Writing Your Concluding ParagraphWRI 11

Purpose

0Create a lasting impression 0Emphasize your thesis0Give the reader a feeling of completeness

To Start

0Begin with 1-2 sentence summary of essay or use different words to restate the thesis statement. This part is very brief.

Next

0Focus on one of these strategies or a combination of strategies.

0Make a recommendation (All parents should volunteer in their child’s classroom at least one day a year.)

0Suggest a Course of Action (vote, pay more attention to spending habits, etc.)

Strategies

0Make a prediction about the future, which can focus on the positive or the negative. “If free bus transportation is not provided, many children living in rural areas will not have access to public education...”

Strategies

0 Include a quotation or a statistic0Explain the importance of the thesis. To develop this

further use the “so what”

"So What" Game

0 When you read a statement from the conclusion, ask yourself, "So what?" or "Why should anybody care?"

0 Ponder that question and answer it0Basically, I’m just saying that education was important to Douglass0 So what?0Well, it was important because it was a key to him feeling like a

free and equal citizen0Why should anybody care?0 That’s important because plantation owners tried to keep slaves

from being educated so that they could maintain control. When Douglass obtained an education, he undermined that control personally.

0  

Do Not

0Summarize the essay if the essay is short (under 5 pages)

0 Introduce idea that support the TS supporting idea0Rephrase/rewrite your introductory paragraph