Opening and Closing Paragraphs

Opening and Closing Paragraphs And MLA Format

Opening Paragraphs • The opening paragraph is the most important part of an essay, composition or story • Must include a hook – or interest grabber • Must include the focus of your paper - thesis • Must include three proof points

Hook – Attention Grabber • The Personal Anecdote • Questions • Quotation, Song Lyric, or Poem • Unusual or Bizarre Fact or Statistic • Biographical Reflection

Proof Points • These are the points that will be addressed in the course of your essay • For example – • Novel: A Separate Peace • Topic/Thesis: Character Development • Proof Points (Body Paragraph Topics): • 1. Gene as Round • 2. Finney as Round • 3. Leper as Round

THESIS • A proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved, or maintained against objections • A subject for a composition or essay • The specific literary focus of an essay

Outline or Brainstorm

Topic: Choosing a life long career (develop thesis) • Hook Type: Unusual Statistic • Hook – Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, could spend one million dollars per day, everyday until he was 311 years old! • Thesis – How do we find a life long career? • Proof Points: • 1. satisfying • 2. earns enough money • 3. balance between work and leisure

Sample Opening Paragraph Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, could spend one million dollars per day, every day, seven days per week, and would not run out of money until he was 311 years old! Most would agree that he has reached a point of financial security. In fact, it would be almost impossible to figure out how one could spend one million dollars per day. This spending dilemma is not a problem that will be faced by most of us as we enter the world of work. For most Americans, finding an occupation that is satisfying, earns enough money to live comfortably, and figures out a realistic blend between work and leisure are three essential factors in beginning one’s career.

You Try • Possible Topics • General • My Favorite Subject • My Favorite Movie • The Best Food Ever • The Most Desirable Vacation Spot • Challenge • Gender, Religious, or Racial Prejudice • The American Dream • The Death Penalty • Hooks • Personal Anecdote • Quote, Song Lyric, or Poem • Unusual or Bizarre Fact or Statistic • Question • Biographical Anecdote

Outline • [HOOK] John Lennon once said, “all you need is love.” • [TRANSITION] This message seems to be universal in music as well as literature. • [THESIS] In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, he presents the theme of love through the relationships he develops within the story. • [PROOF POINTS] Examples of this message surface between Lennie and furry animals, the crew in the bunk house, and most importantly, between Lennie and George. • [TRANSITION] The deeper these relationships are explored, the more we can see the universality of the need for love.

Strategy • Choose your question. • Turn your question into your THESIS (include author, title, and focus). • Choose 3 proof points. You should be able to build an entire paragraph around each point. • Choose a hook. • Begin writing your paragraph.

Body Paragraphs • TS - Topic Sentence: This should refer to your first proof point and introduce what the topic of your paragraph is going to be about. • CD – Concrete Detail: This will be your first example from the book. Introduce your evidence in your own words, then include a quote. • CM (x2) - Commentary: These are thoughtful insights and reflections regarding the evidence you just provided. The commentary often shows the connection between the evidence and the focus of your paper. • Transition: This is a sentence that will lead you into your next CD. • CD – Concrete Detail: This is the second example from the book. Again, introduce your evidence in your own words, then include a quote. • CM(x2) - Commentary: These are thoughtful insights and reflections regarding the evidence you just provided. The commentary often shows the connection between the evidence and the focus of your paper. • CS – Concluding Sentence: Briefly sums up the content in the paragraph and/or transitions you into the next paragraph.

Closing Paragraph • The closing paragraph is the second most important paragraph in your essay. • It is the paragraph that leaves the final impression on your reader. • It completes the circle of information and lets your reader know you have concluded your argument. • It is closely linked to the opening paragraph, but different.

Closing Paragraph • Just like an opening paragraph has three essential components: • Hook • Thesis • Proof Points • So too does a closing paragraph have three essential components: • Link • Restatement of Thesis • Twist

Closing Paragraph • Refer back to your opening paragraph to write your conclusion. • LINK: A link typically begins the closing and is a connection or continuation of the opening hook. • RESTATEMENT: A student will then “restate” the thesis in different words. • TWIST: Finally, create a final sentence which causes the reader to nod in approval or smile in agreement.

Opening Paragraph Closing Paragraph John Lennon once said, “all you need is love.” This message seems to be universal in music as well as literature. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, he presents the theme of love through the relationships he develops within the story. Examples of this message surface between Lennie and [objects that give him comfort], the crew in the bunk house, and most importantly, between Lennie and George. The deeper these relationships are explored, the more we can see the universality of the need for love. Throughout the ages songs have referred to our innate need for love. John Lennon stated it simply, but perfectly in his song. Simply and perfectly Steinbeck also demonstrates the theme ‘the need for love’ in his book Of Mice and Men. It is startling that a concept so widely understood and universally needed is so hard to recognize and attain.

Quote Incorporation • It is important that your quotes are relative to your concrete detail (specific example). Your quote serves as the evidence of that concrete detail. • It is important that you only use the parts of the quote necessary to support your CD. • It is important that when incorporating the quote, you retain the grammatical integrity of the sentence. • Use [ ] around words you have to change in order to keep the grammar consistent. • Always take note of the page number(s) on which you find the quote.

