Position Paper:

Day 6
Introduction and
Conclusion
I can write an effective
introduction and conclusion
to support my argument
At this point:
Look at your graphic organizer.

The following elements should be COMPLETED:

● Your stance/side on the issue

● Reason #1, Text Evidence, and Explanation
● Reason #2, Text Evidence, and Explanation
● Counter Argument, Text Evidence, and Explanation

Each reason (and the counter argument) should be formatted as a CEC

paragraph
Writing Introductions and Conclusions
Introductions and conclusions act like the picture frame of your essay: they
should fit the size and shape of the content you are writing.

Introductions should provide context and introduce the topic and present
your clear position statement.

Argument writers call to mind familiar strategies to write strong conclusions,

including not just restating a claim, but also leaving the reader with new
thinking.
 Build Your Introduction
There are 3 elements in a successful introduction. They can each be customized for your topic and
stance. Each bullet point here offers OPTIONS that you might include in your intro. You should use
one or more element from each section.

Attention Grabber: A sentence or two to engage your reader, such as:

● Quote or advice from someone you know (Ex: My parents are always telling me….)
● Interesting or surprising fact from your research (Make sure to quote it correctly & cite the source!)
● Anecdote, allusion, or “imagine” statement
● Big picture: (Ex: Violence is all around us. -OR- Many teens love playing violent games.)
● Personal connection (Ex: One of my favorite things to do… -OR- All of my friends...)
Background Information: A sentence or two about your connection to this topic
● Explain why your topic matters, how you know so much about it, or why it’s important to debate this issue.
● Another option is to give some history or background about the subject.
Claim/Thesis: What you are trying to argue or prove; what your whole essay is about
● Your claim should be a strong statement stating your opinion.
● It should tell whether you think violent games are GOOD or BAD.
● You may also choose to say that they are good for some groups of people but bad for others. However, you
MUST back this up in your body paragraphs.
Does the Mentor Text Fit?
Can you see all three elements (Attention Grabber, Background Information, and
Claim/Thesis) in the introduction of the example essay we looked at a few days
ago?
Evaluate the paragraph below using this checklist:

What are the things this paragraph does well?

What are the things this paragraph doesn’t do well?

 A Few Possible Answers. . .

Working Well Tips for Improvement

● Restated the claim ● Could suggest a call to action or a further

● Connects claim to others’ way of thinking
lives ● Could say who really needs to hear this
● Uses strong words to evoke argument
feelings ● Could end with a final thought or
reflection
Elements to a Conclusion
Your conclusion should be a separate paragraph that contains the following:

● 1) Restate your thesis in a DIFFERENT way.

● 2) Summarize your main points.
○ Ex: While some people believe violent games cause violence, research shows this is not the case. The fact
that they teach teamwork, strategy, and real-world situations proves that the benefits of these games
outweigh the concerns.
● 3) Leave readers with something to think about.
○ Closing Sentence Ideas:
■ Explain why this is important to the reader
■ Provide a look to the future of this topic
■ Encourage the reader to take action
■ Show how your own thinking has changed
■ Explain why readers should change their minds
■ Or you could use a combination of the above!
Today’s Task: Write Intro and
Conclusion
● Build your introduction making sure that the
Thesis/Position Statement is the last
sentence in your introduction Helpful Sentence Starters on
○ Refer back to the Introduction slide in this slideshow NEXT SLIDE
for suggestions
● Write your conclusion making sure that you
leave readers with something significant to
think about.
● Look over each of the body paragraphs you Be sure to CITE YOUR SOURCES!
should have (Reason 1, Reason 2, Counter According to the article “High-Jinks: Shoot-Out,”
“exact quote from the article goes here” (Martin).
Argument)
○ Make sure they are in CEC paragraph Guy Martin, author of “High-Jinks: Shoot-Out”
○ Make sure they include evidence from at least two states, “exact quote from the article goes here.”
articles, and cite your sources correctly.
Sentence Starters for Draft
● Introduction:
○ Start by talking about your issue (role-
playing games, violent games, violent
video games)
○ Claim/Position:
■ Role playing games are
beneficial/harmful to students.
■ Violent games can be
perilous/diverting to students.
■ etc.
● Body Paragraphs
○ First sentences
■ First, games can cause….
■ Second, the violence in these
games creates...
● Body Paragraphs
○ Evidence
■ In the article, “Article Title” by
Author’s Name, he says that “Quote
in exact words from the text”
■ For example, “Quote in exact words
from the text” (Author’s Last Name).
■ According to Author’s Name in
“Article Title,” “Quote in exact words
from the text.”
○ Counterclaim
■ While some people may argue
opposite perspective, they are
mistaken because…
■ Often people think opposite
perspective, but they need to see
that...