Compose introductions and conclusions that frame a claim

The introduction and conclusion are the frame of your argument essay. The introduction opens with a hook that grabs the reader's attention, provides background context, and ends with a clear thesis. The conclusion closes the frame by restating the thesis in new words, summarizing your key reasons, and broadening out to a call to action or a wider implication.

Introduction Structure: Hook → Context → Thesis

1. Hook — the opening sentence that draws the reader in. Use a question, a surprising statistic, a bold statement, or a short anecdote.
2. Context — one or two sentences of background that help the reader understand why the topic matters.
3. Thesis — the final sentence of the introduction. It states your clear position and may hint at your reasons.

Hook Techniques

• Surprising statistic: "Over 60% of working adults say they do not have enough time with their families during the week."
• Rhetorical question: "What if the way companies schedule the workweek is actually making workers less productive?"
• Bold statement: "The traditional five-day workweek was designed for a world that no longer exists."
• Anecdote: "At 6:15 a.m., Maria's dad drags himself out of bed, barely awake, and heads to his first meeting."

Conclusion Structure: Restate → Summarize → Broaden

1. Restate thesis — express your position again, but in different words. Never copy the thesis word-for-word.
2. Summarize key reasons — briefly remind the reader of your main supporting points without repeating full detail.
3. Broaden / Call to action — end with a wider implication ("This affects every family") or motivate the reader to act ("It is time for companies to change").

Why Introduction and Conclusion Must Echo Each Other

A powerful essay uses a circular structure: the conclusion echoes the introduction. If your hook opens with a question, your conclusion can answer it. If you open with a statistic, your closing can refer back to it. This creates a sense of completeness and signals to the reader that the argument has been fully developed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Copying your thesis word-for-word into the conclusion — always paraphrase it.
• Starting a conclusion with "In conclusion, I have shown that..." — this is weak; let the ideas speak.
• Introducing brand-new arguments in the conclusion — it is too late; the conclusion summarizes, it does not argue.
• A hook that is unrelated to your argument — every hook must connect to the thesis.
• Ending abruptly without a call to action or broader implication — the final sentence should resonate.