Today s Target/Goal. I can draft a conclusion that wraps up my ideas and leaves my reader thinking.

Transcription

1 Conclusions

2 Today s Target/Goal I can draft a conclusion that wraps up my ideas and leaves my reader thinking.

3 Drafting: Conclusions Introduction Hook Introduce Thesis Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3 Conclusion Thesis Main Points Relevance/Hook

4 Drafting: Conclusions Purpose = Leave your reader with your most powerful thoughts What makes a great conclusion? Reminds readers of the thesis statement, main points, and answers the question So what? Provides a bridge to help readers make the transition back to their daily lives Gives the essay a sense of completion and closure Leaves readers with a final, lasting impression

5 Conclusions to Avoid The That s My Story and I m Sticking to It Conclusion Restates the thesis without substantial changes Painfully short (2-3 sentences) Uses generic, unnecessary phrases In conclusion, to sum up, this means that Does not push ideas forward or leave readers thinking The America the Beautiful / I Am Woman / We Shall Overcome Conclusion Draws on emotion to make its appeal While the emotion may be very heartfelt, it is out of character with the rest of the essay The Grab Bag Conclusion Includes extra information that doesn t fit in the rest of the essay and creates confusion Introduces a new idea not previously addressed NO NEW FACTS OR IDEAS!!!

6 Conclusions to Avoid Grab Bag In addition to being an educational pioneer, Frederick Douglass provides an interesting case study for masculinity in the American South. He also offers historians an interesting glimpse into slave resistance when he confronts Covey, the overseer. His relationships with female relatives reveal the importance of family in the slave community. That s My Story and I m Sticking to It In conclusion, Frederick Douglass was, as we have seen, a pioneer in American education, proving that education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery. America the Beautiful / I Am Woman Because of the efforts of fine Americans like Frederick Douglass, countless others have seen the shining beacon of light that is education. His example was a torch that lit the way for others. Frederick Douglass was truly an American hero. The That s My Story and I m Sticking to It Conclusion The America the Beautiful / I Am Woman / We Shall Overcome Conclusion The Grab Bag Conclusion

7 Conclusion Strategies Write a Simple Summary Explain how the points you made fit together If you choose this option, be sure to synthesize (combine ideas to develop new understanding), rather than summarize Don't monotonously restate your major ideas Tell readers why the ideas you ve presented matter Circle Back Return to an image, anecdote (story), quotation, or example you used in the introduction Echoing the introduction gives essays a sense of unity and completion Be sure you still synthesize the main ideas

8 Conclusion Strategies Pan the Horizon Move from the specifics of the essay to a larger, universal point Give readers something to chew on/think about Demonstrate the importance of your topic by tying it to a larger philosophic or political issue or encouraging readers to look to the future and take action Play the So What Game If you re stuck and feel your conclusion isn t saying anything new or interesting, read your conclusion sentence by sentence Whenever you make a statement from your conclusion, ask yourself So what? or Why should anybody care? Add your answers to the conclusion

9 Drafting: Conclusions Conclusion Example What strategies were used? What could be added, removed, or changed to improve the conclusion? Minors should not be allowed to fill their cars with passengers who will distract them. While many teens are responsible drivers who are mindful of how dangerous driving truly is, the majority do not realize the potential disasters that come with driving. Such consequences lead to premature death and serious injury. If teen drivers are restricted, driving-related accidents will lessen. The road will be a better, safer place for people to travel.

10 Drafting: Conclusions Conclusion Example What strategies were used? What could be added, removed, or changed to improve the conclusion? Not only are its procedures inhumane and flawed, but animal testing has better alternatives to take its place. Helpless animals endure labs that cause severe psychological and physical issues. Alternatives exist to prevent this mistreatment and bring safer results. Using such alternatives would prevent problems and setbacks in testing that waste time, money, and lives. The fight for human rights continues to be a fight many face, but most humans have yet to understood animal rights are important too. Despite many differences, animals and humans should always share one right, the right to live and keep themselves out of harm. Abolishing animal testing is a critical step to achieving this universal right.

11 Homework Drafting: Conclusions Typed and PRINTED rough draft of argumentative essay due tomorrow Print before you come to class You will not be allowed to print in class tomorrow If you can t print at home or in the Library, me by 7:40 Friday morning and I will print for you