RRE Introduction and Conclusion

RRE Introductory Paragraph
The Introductory Paragraph presents readers with important background information about the article.
Your readers might not have read the article, so you need to give credit to the author and provide enough context to help readers understand the topic and the author’s point of view.

Which four elements does the Introductory Paragraph consist of?
1a. credit to the author (the author’s name and the title of the source text)
1 b. paraphrase of the author’s main idea
2. background information to help readers understand the topic
3. a thesis statement that states your responses to the main ideas of the article

A Sample Introductory Paragraph
In her article “How Music Can Change the Way You Feel and Act”, Avramova [1] describes the influence of music on people’s feelings, emotions, actions, ambitions, and perceptions. Music has been used for a variety of purposes throughout human existence. Music helped to uplift the spirits of soldiers, calm babies in cradles, celebrate triumphs and regret losses, and it has become an integral part of people’s lives. While one can agree with most of the ideas about the connection between music and people’s life, some of the evidence and examples about the aggressiveness of music are non-exhaustive and confusing.

Introductory Paragraph Structure
1. In her article “How Music Can Change the Way You Feel and Act”, Avramova [1] describes the influence of music on people’s feelings, emotions, actions, ambitions, and perceptions.
1a.credit to the author (the author’s name and the title of the source text)
1 b. paraphrase of the author’s main idea

Introductory Paragraph Structure
2. Music has been used for a variety of purposes throughout human existence. Music helped to uplift the spirits of soldiers, calm babies in cradles, celebrate triumphs and regret losses, and it has become an integral part of people’s lives.
2. enough background information to help readers understand the topic

Introductory Paragraph Structure
3. While one can agree with most of the ideas about the connection between music and people’s life, some of the evidence and examples about the aggressiveness of music are non-exhaustive and confusing.
3. a thesis statement that states your responses to the main ideas of the article

What do you remember about the Thesis of a Reading Response Essay?

An RRE thesis statement is made up of TWO clauses which describe TWO different responses to the article.

RRE Concluding Paragraph
The Concluding Paragraph restates the author’s main idea and your thesis.
It ends with a few final comments that give readers something to think about after they read, such as a prediction or a call to action.

Which three-four elements does the Concluding Paragraph consist of?
1. The restatement of the author’s main idea
2. The restatement of your thesis
3. A prediction
4. A call to action

A Sample Concluding Paragraph
In conclusion, Avramova provides ample evidence regarding the fact that music may affect people’s minds. Most of the points the author introduced are convincing and thoroughly described, henceforth I fully support them. However, Avramova’s evaluation of violent music seems to be subjective. Arguably, with the advancement of technology music will be widely used not only in daily life, but in science and medicine as well. By choosing certain music, people may dramatically change the way they think, so people have to understand how melody and lyrics affect the human mind.

Concluding Paragraph Structure
1. In conclusion, Avramova provides ample evidence regarding the fact that music may affect people’s minds.
1. The restatement of the author’s main idea

A Sample Concluding Paragraph
2. Most of the points the author introduced are convincing and thoroughly described, henceforth I fully support them. However, Avramova’s evaluation of violent music seems to be subjective.
2. The restatement of your thesis

A Sample Concluding Paragraph
3. Arguably, with the advancement of technology music will be widely used not only in daily life, but in science and medicine as well.
3. A prediction

A Sample Concluding Paragraph
4. By choosing certain music, people may dramatically change the way they think, so people have to understand how melody and lyrics affect the human mind.
4. A call to action

Let’s practice.
Number the sentences of this Concluding Paragraph in the correct order.
A. I think that people need to be made aware of how much information they are taking in and how they understand it.
B. However, the author seems to ignore the benefits that come from being able to access so much information.
C. Then they will be better prepared to handle it.
D. All in all, Lincoln makes some interesting observations about how information overload affects people’s ability to understand and handle information.