Esay planning: English 101

Introductions & Conclusions

The purpose of an introduction is to:

· Hook your reader’s attention

· Clearly introduce your essay topic

An Upside-Down Triangle Introduction Sample Introduction

We hear it over and over again: do the right thing! But what does it actually mean to do the right thing? In “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson, Arthur does not want to push a mysterious red button and have someone killed even if it means he would get $50,000. In “Lather and Nothing Else” by Hernando Téllez, the narrator decides not to kill an evil man even though he has an easy chance to do it. Both texts reveal that people can be motivated to do the right thing by compassion and integrity.

The purpose of a conclusion is to:

· Restate your thesis

· Restate how you supported your argument

· Explain why the essay matters

Sample Conclusion

Compassion and integrity are powerful motivators that help people make the right choices in life. In “Button, Button,” Arthur thinks of others before himself, which is why he won’t push the red button. In “Lather and Nothing Else,” the narrator values his integrity above everything else and decides against murdering someone. It isn’t always easy to do the right thing, but in the end it is always better to make the good and fair choice.