OPENING AND CLOSING A COMPOSITION

OPENINGS/INTRODUCTIONS/LEADS

OBJECTIVES: 	1) to introduce the topic
		2) to arouse the reader's interest

OPEN with/by:

1. a dramatic incident

2. a significant contrast

3. telling a story

4. setting a scene

5. a question or series of questions

6. a brief historical background

7. unusual facts or figures

8. a fresh and pertinent quotation

9. a definition (preferably not from the dictionary)

10. an idea to be refuted

11. an effective description

12. a series of planned fragments

13. an anecdote


CONCLUSIONS/CLOSINGS/EXITS

OBJECTIVE: to leave the reader with a lasting impression

CLOSE with:

1. a call to action

2. a prediction

3. a probing question

4. a strong or compelling contrast

5. a pertinent quotation

6. a final illustration

7. a deduction drawn from the facts

REMEMBER: You can use all of these in many combinations.