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One: Tackling the Question |
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Two: Brainstorming a Topic |
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| Lesson
Three: Structure and Outline |
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| Lesson
Four: Style and Tone |
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| Lesson
Five: Intros and Conclusions |
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Select One: |
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Introductions |
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Conclusions |
Lesson Six: Editing and Revising |
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Lesson Five: Introductions and Conclusions
Surprised to see introductions
as the topic of our second-to-last lesson? Most writers find that it is
nearly impossible to craft an essay by beginning with the introduction.
The best leads often develop during and after writers have written the
remainder of the essay. Maybe a fantastic
introduction or conclusion is caught floating around in the middle of
your rough draft. Maybe you find that your essay does not even need an
introduction or conclusion (see sidebar). More likely, however, it is
in these later stages that you have a good sense of the way your essay
is shaping up, all the way to the nitty-gritty details. Since beginnings
and endings can be the most challenging and important part of any piece
of writing, you will want to take advantage of a completed rough draft. Part of the reason
why introductions and conclusions are so difficult is that writers tend
to worry about them too much. Writing teachers give so much attention
to the need for a thorough introduction and a sharply drawn conclusion
that anxious essayists compensate by going overboard. They feel that in
order to appear mature and worldly, their essays must contain profound
insights and sweeping observations. While your introduction
and conclusion need not provide the answers to every worldly problem,
they do need to be engaging. Admissions officers may spend just a few
minutes reading your essay. Your introduction must grab their interest
from the beginning and your conclusion must make a lasting impression. Most applicants
assume that a good essay must have an introduction and
conclusion. While most essays do require these bookends, there
are some instances in which an introduction and conclusion can
actually diminish the quality of your essay. Heed the advice
of one admissions officer: When
you have finished writing the rest of your rough draft, you
may discover that you don't need an introduction at all. But
isn't that risky? Maybe. But believe it or not, more essays
have been ruined by forced and unnecessary introductions than
have been ruined by the lack of one. Largely this is because
of the misconception of what an introduction is supposed to
accomplish. This is especially true if you are writing your
essay as a narrative. It might feel risky or uncomfortable
just letting the story stand on its own. You might be afraid
that your reader will miss the point. But the point should
be made in the story -- through the telling -- not before
or after it. If you really cannot resist, then offer your
observations and explanations in the conclusion instead of
the introduction, leaving you free to begin your essay with
the action.”
Introduction
EssayEdge
Extra: No Introduction??!!
Copyright 1998 by Dan Kaufman. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
