what do you try to do in an introduction?

Usually i use the introduction to frame the discussion and introduce the argument. I feel a good introduction also needs to define key terms and at some point introduce the thesis.

What do you try to do in a conclusion?

In a conclusion you need to summarise the arguments you have made in the essay. After you should restate your thesis and draw anything left open to a close.

The article I have chosen to write about is from the magazine Wired. The article discusses whether or not scientists should resurrect extinct species. In the introduction the author sets the background for the article itself. They have a paragraph describing a specific example before switching to discussion of the main point. I feel this is a very effective introduction, partly because of the structure the author has used. Instead of trying to keep the introduction in one paragraph they have split it into three sections. The first gives background, the second is a one line attempt to draw the reader further in, and the third actually explains the science that is behind the article. However, while this may work for a wired article i feel like in academic writing it would be far too lax and so i shall stick with more traditional introduction structures.

article:http://www.wired.com/2015/11/biologists-could-soon-resurrect-extinct-species-but-should-they/

For the introduction, I usually start out with a social issue that relates to my argument so that the reader can apply my paper to a real life situation. Then I bring in my thesis statement at the end. For the conclusion, I restate the thesis in a new way that does not present new information but is refined in a substantial way. And then I briefly state my points from the argument and why the argument is relevant in our society and end it on a profound note. The piece of writing that I have chosen is a New York Times article called “Sierra Leone Declared Free of Ebola Transmissions” by Dionne Secrecy and Sheri Fink. The introduction was very effective because while it was short, it pulled you right in to the article. The conclusion was also effective because it makes you think at the end about the future steps.

In the introduction, sentence is worded like it would in a news station. It immediately went straight to the point with announcing the end Ebola transmissions in Senegal and made the scenery sound very hopeful and ecstatic. Even though it is one sentence, it was effective because it pulls in the reader right away which is an important quality to have in a news article because you want to be able to catch the attention of the reader right away. What made this introduction particularly strong was the building up to the point, the colon, and then the actual topic of the article. It makes the introduction stronger because of the climax that it builds in just half a sentence.

In the conclusion, the author mentions an opposing argument to what was said earlier and then poses a new issue that needs to addressed next. Although it did not restate the main argument of the article, it was good in that it poses a new question to consider for the future. Although since it is a new article, most of average Americans would not reach to the end, so I looked at some of the previous paragraphs, and the paragraphs do a better job of summarizing the argument the real conclusion. Overall it was a compelling conclusion.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/world/africa/sierra-leone-declared-free-of-ebola-transmissions.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

In an introduction you try to provide the necessary information to let the reader know what your passage is about. You also try to hook the reader’s attention. In a conclusion you try to sum up what you have said and come up with a possible solution to your thesis, or even relate the thesis to something more broad or as some may call it “a so what statement.”

I chose to analyze a newspaper article found in the NY times, written by Anahad O’connor and titled “University Returns $1 Million Grant to Coca-Cola.” In this article, both the introduction and conclusion are effective. The introduction captures the reader’s attention and makes you want to keep reading. The conclusion is also effective in summing up what the article is about and gives the reader the reason why this article was written.

I am further examining the introduction of this article. The introduction contains the 5 W’s: who, what, when, where, why. Who: The University of Colorado School of Medicine; what: “it was returning a $1 million gift from Coca-Cola”; when: “announced Friday”; where: Colorado; why: “after it was revealed that the money had been used to establish an advocacy group that played down the link between soft drinks and obesity.” This article’s introduction is informative, concise and interesting. It hooked my attention, hence why I kept reading the rest of the article. I will incorporate this into my writing by being more descriptive of what it is that I am writing about, while being concise and to the point.

When I write, I typically try to introduce the subject thoroughly, especially if it is a piece of writing, in which case I introduce the piece of writing as well as the author. I also give a brief overview of what I will be talking about in the blog post or paper, which is usually my thesis. I will also try to hit on a few key points so the reader will know why I am choosing to talk about what this topic. In my conclusions, I usually try to summarize the key points again, but usually in more detail than I did in my introduction. I also like to include a statement about why this argument is important, sort of a “so what” statement, to bring it all together.

In the introduction to “Text or Talk: Is Technology Making You Lonely?”, Margie Warrell briefly introduces the false sense of connection and friendship that people may feel from using social media to communicate. While I believe that she effectively draws the reader in in her introduction by being short and sweet, as well as bringing up a topic familiar to almost everyone, I feel as though she could go more in depth about the subject she will be talking about. She could do this by telling the reader that more people now than ever are feeling lonely due to the rise of social media and technology as the main source of communication.

In her conclusion, Warrell briefly summarizes the effects that technology has on us as a society. She also includes something of a “so what” statement, explaining how important real face-to-face interactions are to our well-being. She offers potential solutions to the increasing antisocial behavior caused by technology, and overall is effective in wrapping up her argument.

In an article in the New York Times titled Older Quarterbacks Form a New Story in the N.F.L., Jack Dempsey introduces his article by suggesting a common changing viewpoint in 2011 and 2012 of the majority of football fans in America: that the league was beginning to be lead by many of the young quarterbacks coming out of college. He references each of the more popular, skilled quarterbacks drafted from these two years. Then, Dempsey follows by stating the success that the younger generation of quarterbacks had over the next couple of years, including those drafted in 2011 and 2012. Then he contradicts this notion of success. He argues that the simultaneous downfall of many of the younger quarterbacks in the league and the success of many of the older quarterbacks in the league has changed the age of those leading in passing yards since these two years.

