Phil Druker/Department of English/ University of Idaho

Phil Druker, UI, Department of English

CONCLUSIONS

Here are some basic concluding techniques for creative non-fiction articles: 

1.      Use creative non-fiction techniques: place, narration, personal involvement, … ç

2.      Return to the introductory idea (especially if you use narration or place). ç

3.      Return to the essay’s title. ç

4.      State the subject’s significance.

5.      Give a quotation plus your final remark.

6.      Ask a question, and then answer it.

7.      Speculate on what might happen.

8.      Give a solution/recommendation.

9.      Call for further research.

10.  Show how all this has changed you/your understanding.

With conclusions:

1.      Remember the purpose of a conclusion: 
Ø    show what it all means
Ø      help the reader answer the question your article deals with

2.      Base your conclusion on evidence you present in the body of the paper.

►Do not add new information or new details here.

3.      Keep your conclusion relatively short (usually one short paragraph).

4.      Emphasize what the paper, as a whole, means:

      ·        Pull together your analyses.
·        Interpret the overall meaning of your paper.
·        Emphasize the main point.
·        Explain the inferences you want your readers to understand.

5.      Do not merely summarize the paper.

With recommendations, consider these ideas:

1.      Tell readers what you want them to do.

2.      Base your recommendations on your conclusions.

3.      Use a list if it’s appropriate.

4.      Consider tone.