Lisbeth Gant-Britton, Ph.D.
WRITING INTRO, BODY AND CONCLUSION FOR
AN ANALYSIS (WITH AN ARGUMENT)
Introduction
1. Start
off with a few opening sentences to prepare the reader for your thesis
statement
Examples:
q Provocative
sentences - eye-catching or thought-provoking
q Give
exposition - Is there info the reader needs to know before reading your thesis
statement?
q Pose
a question - Your paper will attempt to answer it
2. Towards
the end of the Intro, put the thesis statement - the central idea for your paper
(your argument)
q Should
be clear and focused
q Should
be a debatable point, not simply a generalization or plot summary
q Should
clearly describe the argument you want to make
q Should
be short enough to complete within the scope of your paper
Do NOT do the following
in the Intro:
--Do
not simply write a thesis statement (Intro must contain more than two
sentences)
--Do
not state personal opinion
Body of paper
1.
Should contain at least three main
"chunks." Your argument = what
you want to prove
2.
Paragraphs should flow in a logical sequence
3.
Each paragraph should include only what you announce in
the topic sentence of that paragraph (one idea per paragraph)
4.
Write transition sentences or phrases between
paragraphs
5.
Examples of types of analytical paragraphs:
q Define
and/or classify
q Provide
examples to explain a point you want to make
q Describe
a process or processes involved in your analysis
q Comparison
and/or contrast
q Make
analogies between unlike items
q Draw
cause and effect conclusions
Do NOT do the
following in the body:
--Do not simply summarize what you
read (that's a high school book report)
--Do not write paragraphs
willy-nilly, as they come to you, without logical sequencing (rewrite, if
necessary)
--Do not put more than one main
idea in one paragraph
Conclusion
1.
Start conclusion with a transition sentence from the
last thought in the body of paper
2.
Within the conclusion, include sentences that remind
the reader of your original thesis statement and what you proved
3.
Check your Intro to make sure you have not veered away
from your original argument
4.
Final sentences:
q wrap
up main ideas from body of paper without copying them word for word
q indicate
the value of your argument for society
q If
necessary, conclusively answer your provocative question from Intro
5.
Do NOT do
the following in the conclusion
--Do not write the words "in
conclusion"
--Do not introduce a completely new
idea at the very end of your paper
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