ENG100 Week 9: Introductions and Conclusions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to writing effective introductions and conclusions in essays.

Introduction

The beginning section of a text that presents the aim, purpose, and thesis statement.

Thesis Statement

A sentence that clearly expresses the main idea or argument of an essay.

Strong Introduction

A clear and informative opening that presents the topic, purpose, and thesis effectively.

Weak Introduction

An opening that lacks clarity, has too much or too little information, or fails to state a clear thesis.

The ‘placeholder’

An ineffective introduction that is vague and does not provide meaningful content.

Restated Question Introduction

An introduction that only restates the question rather than engaging the reader meaningfully.

Dictionary Freak Introduction

An introduction that provides dictionary definitions instead of creating original context.

‘Since the Dawn of Time’ Introduction

An introduction that generalizes the topic excessively and lacks specific insight.

The Book Report Introduction

An introduction that presents overly basic information that the audience is expected to already know.

Unrelated Anecdote Introduction

An introduction that shares a personal story that is not relevant or interesting to the topic.

Conclusion

The final part of an essay that summarizes the main ideas, restates the thesis, and offers final thoughts without introducing new information.

Double Role of Conclusion

The need for a conclusion to both close the discussion and indicate further investigation is possible.

What NOT to Do in Conclusions

Avoid summarizing, being apologetic, or signaling the end of the essay in a predictable manner.

Transitions to Conclusion

Phrases used to smoothly guide the reader towards the concluding remarks of an essay.

Paraphrasing Thesis in Conclusion

Restating the thesis using different words to reinforce the main argument in the conclusion.

Exploratory Writing

A writing style that may not present a clear thesis in the introduction, allowing for argument development throughout.

The Final Stroke

A concluding statement that encourages the reader to think critically about the significance of the topic.