Dempsey is successful in his introduction. He commences his writing with a very relatable viewpoint to most football fans in America. He appeals to them immediately on the basis of pathos, exciting their emotions because whether we admit it or not, most football fans maintained a very positive outlook on the potential of the younger generation of quarterbacks. Then, he contradicts this point, providing a statement that relates to the bold reality that we currently face. He argues that there has been a failure in our ability to predict this success. Instead, older quarterbacks have regained the momentum in this battle and shifted the entirety of football’s outlook once again. As a reader, it is hard to not be interested in the proof that this statement delivers and why this has occurred. He has drawn the reader in to his writing.

Reflect on your past writing:
On my past writing in general, I tried to generate an inverted pyramid of importance. The first sentence would place a general idea that would leave the readers curious. This curiosity would leave the reader with a desire to read the entire first paragraph — and hopefully the entire paper. Then, I tried to develop a description for the topic and end with the thesis statement. My idea of the structure is set, but my difficulty is bringing that idea to reality. As to the my conclusions in past writing, I tried to restate the thesis and present the points I mentioned in the writing that explained and supported my thesis.

A piece of writing:
“Multiple Personality Murder” by Deborah Karczewski
This monologue, for the soul purpose of a clear theatrical structure, is written with clear annotations noted throughout the play. Focusing on the introduction, the author uses the chronological system of organization to allow the reader follow on her flow of words. She guides the reader through the setting of the place by providing a spatial description of the room and represented each movement as parallel as possible with each word the character would utter. This is an example of her spatial description, “The first is her ‘guard’ beside her, and the second is the ‘psychiatrist,’ placed eye level beyond the audience…” This quotes offers both the location of the actress and the location of the imaginary psychiatrist and guard. After this spatial description, the author proceeds with the play. She creates a character that has multiple personalities. Each personality contributes to what will happen later in the plot, but the author does not explicitly say what will occur as the monologue advances because she wants to hook the reader. Personally, I would like to incorporate her diction to attract the attention of my readers with a nice hook.

First of all, in an introduction, if my essay’s topic is about a book, a paper or a movie, I will first introduce the year and the author and then briefly summarize the main story and purpose of the book or movie; later, I would mention several specific points in the book or movie in order to attract readers’ attention; finally, on the basis of the book or movie, I will talk about my concerns and the thesis of my paper. However, if it is not a book or movie, I may first point out and analyze a phenomenon, voice my concerns and thoughts which will gradually lead to my thesis.For my conclusion, I will first return to my thesis and rephrase it in order to remind readers of my main point; and then I will summarize, incorporate and connect my main ideas with my thesis; in the end, I will expand my thesis by applying it to the real world to let readers think more broadly and deeply.

The writing I want to choose is an article called “Digital Romance: The teens get it” by Julie Beck on the website The Atlantic. The introduction of this article is engaging and interesting, though not as effective as the conclusion. It first introduces that this article is unpacked from a report released by the Pew Research Center. And then the author uses “they say, I say” structure by saying that “if you are picturing me…… But this is because I think……” The collision of two thoughts in the introduction does attract my attention, but it lacks enough information. The first two paragraphs are basically about the reasons author wants to write this article which contribute little to the rest of the article. So I think that the introduction is not effective.

However, the conclusion of this article is very efficient and effective. The author starts with “To sum up” which clearly shows that the following will be her summarized ideas; and then she reconfirms the importance of the main idea in her article; then she again uses “they say, I say” structure by saying that “It’s not all……all the times, no, but the tools……” and “Connecting with others is scary…… but usually, hopefully, good.” Both of the sentences sum up and emphasize her thesis. So I think that this conclusion is very effective.

I need to learn from her frequent use of “they say, I say” structure because this structure can not only help readers understand my points clearly but also help myself stand in others’ shoes to evaluate my paper and make it more understandable.

Julie Beck. “Digital Romance: The teens get it”. Oct 1, 2015. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/10/digital-romance-the-teens-get-it/408364/

I would begin my introduction by introducing my topic of how advances in technology are causing a decline in a sense of identity that is evident in Gary Shteyngart’s Super Sad True Love Story.  Background information about the technology and characters in the novel would be necessary in the introduction so that readers will understand my points without having to have read the novel.  I will have to define the term “apparat” from the novel, since it is the primary form of technology in the novel that I will be addressing, especially since it relates back to present day technology and current issues our society is facing.  My thesis will then conclude the introduction.

In my body, I would start by addressing the reliance on technology in the book through the use of a passage on page 270 that is Lenny’s diary entry where he discusses how the apparats aren’t connecting and he feels so alone and needs to connect to someone.  I would then use Melissa Nilles’ article, “Technology is Destroying the Quality of Human Interaction,” to relate this disconnect to our own society.  One quote that I think I will use is “Little by little, Internet and mobile technology seems to be subtly destroying the meaningfulness of interactions we have with others, disconnecting us from the world around us, and leading to an imminent sense of isolation in today’s society” (Nilles 1).  This will aid in my argument that technology is distancing us from our own identities by destroying our ability to connect with others and relate face-to-face.

My next point will be to compare the continuous flow of information and data streaming in Super Sad True Love Story to the “Noise” found in Patrick Ness’s “The Knife of Never Letting Go.”  This will require background information to define and explain what “Noise” is.  I will then compare it to a passage on pages 89-90, where Noah and Vishnu are teaching Lenny all of the new features on his apparat that determine various rankings that everyone is so absorbed by.  They have such a strong influence over people’s actions and behavior to where they become their identity.  I will then relate both of these through how the society is limited and stripped of their identity down to a monotone nature.

I will then do a recap and tie everything together in the conclusion.  This will provide clarity and meaning to my paper by answering the research question and consolidating the main points back into the restating of the thesis.