Introductions and conclusions Chapter Notes | Language Arts for Grade 5 PDF Download

Introduction

• Captures the reader’s interest: You can engage your audience by sharing a story, presenting a statistic, highlighting something unique or intriguing, or exploring a compelling quote. Strive to be creative and choose a fresh perspective to draw readers into your topic.
• Presents a clear and arguable thesis statement: The thesis statement is generally a single sentence, though it may extend to a full paragraph in longer essays. A strong thesis statement offers a debatable claim—one that others might challenge or oppose. It also acts as a guide, outlining the main arguments you will develop in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs are essential for supporting your thesis and guiding your reader through a coherent journey from the introduction to the conclusion. A straightforward thesis may require fewer body paragraphs, while a more complex one will demand additional paragraphs to fully develop. A helpful way to recall the components of a body paragraph is to view them as the MEAT of your essay:

• Main Idea: This is found in the topic sentence, which articulates the primary focus of the paragraph. Every sentence in the paragraph relates to this main idea. Note that main ideas are:
  • Like labels: They appear in the paragraph’s opening sentence, clearly indicating the paragraph’s content to the reader.
  • Arguable: They present debatable points, not mere facts, which you substantiate with evidence.
  • Focused: Each paragraph makes a specific point and provides evidence to support it.
• Evidence: These are the elements of a paragraph that validate the main idea. Different sentences may incorporate various types of evidence. Keep in mind that acceptable evidence varies by discipline, and citation styles differ accordingly. Examples of evidence include:
  • Quotations and/or paraphrases from source materials.
  • Facts, such as statistics or results from studies you’ve conducted.
  • Narratives and/or descriptions, such as those drawn from personal experiences.
• Analysis: This involves explaining the evidence provided. Ensure that you connect the evidence back to the paragraph’s main idea by discussing its relevance and implications.
• Transition: This component helps you shift smoothly from one paragraph to the next. Transitions typically appear in topic sentences alongside the main idea, referencing the previous paragraph while introducing the next to maintain a cohesive flow for the reader. Avoid placing transitions at the end of paragraphs; instead, incorporate them at the beginning.

Note that the MEAT components do not always follow a strict order. Often, the “Transition” and “Main Idea” combine in the topic sentence, followed by multiple sentences of evidence and analysis. 
For example, a paragraph structure might look like this: TM. E. E. A. E. E. A. A.

Conclusion

The conclusion forms the final paragraph of your essay, though in the case of an extended essay, it may span two or three paragraphs. A conclusion generally serves one or both of the following purposes:

• Recaps the argument: Certain instructors prefer that you avoid introducing new information in the conclusion, focusing instead on reiterating your key points. This is particularly helpful when wrapping up a lengthy or complex argument, as restating your main ideas reinforces them for the reader. If you choose this approach, use distinct wording from that in your introduction and body paragraphs, ensuring the introduction and conclusion remain unique.
• Highlights the argument’s importance: Some instructors encourage you to skip restating your main points and instead focus on explaining why your argument matters. This involves addressing the “so what” question by clarifying the broader relevance of your argument. 

For example, ​Your argument might hold significance for studies of a specific historical period. Alternatively, it could be relevant to a particular geographic area. Or, it might shape how readers perceive the future, potentially prompting you to speculate about future implications or include a call to action for your audience.