Introduction/Conclusion

I. Introduction

A. Begin with a broad generalization concerning your selected topic.

B. Identify the reason you selected this particular topic to research.

C. Finish with your thesis statement.

Sample Introduction:

While controversy regarding the teaching of evolution continues to this day, one event stands out in the minds of most Americans as the turning point of this debate. After seeing a television special about the Scopes Monkey Trial, I became intrigued with the fact that over eighty years later, the tension sparked by this topic has yet to reach a satisfactory resolution. When John Scopes challenged the Butler Act, the result was not simply a legal decision. Rather, he brought to light the essential social conflict between those Americans who value tradition and those who desire progress.

V. Conclusion

A. Restate your thesis statement.

B. Reflect upon how your research supported your thesis.

Sample Conclusion:

John Scopes did not merely dispute the implications of the Butler Act by testing this law in court. This trial demonstrated the tension that existed in America between fundamentalists and progressives. As I conducted my research, I learned that a great deal of what really happened at the Scopes Monkey Trial was revised by the press to suit its purposes. The true legal goal of the court case, a ruling by the Supreme Court, never took place. Also, I found it interesting that the media played such a huge role in the public beliefs about a legal proceeding. Looking at today’s headlines, it would seem that we have yet to make much progress in that arena. One would hope, however, that there will continue to be daring individuals like John Scopes who are willing to stand up for laws they find unjust or illogical in the attempt to make our country a better place.