Writing Conclusions

Purpose

To logically end an essay

To leave a memorable impression on the reader

To provide food for thought

To relate to the reader and your ideas in the essay

Parts

May or may not have a Topic Sentence and /or a Concluding Sentence

Some Techniques

call to action,   explain how a problem was resolved, address the reader

answer a question raised in the introduction, look to the future

show how change occurred , make a decision, choice, judgment

make an evaluation, make a recommendation, reframe the introduction

ask a rhetorical question (one that has no answer and really makes a statement)

appeal to the reader's emotions, logic, sense of intelligence

What makes a memorable and great conclusion

·  Originality, uniqueness, something never heard before or said this way

What makes a forgetful weak conclusion

·  no originality, rehashed stuff, things we have all heard before

·  making a summary the simply restates what your essay just presented.  Summaries imply that

   that a reader did not understand the essay, so now it must be restated, a very dull technique.

Checklist

üDo you give your reader something to think about?

üHave you used the techniques discussed in class and in the BRB?

üIs it worth reading?

üBe sure it is not just a summary of your essay. 

üDoes it avoid unnecessary and boring repetition repetition?

üIs it original, unique, and interesting?