Phil Druker, English 316/309

CONCLUSIONS

Here are some basic concluding techniques:

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

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

3.      Return to the essay’s title.

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 remember:

1.      Remember the purpose of a conclusion: 

Ø      show what it all means

Ø      help the reader answer a question

Ø      show how you have changed

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.