Title: AP Essay Introductions and Conclusions
1AP Essay Introductions and Conclusions
2INTRODUCTIONS
3The Importance of an Introduction
- The introduction is the first impression your
reader gets of your writing quality. - You want your readers to know the direction
youre going and follow easily. - A captivating, well-planned introduction will
give your reader a sense of confidence for the
essay and better receive what you have to say.
4Essentials of the Introduction
- Make Readers Interested
- Use SOAPT
- Introduce Argument or Topic
- Write Your Thesis Statement
- Introduce Essays Organizational Structure
5Make Readers Interested
- Begin by incorporating a relevant/essential
quotation from primary or secondary texts. - Provide pertinent background information in
well-constructed prose. - Present a controversial issue up front, before
introducing a topic.
6Identify SOAPT
- Breakdown
- Subject
- Occasion
- Audience
- Purpose
- Tone
- Avoid using the aforementioned terms directly.
-
7Introduce the Argument or Topic
- Provide necessary definitions or explanations of
argument or topic. - Add relevant background information that is
necessary for your reader. - Consider incorporating a quotation from a primary
or secondary text which lends to an understanding
of your essay.
8Write Your Thesis Statement
- This is one to two sentences that state the
purpose of your essay - States the topic
- States the point you are going to make
- Your thesis does NOT include personal statements.
- Your thesis is direct, concise, and clear.
9Introduce Essays Organizational Pattern
- Briefly introduce the points that will be
explored. - Introduce the points in the order in which they
will be discussed. - This gives a direction or blueprint for your
paper.
10CONCLUSIONS
11Importance of a Conclusion
- This is the last impression of your writing that
a reader is left with. - A good conclusion will address all concepts
explored in an essay, giving the reader a sense
of completion. - You only have one chance to leave off on a solid
note this is where you hit it home!
12Writing Different Types of Conclusion
- Your conclusion will vary given the purpose of
your essay. For AP Prompts, you will encounter
three types - The Synthesis Essay
- The Argument/Persuasive Essay
- The Analytical Essay
- Conclusions for personal narratives vary
drastically from formal essay writing for our
purposes, we will explore the three essential AP
prompts.
13The Synthesis Essay Conclusion
- Restate topic and its importance.
- Restate your thesis in varying words.
- Briefly summarize each of your essays points (no
more than a sentence for each). - Consider incorporating a key quotation from one
of the primary texts which cements your
standpoint. - When necessary, call for action or research
possibilities.
14The Argument/Persuasive Essay Conclusion
- Restate topic and its importance.
- Briefly address opposing viewpoints
- Restate your thesis in varying words.
- Remind readers of your essays points.
- Use language that urges the reader to agree with
your position. - When necessary, call for action or research
possibilities.
15The Analytical Essay Conclusion
- Comment on the big picture of the essay you are
analyzing bring it back into context. - Briefly summarize the techniques employed by the
author that you explored in your paper, but do
not give specifics. - Write a conclusive statement that reflects on the
piece as youve perceived it.
16AP Essay Introductions and Conclusions
17The Synthesis Essay Prompt
18Synthesis Essay Introduction
- Can a mind learn under bounds? With such
strict rules in schools today, children are
facing bounds which strip them of their
individuality. Therefore, which is more
important conformity or individuality? To
succeed, we need freedom we need to be able to
exercise and stretch to our reach. Rules that
constrict us into tight spots are killing
childrens desires to learn. Uniforms, tight
schedules, mandatory classes, and dress codes are
all taking away a childs right to learn freely.
Individuality is more important than conformity
and this individuality needs to be recognized by
school systems.
19Synthesis Essay Conclusion
- When bound, how can one move or do anything?
They cannot. This is what schools are doing
they are binding childrens minds by not allowing
them to think on their own. School systems need
to let the children go, set them free. No more
dress codes or mandatory classes. Students must
be allowed to study what they want as they choose
and dress as they prefer. It is time to free the
students to think to their full limits.
20The Argument/Persuasion Essay Prompt
21Argument/Persuasion Essay Introduction
- When the last time that anyone claimed that
television was represents real life? When has
television, in general, ever been touted as a way
to become more familiar with ones own position
in the rat race of life? If this were the true
purpose of media, SpongeBob would spend his days
fighting insurance lawsuits, Dr. Phil would
interview normal, middle-aged couch-potatoes, and
Indiana Jones would spend his days cataloguing
pottery fragments. Ehrenreich is right to call
the world inside the black box eerie and
unnatural it was never intended to be anything
else.
22Argument/Persuasion Essay Conclusion
- Television, as well as most things, is best
taken in moderation. Too much of it may turn an
intelligent individual into a slovenly
couch-potato. Despite this, television has
certainly done more good than bad, while
recognizing that it does have the potential for
both. In the end, the effect that television has
on society is determined by the viewer. I choose
what I expose myself to, what I watch, what I
think, what I believe thus, I, not anyone else,
choose whether television is something eerie and
unnatural or a harmless diversion. Why do we
keep on watching? Because it is our choice to
make, and our decision whether or not to be
influenced by what we see.
23The Analytical Essay Prompt
24Analytical Introduction
- In The Indispensable Opposition, Walter
Lippmann asserts that the freedoms we have fought
to give ourselves, those of opinion and speech,
exist only because the existence of many views
allows your own to evolve. Lippmann takes a
disparaging attitude towards those who champion
these rights on the basis that all deserve them,
and instead points out to the reader how they,
along with everyone else, could be lacking if
those rights were not freely distributed.
Persuasive speech, choice diction, appeals to
tradition and logic all contribute to Lippmanns
ability to fully develop his argument.
25Analytical Conclusion
- Through an assertive voice, Lippmann
continually supports his premise that liberty
comes through toleration. Lippmanns awareness
of argumentative techniques is evidenced by his
persuasive language, specific word choice, and
his rhetorical appeals. By stating the opposing
viewpoint from the very beginning, that freedom
is a noble gift rather than a need, Lippmann
allows himself to launch a trade against this
view that lasts the entirety of his piece.
26AP Essay Introductions and Conclusions