Basic MLA Citation • Because you are using one book as your source, you do not need to reference the author’s name in the citation. • Only your page number(s) will be included in parenthesis. Ex. (25). • The period goes AFTER the citation because the citation is completing the sentence. • Ex. Jenny looked confused as she, “wrinkled her nose and scrunched her brows together” (25).

9th Grade Practice • Find the quotes below in your text. On a clean sheet of paper, write the complete quote, using quotation marks and taking note of the author and page number. • Then, we will incorporate those quotes into sentences and paragraphs together. • Find one quote regarding a description of Lennie in Of Mice and Men. • Find one quote describing the scenery using imagery in Of Mice and Men. • Find one quote that demonstrates friendship in Of Mice and Men

9th Grade Practice – Period 2 • “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man shapeless of face with large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily dragging his feet like a bear dragged his paws.” Page 4 Steinbeck • George’s partner Lennie is also a main character in the story. Steinbeck is very clear in describing Lennie’s physical appearance. Lennie is described as George’s opposite, “a huge man shapeless of face with large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders” (2). This is an indication that Lennie is strong. Steinbeck presents Lennie with great detail in order to show the reader what Lennie looks like. Another example of Lennies character description is

9th Grade Practice – Period 2 • “I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you.” Page 14 Steinbeck • Lennie and George’s friendship is really strong. The first example we see of this is when they comfort each other by explaining how they have each other’s backs. When sitting by the river Lennie says, “I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you” (14). These two characters are very close to each other. They are like brothers and will always be there for each other. Another example of friendship is when …

9th Grade Practice – Period 2 • “The Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green.” Page 1 Steinbeck • In the beginning of the novel Of Mice and Men Steinbeck describes the scenery of the Salinas Valley using imagery. He describes the river with great detail, saying that it, “drops in close to hillside bank and runs deep and green” (1). Imagery is intended to give you a mental picture. By using the word green, Steinbeck is appealing to our sense of sight. Another example the description of the Salinas Valley is when…

9th Grade Practice – 3rd Period • “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man shapeless of face with large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders and he walked heavily dragging his feet a little the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.” Page 2 Steinbeck • Steinbeck describes Lennie’s characteristics and features with great detail. Lennie is the opposite of George. He is described as, “a huge man shapeless of face with large pale eyes” (2). Steinbeck wants the reader to have a picture of Lennie. By understanding his size, we can understand why he accidentally kills things. Another example of Steinbeck describing Lenie is when …

9th Grade Practice – Period 3 • “The bunkhouse was a long rectangular building. Inside the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted. In three walls there were small square windows and in the fourth a solid door with a wooden latch.” Page 17 Steinbeck • Steinbeck uses imagery to create vivid settings. Imagery makes a setting more realistic and believable. When describing the bunkhouse he says, it “was a long rectangular building… [with] walls [that] were whitewashed and the floor unpainted” (17). Imagery is a device that appeals to your five senses. In this quote he uses the words ‘white’, ‘unpainted’, and ‘long’ to appeal to our sense of sight. Another example of how Steinbeck…

9th Grade Practice – 3rd Period • “But I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I would touch none of it.” Page 12 Steinbeck • Steinbeck shows the friendship between George and Lennie throughout the novel. Lennie would do anything for George. When George gets mad because Lennie wants ketchup, Lennie quickly says, “[b]ut I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave [the ketchup] all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I would touch none of it” (12). This shows that Lennie cares for George. This demonstrates the loyalty that Lennie has towards George. Another example of their friendship …

10th Grade Practice • Find the quotes below in your text. On a clean sheet of paper, write the complete quote, using quotation marks and taking note of the author and page number. • Then, we will incorporate those quotes into sentences and paragraphs together. • Find one quote regarding a description of Finny in A Separate Peace. • Find one quote describing the scenery using imagery in A Separate Peace. • Find one quote that demonstrates Gene’s internal conflict.

10th Grade Practice • “He opened his green eyes wider and gave us his maniac look and only the smirk on his wide mouth with its droll, slightly protruding upper lip reassured us that he wasn’t completely goofy.” Page 6 Knowles • Finny is a main character who is thoroughly described throughout the book. Knowles represents him as a good looking kid. “[H]is green eyes … the smirk on his wide mouth … [and] slightly protruding upper lip reassured [the boys] that he wasn’t completely goofy” (6). Although Phineas is portrayed as an attractive person, his fun-loving character is also evident. The boys look up to Finny in many ways. Another example of Finny’s character is …

10th Grade Practice • “The tree was not only stripped by the cold season, it seemed weary from age, enfeebled, dry.” Page 6 Knowles • Imagery is used to describe the setting of the tree which plays a key role in the novel. The tree is an old part of the Devon campus. When Gene returns to the school as an adult, he visits the tree. He sees that the, “tree was not only stripped by the cold season, it seemed weary from age, enfeebled, dry” (6). The tree represented both good and bad times. This setting was the root of the conflict that occurs in the novel. Another example of why the tree is important …

Opening and Closing Paragraphs