WritingIntroductions

andConclusions

Mrs. Davis’ 5th Grade Language Arts Classes Council Traditional School

Which Modes?

Only DESCRIPTIVE

andEXPOSITORY papers have introductions

and/or conclusions!

Why Introductions?

Your introduction isthe reader’s

FIRST IMPRESSIONof your work.

It should make him/her want to read the rest

of your paper.

Why Conclusions?Your conclusion is

the reader’sLAST IMPRESSION

of your work.It should make him/her

remember your paper and set you apart from the other thousands of

papers.

Where?

Your introduction is yourFIRST

paragraph,and

your conclusion is yourLAST

paragraph!

How Long?

Introductionsand

conclusionsshould have

3 or 4sentences each!

Introductions: How To

Introductions should have 2 parts: a HOOK and a TOPIC SENTENCE. Start with a 2-3 sentence HOOK to

“grab” the reader’s attention. Great hooks include (SHUDS): -Statistics -HISMOP (hyperbole, idiom, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia,

personification) -Unusual Facts -Dialogue -Scenarios

Introductions: How To

Finish with a TOPIC SENTENCE to tell the reader what topic you’ve chosen to write about and how you feel about it.

I simply despise my nasty room. OR My room is the most disgusting place on the planet.

Sometimes your topic sentence may be included in one of your hooks, which is OK!

Boring HooksSample Prompts:

Describe your room.OR

Explain reasons you like/dislike your room.

Do you like your room? OR What do you like about your room? OR Do you know why I hate my room?

Statistic Hook #1 People magazine conducted a survey

last summer of parents across the country. The survey results revealed that 92% of parents are unhappy with state of their children’s rooms. I’m afraid that my my parents would agree with that statistic, because my room is disgusting!

NOTE: When using a STATISTICS hook, be sure to tell WHO did the research. You can also tell WHEN the research was conducted!

Statistic Hook #2 I conducted a survey at school last

week that asked my peers what their parents nag them about most. According to my results, a messy room sends Mom over the edge quicker than a flea finds a dog. I’m sure that once I have kids of my own, I’ll get it, but for now, I feel my peers’ pain. My room really is nasty.

HISMOP Hook #1 & 2

My room is a garbage dump! Dad swears that I’ll need to call in a hazardous materials team to help me clean it. Although Dad has a flair for the dramatic, I have to hand it to him this time: my room is pure gross!

OR Shhh...Did you hear that squeaking?

I don’t know if it’s the family of rats that have moved into my closet or the shelf brackets whining under the weight of the junk atop them, but whatever it is, it can’t be good. Simply stated, my room is filthy!

Unusual Fact Hook #1

The last attempt to clean my room took twelve hours. The things I uncovered during that task could make a goat’s stomach turn. Unfortunately, after only three short weeks, my room is absolutely gross again!

Unusual Fact Hook #2

I read in a scientific magazine that the average bedroom has thousands of different types of bacteria. My room isn’t an average room, so I would bet it has millions of different types. I wanted to call in some professionals to do the task, but Mom wouldn’t hear of it. Today is the day I face the music and clean my putrid room.

Dialogue Hook #1

“My, heavens, Jamie,” Mom screamed last night, “clean up this pig sty!” Mom and I don’t see eye to eye on this issue. To her my room is a pig sty, but to me it’s paradise.

NOTE: When using a DIALOGUE hook, be sure to PUNCTUATE it correctly with commas and quotation marks, and don’t forget to add a TAG!

Dialogue Hook #2

“Help! I can’t find my way out!” Mom shouted from my room after delivering some freshly folded clothes. Like every other kid on the planet, I hate to clean my room. Unfortunately, Dad has had it with my clutter, so he’s making me clean my lair. My room’s not really messy, it’s just “creatively organized.”

Scenario Hook #1

Poor old Mom waltzed into my room yesterday to collect my laundry, and she’s still trying to find her way out of the maze of clothes, games, and books littering the floor. I think I’ll send a search team after her if she doesn’t surface sometime today. That room is a mess!

Scenario Hook #2

As I lay on the sofa watching Saturday morning cartoons, I notice my dog dragging a pair of pants, a remote control airplane, and then a science book into the den. I soon realize that all of these items have come from my room. You know your room is a mess when even your DOG nags you to clean it.

Some Final HOOK Tips…

It’s OK to combine different types of hooks in your introduction.

Try to add some humor in your hooks; it’s a great way to “grab” the reader!

Conclusions: T ? Restate your TOPIC SENTENCE and how you feel about your topic (don’t use the word-for-word topic sentence you used to finish your introduction). Remind readers of your SUPPORTING

DETAILS (triangles) in one sentence (don’t forget to separate each detail with a comma). Ask a thoughtful QUESTION.

Sample Conclusion

As you can see, my room is beyond nasty. There are mountains of clothes on the floor, colonies of dust bunnies under the furniture, and petrified food in every crevice. Do you think it’s time to clean it up?

POP QUIZ Read each prompt and introduction.

Tell what type(s) of hook was/were used.

Underline the topic sentence (remember, some topic sentences may be included in the hook).

POP QUIZPROMPT: Describe your favorite school lunch.INTRODUCTION: As I walked into the cafeteria

this afternoon, my mouth immediately began to water. I knew at once

that the hard-working cafeteria staff

had prepared my favorite entrée. Their fried chicken is divine!

POP QUIZPROMPT: Explain reasons people should not litter.INTRODUCTION: Scientists report that roadside litter poses many health and safety risks. These risks effect not only people but wildlife as well. Please do your part to minimize the risks: don’t litter!

POP QUIZPROMPT: Describe a picnic lunch.INTRODUCTION: “Hey, let’s have a picnic lunch

at the park!” Dad chirped at the breakfast table. We all agreed that it was a great idea and couldn’t wait. No one can put a picnic

lunch together like dear old Mom.

POP QUIZPROMPT: Explain reasons people should exercise every day.INTRODUCTION: A 2005 study by Harvard Medical School found that 8 out of every 10 Americans do not get daily exercise. The study called the U. S. an unfit nation. It’s time to take a stand! Put

down the remote, get off the couch, and get some exercise.