers of your topic and your key points.of your topic and your key points.

ConvinceConvince

Believe my position! My information makes Believe my position! My information makes sense and this is why……sense and this is why……

ChallengeChallenge

Think about the issue! How does what you Think about the issue! How does what you said make them think more deeply? said make them think more deeply?

EncourageEncourage

Take Action! What could YOU, as a reader, Take Action! What could YOU, as a reader, do about this? How could this information do about this? How could this information help you in the future?help you in the future?

““No-No’s”No-No’s”

““As I have said”As I have said” ““As I have proved”As I have proved” ““As you can see”As you can see” Copying the first paragraph over Copying the first paragraph over

Conclusion Starter StatementsConclusion Starter Statements

All in allAll in all To sum upTo sum up In factIn fact

ObviouslyObviously SurelySurely TrulyTruly

AlthoughAlthough In the futureIn the future WhenWhen

Let’s Try It Out!Let’s Try It Out!

Using the following prompt, work with your Using the following prompt, work with your partner/s to write a conclusion using 4 parts:partner/s to write a conclusion using 4 parts:

1) Summarize1) Summarize

2) Convince2) Convince

3) Challenge3) Challenge

4) Encourage4) Encourage

PromptPrompt Your class will be having a guest teacher Your class will be having a guest teacher

next week. Write a multi-paragraph letter next week. Write a multi-paragraph letter to the substitute to the substitute explainingexplaining what he or what he or she needs to know and do to have a she needs to know and do to have a successful day in your classroom.successful day in your classroom.

On Your OwnOn Your Own

Using the prompt below, choose ONE of the Using the prompt below, choose ONE of the techniques to write a conclusion using all four techniques to write a conclusion using all four parts—summarize, convince, challenge, parts—summarize, convince, challenge, encourageencourage

Your teacher has decided to allow one hour of Your teacher has decided to allow one hour of class time this week to be planned by students. In class time this week to be planned by students. In a multi-paragraph essay a multi-paragraph essay explainexplain to your teacher to your teacher what you think would be the best use of this time.what you think would be the best use of this time.