Ideas for Hooking the Reader and Getting His or Her Attention:

1) a quotation

2) a narrative example

3) a powerful factual example

4) an interesting generalization that leads to a more specific context and discussion

5) an important definition of a key term or concept

6) a question

Ideas for Writing a Powerful (or at Least Satisfying!) Conclusion:

1) restate your thesis, but in different words

2) provide a summary of what you proved in your paper

3) make a recommendation

4) use an effective quote – don’t develop a whole new point, but just a choice quote that kind of wraps up what you’ve been arguing or demonstrating all along.

5) Ask a question (and answer it, unless it’s rhetorical!)

6) Include a call for action.

7) Show the significance of what you’ve proved or developed in your paper (the “so what?” aspect)