To practice writing a good title, introduction, and conclusion, you will return to the Emily Post essay that was taken from Etiquette in Society. It has always seemed to me that this essay could use a good title, introductory paragraph, and a concluding paragraph.
The handout has two sections, Decencies of Behavior and The Old Gray Wrapper Habit. Choose one of them. Either one is fine. It may seem strange to add the first and last paragraphs after the entire body of the essay is written; however, it’s easy to get stuck on that first paragraph when you’re first writing a paper. Often I advise students to write the second paragraph and worry about composing the first and last paragraphs when they have their body paragraphs complete. It helps get past writer’s block.
First, you will give the section you’ve chosen a new title that is either straightforward or creative, as suggested in your textbook.
Then you will write an introduction and a conclusion, as neither section of the essay seems to have one. Before you begin, refer to those pages in your textbook that offer the strategies for writing good introductory and concluding paragraphs. Choose one of the seven strategies for introductions on page 260 and one of the strategies for conclusions on page 273. Label your paragraphs with which of them that you used.
The introductory and concluding paragraph should each be at least five sentences long. Edit them well so there are no mechanical or punctuation errors. First and last paragraphs generally don’t have quotes, but if you choose to use one, don’t forget the attributive tag.
Your grade is based on having a good title (five points), an introductory paragraph, and a concluding paragraph (ten points each).