Introductions are made up of three parts, moving from the general to the specific.
Conclusions move the opposite way, from the specific to the 'impact of the text today'.
In the final sentence of your introduction, you must focus on the writer's intention; this is your thesis statement.
A conclusion could consider the timeless nature of the text.
Your introduction and conclusion should be linked to form a coherent argument.

Keywords

Duplicitous - acting in a tricky way, saying one thing, but meaning another
Bourgeois - typical of middle-class life, perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes
Psyche - your mind and feelings, the inner you
Pertinent - directly related, important to the topic or situation
Façade - the front of something, like a building's outer appearance

Common misconception

When including 'the impact of the text today' in your conclusion, you just need to explain why the book is still studied today.

Ask pupils to 'step outside the text' and think about why themes, characters or moral messages might resonate with readers today.

Consider where else pupils may have used the three part structure for introductions and conclusions with other texts. It might be worth sharing some of these with pupils to model how this structure is useful across literature.

Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson for this lesson.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

An essay about 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' should always start with an .

Correct Answer: introduction

Q2.

An essay about 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' should always end with a .

Correct Answer: conclusion

Q3.

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', what happens in Chapter 10 'Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case'?

Edward Hyde dies after drinking poison

Henry Jekyll explains his remorse for creating Hyde

Correct answer: Whilst sharing his remorse, Jekyll also explains how he enjoyed his creation

Q4.

In 'The Incident at the Window' (Ch. 7) of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following best describes Jekyll's behaviour?

He is angry Utterson tried to visit

He is rude towards Utterson for visiting

Correct answer: He seems distant, his behaviour confuses Utterson

Q5.

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', some of the characters could be described as being duplicitous, what does this mean?

Correct answer: acting in a tricky way, saying one thing, but meaning another

honest and straightforward, always telling the truth to everyone

respectable and honourable gentlemen

Q6.

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following would be the most nuanced interpretation if you were asked 'to what extent might a reader feel sympathy for Jekyll?'

All readers will feel sorry for Jekyll who has been repressed by society

Correct answer: It is arguable whether Jekyll's repression makes him a sympathetic character

No reader will feel sympathy for Jekyll, he created a murderer

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Good introductions for an essay on 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' could follow a three part structure. Starting with the first, put the three part structure into chronological order.

1 - a sentence about the text as a whole

2 - a sentence about the given theme or character

3 - a thesis statement

Q2.

Good conclusions for an essay on 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' could follow a three part structure. Starting with the first, put the three part structure into chronological order.

1 - specific response to your thesis

2 - focus on writer’s overall purpose

3 - impact of text today

Q3.

A pupil wrote an introduction to a 'Jekyll & Hyde' essay which included a general statement about the essay's chosen theme and a thesis statement. What is their introduction missing?

A summary of the plot

A general statement about the text

Correct answer: A general statement about the text, wherever posssible linked to the question

Q4.

A pupil wrote a conclusion to a 'Jekyll & Hyde' essay which included a response to their thesis and a focus on the impact of the text today. What is their conclusion missing?

an explanation about how much they liked the text

autobiographical detail about Stevenson

Correct answer: a focus on Stevenson's intentions

Q5.

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', it could be argued that the message of the novella is still pertinent today. What does pertinent mean?

unimportant and irrelevant, having no connection to the current situation

Correct answer: directly related or important to today

confusing and complicated, making it difficult to understand or apply

Q6.

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', it could be argued that Stevenson's novella explores the impact of repressing desire on the human .

Correct Answer: psyche