Conclusions

Good writers make connections and you want to make those connections as well. One way to do that is to relate information that you put into your introduction into your conclusion. For example, you want to mention that important fact or interesting question from your introduction in to your conlusion.

Things you have to do in a conclusion:

1. Relate everything back to your controlling idea
2. Summarize your book
3. Explain to the reader what they should have learned
4. Clarify and restate your fact/question from the introduction.
5. Leave the reader wanting more.

Use the color coding to help you find the similarities between the introduction and the conclusion.

Introduction:

In the 1930's Ed Rickenbacker invented the electric guitar, changing the way we would listen to music forever. As rock and roll (a mixture of different kinds of music) often uses an electric guitar, it could be said that this instrument helped to shape the genre of music into what it has become today. Throughout the course of this book, you will learn about the importance of rock and roll and how it has changed throughout the ages

Conclusion:

Throughout the course of this book, we have learned that rock and roll is more than just music and we have seen how it has shaped the American culture. When Ed Rickenbacker invented the electric guitar, little did he know how important his invention would become. From that moment on, rock and roll took a new turn. Where will rock and roll go next?

• Relating back to my interesting fact.
• Instead of telling the reader what the will be learning, now we tell them what they have learned!
• Leave the reader wanting more. Do not confuse that with leaving the reader with questions. Your goal is to make your reader want to find out more information about your topic. Remember, your topic is only as interesting as you make it.

Nonfiction Documents

Use these documents to help you construct your nonfiction book:

• Project Proposal
• Storyboard
• Basic computer tools
• Subtopic box-chart
• Nonfiction Task
• Nonfiction Rubric

Creating a Glossary

As you continue to write your children’s nonfiction book, you will undoubtedly come across some difficult words. That will be your first clue. If they are difficult for you, they will most certainly be difficult for your audience. You need to help your reader understand your book through definitions. There are a few different ways to do this, one of them, is to create a glossary.

A glossary (located in the back of your book) is a place where a reader can go to find the definitions of difficult words. While creating a glossary, keep in mind the following:

1. Only bold words which are important and relating specifically to your topic.
2. You have to alphabetize the glossary from A-Z
3. Use the dictionary to help you define the words, but don’t be afraid to change the definition to make it easier for the reader to understand.
   
   Example:
   
   In the 1930's Ed Rickenbacker invented the electric guitar, changing the way we would listen to music forever. As rock and roll (a mixture of different kinds of music) often uses an electric guitar, it could be said that this instrument helped to shape the genre of music into what it has become today. Throughout the course of this book, you will learn about importance of rock and roll and how it has changed throughout the ages.

Glossary

• Ed Rickenbacker: The man who invented the electric guitar in 1934.
• Electric Guitar: A guitar that uses electricity to make sound through the use of an amplifier.
• Rock and Roll: A mixture of different styles of music (Blues, country, gospel). Became popular during the early 1940’s.

Nonfiction Introduction Examples

Here are some of the introductions we have been working on in class:

Starting the introduction with a question:

How is it possible that a song can change a person’s mood in a blink of an eye? Ever since the 1940’s, rock and roll has been doing just that. As rock and roll is a mix of many different styles of music, many believe it to be the most influential style of music ever! Through the course of this book, you will learn how rock and roll started and where it is today!

1. The question
2. Explaining of the question
3. Relating to my controlling idea
4. Explaining what will come next

• See if you can find these same elements (only without the question) in the next few examples...

Starting the introduction with an interesting fact:

• In 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean created a giant tsunami which killed over 225,000 people! All over the world, natural disasters are shaping the way we live. Natural disasters, from avalanches in the north pole, to tornadoes in the Midwest United States, are showing us that nature is still a force to be reckoned with. In the upcoming pages, you will learn about the different kinds of natural disasters and how they affect the people of the world.

• On Sunday February 9th, 1964, the Beatles made their television debut on the Ed Sullivan show kicking off the British Invasion in the United States. Many considered the Beatles as the band which kicked off a new era in rock and roll. Rock and roll, a mixture of different styles of music, has been very influential throughout the ages. Throughout this book, you will learn not only about the Beatles, but about how and why rock and roll became so popular.

• In the 1930's Ed Rickenbacker invented the electric guitar, changing the way we would listen to music forever. As rock and roll (a mixture of different kinds of music) often uses an electric guitar, it could be said that this instrument helped to shape the genre of music into what it has become today. Throughout the course of this book, you will learn about importance of rock and roll and how it has changed throughout the ages.

• In 1981, Music Television (or MTV) forever changed the way we would listen to music. MTV changed the way we listen to music and turned it into something visual (almost like going to the movies!). Instead of listening to music, now we can watch it too! MTV is just one step in the changing face of rock and roll. Throughout this book, you will learn the influences of rock and roll and just why it is important.