Lecture 4

Paragraphing II
(Oshima and Hogue 2007, pages 147-159;
Wyrick 2011, pages 50- 69)
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Introductions and conclusions
• An academic essay begins with an introductory paragraph and
ends with a concluding paragraph.
• This routine is part of everyday communicative behaviour.

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 What do introductions do?

They provide information

They capture the attention They indicate what a piece that will help your reader
of the reader/ listener of writing is about. understand what the essay
discusses.
What are the parts of an introduction?

The The thesis

background statement

Anecdote Quotation Statistics

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Thesis statement
– The thesis statement announces the central idea of an essay.
– It is derived from the topic of the essay.
– It occurs in the introductory paragraph.
– It needs to be carefully worded.
– It should neither be too broad nor too narrow.
– It should be precise and concise.

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What should influence your background?

Know your Know your

audience message/ purpose

Gender To explain

Professional
To persuade
background

Age To inform

Nationality

Level of
education
 How long should your introduction be?

No clear Must not be Average

Must get to Must be
rule about too long to
the point clear
length 100
length but be boring words
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Sample Introductory Paragraph
(Method used: starting with an opposite situation):

Diseases like scarlet fever and whooping cough used to kill more
young children than any other cause. Today, however, child mortality due
to diseases has been almost completely eliminated by medical science.
Instead, car accidents are the number one killer of our children. And
most of the children fatally injured in car accidents were not protected
by car seats, belts, or restraints of any kind. Several steps must be taken
to reduce the serious dangers car accidents pose to our children.
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Sample Introductory Paragraph
(Method used: asking questions):

What is love? How do we know that we are really in love? When

we meet that special person, how can we tell that our feelings are
genuine and not merely infatuation? And if they are genuine, will these
feelings last? Love, as we all know, is difficult to define. But most
people agree that true and lasting love involves far more than mere
physical attraction. Love involves mutual respect, the desire to give
rather than take, and the feeling of being wholly at ease.
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Concluding paragraphs
• The concluding paragraph is the last paragraph of an
essay.
• It reminds the reader of your central idea.
• There should be a sense of closure.
• Never begin a new idea in the concluding paragraph.

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Concluding paragraphs
In writing a concluding paragraph, you need to:
– Summarize your argument and the main themes.
– State your general conclusions.
– Make it clear why those conclusions are important or significant.
– In your last sentence, sum up your argument very briefly, linking it to
the title.

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Concluding paragraphs
Sum up the main points of the discussion and
– Provide a final thought
– Recall your thesis/ central idea (not in the same words as in the
introduction)
– Offer an advice/ a suggestion/ a recommendation; call for action
– Make a prediction
– Ask a provocative question
– Use an appropriate quotation
– Etc.
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 Paragraphing II
Sample Concluding Paragraph:
Stereotypes such as the helpless home maker,
harried executive, and dotty grandmother are insulting
enough to begin with. In magazine ads or television
commercials, they become even more insulting. Now
these unfortunate characters are not just being
laughed at; they are being turned into hucksters to sell
products to unsuspecting public. Consumers should
boycott companies whose advertising continues to use
such stereotypes.

• Method used: Calling for action

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Thank you for listening

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