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Introduction

Writing the introduction and the conclusion of an article is the hardest task for me. To catch the readers` attention from the first sentence and keep hold of it until the last requires knowledge just as an interesting topic. The language and contents have to stand up to the audience’s expectations, and transmit the author’s thoughts on the subject. The reader wants to be kept inquisitive, though this requirement challenges most, it can be tackled by all. In my paper, I will present the hardships and solutions of writing essays with two introductions and two conclusions. Based on the essays of my classmates, hoping to facilitate success in other cases.

Method

I had asked my classmates to lend me their essays for further study, namely `Two introductions and two conclusions`. These were handed in for Horváth József’s course, `Writing and Research Skills` we attended in the spring semester of 1998 in JPU, Pécs. Through the essays I am going to try, to give a clear picture on how to keep the reader’s attention, or what could be still improved for the cause. As for professional background I had chosen William Zinsser’s `The Lead` and `The Ending` chapters. In these chapters he aims to help writers find their abilities in holding readers` attention, by starting with a capturing introduction and a memorable conclusion. The technique of my analysis was to contract in these essays the themes used in the two introductions to capture the attention of the readers, and I had looked for a personal thought or a general question raised in both conclusions. I did not only look for the successes in reaching the ultimate target, but put the essays against each other to find the failures and successes in each step.

Results and Discussion

The first introduction, in all four essays at my disposal, pointed out clearly the topic. When discussing specifically sensitive subjects, as Vadon Balázs has done in his essay, he clearly pointed out one kind of opinion on the subject in the first introduction, and the opposite in the other, targeting people with different thoughts on the matter. In these introductions, accurate data: "A dohányzás káros az egészségre. 36/1196. (XII. 11.) FM - NM - IKIM együttes rendelete." (Vadon Balázs) But the subject touched, awakens questions pro and contra, in the readers: "Who gives a damn whether smoking damages my health." (Vadon Balázs)

Introductions do not have to raise accurate questions, political, economic or cultural. The highest goal of introductions is to awaken curiosity for the rest of the piece. Keeping the reader’s focus on the article, inspiring the individual thoughts about what has been written, is something I believe most writers hope for. "Therefore the lead must capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading" (Zinsser 65). One way to reach this target, is by a short, perhaps witty sentence that makes everyone interested in what the writer has to say about the subject.
I found that out of the four essays` two introductions, all writers turned to different audiences in the two introductions. Tánczos Balázs, who wrote about alcohol, in his first introduction supported information, that would probably find capturing: "Drinking was indeed a ceremony during the feasts." (Tánczos Balázs) Finding the fitting subject, targeting a group of people who may be interested in reading more about the field, supporting data, keeping the attention without boring the readers`, adding personal opinion and raising adequate questions is quite a task. It requires knowledge, practice and often failures to learn from.

The core of an article is pulled along, as the introduction and the conclusion set the frame. Zinsser calls attention to the proper use of verbs, which are considered the main actors of the sentence. Active verbs should be used in articles preferably to the passive ones. He marks their difference as: "The difference between life and death for a writer" (110). Passive structures, especially with long sentences, may make the reader unsure of what he reads. Adverbs and adjectives are usually extras, often quite unnecessary, since the nouns already carry the concepts. There is a simple rule Zinsser suggests: "Make your adjectives do the work that needs to be done"(112). Adjectives are help the reader see the "blackness” or hear the fearful cries. The main difference lies in the frequency of their use. With this we arrived to the question of a writer’s creditability, for its sake exeduration should be clearly avoided. When articles concerning everyday and special subjects lie out in the world, waiting to be picked up, exedurations would unnecessarily threaten creditability. Accuracies, as in Márkus Melinda`s essay, draw attention a lot more than exedurations: "Titanic is the most popular and successful film in our times, and it is among the best films ever made in Hollywood. It has always filled the audience with horror and fear since so many innocent people had to die there in 1912."
It is the conclusions of the articles that catch the readers` eye in many occasions, by evoking thoughts brought up by the subject. The theme introduced develops usually to near-perfection by the last sentences of the conclusion. At least this is what we would expect. But to stop at the proper place is much harder than one would think. A conclusion may sum up, pose generic questions about its subject. Conclusions should not however chew on what has already been told the reader in the context. The writer has to have the instinct of when and how to stop. This is just as important on the road to success as the introduction, and to hold the reader’s attention all through the paper. "Because a good last sentence - or paragraph - is a joy in itself" ( Zinsser 78).
When the writer chooses a subject close to his heart, it is not unusual that a clear, objective point isn’t stated in the conclusion. The writer does not have to provide opposing views in the text, but that might help the reader to understand the concept better. Giving a personal summary is accepted when writing a paper concerned with such subjects as found in a sport’s section, but will not go in a paper read by people with interests on a wider scale. In both of her conclusions, Márkus Melinda provided further information on her subject: "One of the most successful films is about to become the first billion dollar moviegoer released. “She analyzes the reasons for the great success, and urges the readers to go and see the film, giving a personal opinion at the end. Vadon Balázs and Tánczos Balázs had chosen quite sensitive themes. In their different conclusions, they introduced reasons smoking and alcohol are part of the lives of some. "I will give off smoking as soon as I realize that time has come to give it off, but as long as I enjoy it, I enjoy it"(Vadon Balázs)."It is only a lie that alcohol is the enemy of society. Alcoholism only indicates that there are some troubles with it"(Tánczos Balázs).In the second conclusions they put the opinion of those who stand up clearly against these habits, in the spotlight. "Everyone should finally realize that: "A dohányzás káros az egészségre"(Vadon Balázs)."The only thing I would like is that people would consider their attitude to alcohol and would consume it in a civilized way, as grown-ups" (Tánczos Balázs).Their main concerns were at the end, only after both aspects were clear to the reader. To be tolerant is a basic need in life, and this they could wisely use as their last sentence.

Conclusion

After a deeper study of my classmates` essays, I found that the introduction and the conclusion have to form a frame. Each piece of writing has to stick to its targeted audience’s requirements, both in subject, language, and information. By writing two introductions and two conclusions for one theme, I believe, the writer and the reader gets a clearer, multi-aspect view. If the audiences` attention is lost, or is not captured at all, the writing technique needs to be reconsidered. It does depend on the theme, place the article will appear, and the right tone, but most of all it is the writer and the technique applied that stand out there in the spotlight, waiting to be judged.