Writing introductions and endings to grab attention and leave an impression

Writing introductions and endings to grab attention and leave an impression Writing intros and endings We remember firsts and lasts much more than we remember in betweens. Most people can remember their first day at school, or what they had for dinner last night, for example. Thats why introductions and conclusions are perhaps the two most critical parts of any document. Unfortunately, theyre also often the weakest. Most people have no idea how to write an introduction that grabs the readers attention. And even more people neglect to write a conclusion altogether. But there are four basic types of intro and ending that you can use for most documents. Here are two of them. Getting started Many people follow the misguided advice to start somewhere in the middle and write the introduction last. But getting your introduction right doesnt just attract the reader, it also helps your document flow as you write. So begin writing your introduction first. One of the most effective types of introduction is the historical beginning. This type of introduction contrasts what used to happen last year/century or whenever with whats happening now, and creates a real sense of movement in your readers mind. For example: Ten years ago, the marketing budget was 3 million a year. Now that figure has almost tripled. Now youve got your readers attention, theyll almost certainly be eager to know why the budget has increased so much. Start telling them, and theyre hooked. Closure The conclusion is your opportunity to leave a lasting impression and keep what youve written in the readers mind. One good way to do this is to look forward, or predict the future. For example: The annual report shows that growth has been steady, but sales still need to improve for the upturn to continue. You can find out more about effective intros and endings on an Emphasis in-company or public course. Or you can email to ask us about how we can help your organisation. Back to High-impact business writing course.