Opening and closing.
WHAT AN INTRODUCTION SHOULD DO
State the topic and why it matters State the question State your position Indicate the structure
WHAT IT SHOULD NOT DO
Begin with a dictionary definition Begin with a broad generalisation about humanity Contain material belonging in the body
WHY WRITE IT LAST
Because you then know what you actually argued.
WHAT LENGTH
Short. A tenth of the whole, roughly.
WHAT A CONCLUSION SHOULD DO
Answer the question, directly Summarise how you got there, briefly State the significance Acknowledge limitations, where relevant
WHAT IT SHOULD NOT DO
Introduce new evidence or arguments Simply repeat the introduction Overstate what you showed
WHAT TO CHECK
That the conclusion answers the question the introduction posed.
WHY
They frequently diverge, because the work changed during writing.
WHAT TO DO IF THEY DIVERGE
Change the introduction, since the body is what you actually did.
WHAT TO END WITH
The point you want remembered.
