The End is the Beginning: Writing Your Introduction and Conclusion

writing photoWriting isn’t any different than movies, the beginning and ending are important. A great blog post grabs your attention with the introduction and provides a sense of satisfaction with the conclusion. While they seem separate in nature, they are actually more similar than different. It is important that the introduction and conclusion are properly paired. Sadly, many people overlook the introduction and conclusion. However, when properly developed they play an important role in your writing. A reader can gain a clear understanding of your purpose and intent in these two parts of your blog.

Writing the Introduction

The introduction begins with a catchy and interesting beginning sentence; something that grabs the reader’s attention. You want to remember to tie this sentence into the overall content of the blog. However, there is room for it to stand out and be a little different, as it seeks to draw the reader in.

As you continue, it is important to use the next few sentences as a set up for the body of the blog. Background information or any piece of material that gives the reader a better understanding is great. At some point in the introduction, you need to clarify the statement you want to to make with your content. There isn’t a huge distinction on where each sentence should go. The main goal is to make sure they are in the introduction. Additionally, you want your ideas to flow smoothly. Finally, you need to close the introduction by using a transitional sentence that leads nicely into the body of your writing.

Writing the Conclusion

The interesting concept with the conclusion is its similarity to the introduction. Using the same concepts as the introduction you reorganize or reword them to nicely tie up your article. One of the main elements to remember is that you shouldn’t make any new points in the conclusion. You do not discuss any new ideas, examples, or new information. You want to close the topic, ending the conversation with the reader. Also, you want your main idea or topic to be the last thing the reader thinks about as they finish reading. Just as the introduction is the initial greeting the conclusion is the final good-bye. It begins with a concluding topic sentence and is followed by a revisit to the key points of the piece. Leave a lasting impression. Finally, you wrap everything up with a statement that is the last statement for the article.

The initial interaction and the final words are bookends to great article writing. Leading the reader in the process of understanding is necessary. An effective article is developed in the beginning with a strong introduction and is finalized with a tight conclusion. Even though they are small, they are important in developing your writing and necessary for reader understanding.