Conclusions in Essays (Also: self-edit)

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Conclusions in Essays(Also self-edit)
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Bring me your essay to stamp
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First

• Never say In Conclusion
• WHY?

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• Its the conclusion (Duh)
• (Its like saying, Im going to talk now.
• If you are already talking then why announce that
  you are going to begin talking?)

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So much is at stake in a conclusion

• This is, after all, your last chance to persuade
  your readers to your point of view, to impress
  yourself upon them as a writer and thinker. And
  the impression you create in your conclusion will
  shape the impression that stays with your readers
  after they've finished the essay.
• -Pat Bellanca, for the Writing Center at Harvard
  University

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The end of an essay should convey

• a sense of completeness and closure
• a sense of the lingering possibilities of the
  topic
• Its larger meaning, its implications the final
  paragraph should close the discussion without
  closing it off.

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• Review main points (summary should be brief- a
  sentence for each point)
• Explain what has been learned or proven.
• Conclude by setting your discussion into a
  different, perhaps larger, context.

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Ways to conclude

• Place essay in a larger context
• - Conclude with a quotation from primary or
  secondary source that amplifies your main point
  or puts it in a different perspective.
• - A quotation from the novel or poem you're
  writing about can add texture and specificity to
  your discussion
• -An expert or the authors own words
• can also add depth to your thesis.

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What not to do

• Dont introduce new ideas that havent already
  been discussed in essay.
• Dont end with a quotation. (Remember writer
  should have the last word)

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In conclusion

• Con with
• Clude to shut

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Self Edit
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Format

• 1. double spaced?
• 2. 12 pt font?
• 3 paragraphs indented
• 4. Title? (think of one that works for essay)
• 5. Name and hour

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Introduction

• ____Author and title mentioned?
• ____ does intro start off with general statements
  and narrow down?
• EX if talking about the effect of colonialism,
  say something about imperialism or the
  assumptions the west had concerning primitive
  Africa.
• Make sure general comments are related to topic.

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• Dont make value statements such as
• Great story
• Interesting characters
• Well written book

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supporting ideas previewed?

• Example Transformation of character is often set
  against the landscape of loss a loss of culture,
  a loss of identity and a loss of family.These
  losses can be viewed through the lens of
  landscape as metaphor, revealing how loss leads
  first to alienation, followed by restoration.
  (thesis)

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Does thesis express opinion on topic?

• How to deepen does it explain the how or why of
  topic?
• Why things fall apart?
• Why Okonkwos life is ruled by fear of failure
  and weakness?
• How women are valued or not?

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Is third person used?

• No I thinks
• No yous
• Use academic voice we and us, or the reader

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punctuation

• Do you have commas inserted on both sides of a
  parenthetical comment?
• Example Nwoye, however, is more like his
  grandfather.
• Do you have commas inserted after introductory
  comment
• Example After leaving Mabanta, Okonkwo returns
  to an unfamiliar Umofia.

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. Read The topic sentence to yourself.

• Does it introduce the main idea of the paragraph
• Does it correspond with the first supporting idea
  mentioned in the intro?
• Make sure the sentence doesnt start with when.
  This will avoid falling into the summary trap.
• Weak When Ikemefuna was killed, Okonkwo ignores
  his feelings in order to appear strong.
  StrongerOkonkwo represses his feeling in order
  to appear strong. (Ikemefuna is detail)

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Read Paragraph 1

• Underline your supporting details as you read.
• Do they directly relate back to topic sentence?
  If notfind another

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Are supporting examples in in effective order?

• Save the strongest for last ex. In paragraph, or
  go in chronolgical order

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Coherence

• Do the ideas and sentences flow together
  smoothly? Use transitional phrases between
  examples to smooth way.
• Okonkwo also shows his repression.
• Although Mr. Brown made attempts to understand
  the Ibo culture, Mr. Smith, his successor, is far
  too zealous to care about the native traditions.

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Is present tense used?
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Quotes

• Are quotes smoothly incorporated, or introduced?
• Are quotes connected? (No ghost quotes allowed.)
• Is context provided?
• Avoid this construction Another quote that
  proves this is ( rephrase)

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Quotes continued

• After quote is page included in parenthesis?
  (2)
• Is period after page? (2).
• Is quote set off if longer than 4 lines? If not
  make it so. (Refer to handout)
• Have you identified speaker?
• Most important! Is commentary included? Do you
  explain quote and how it relates to your point?
  Use more than one sentence to comment on quote.
• Can you deepen thoughts?

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Ending commentary of paragraph

• Remember dont end with quote!
• End paragraph by linking back to topic sentence
  to make your point.

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Check list

• ____ more specific details?
• ____too much summary? Add analysis
  (commentary)
• ____develop ideas more?
• ____go deeper in commentary?

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Writing

• Circle passive sentences and put in active voice
• Sentences with is when is how
• Put subject at the beginning and rewrite
• The reason is because..
• Another time is when..
• Rewrite the above in active voice

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Read aloud

• Circle any run on or awkward sounding sentences.

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Transition to 2nd paragraph in body of paper

• Have you used a linking expression or linking
  idea to transition previous paragraph to the new
  one?
• This, that, those, these, such, other, another,
  etc.

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Repeat for next two paragraphs
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Conslusion

• Cut the phrase In Conclusion
• Are main points reviewed with new language?
• Do you explain what has been learned to reader
  from reading essay?
• Have you placed discussion into a larger context?
• Please dont end with a quote.
• Writer should always have the last word.
• Have you accidently placed thesis in conclusion?
  (this happens because it all becomes clearer by
  the end.) Move it to intro.

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Read essay aloud at home

• Have you finally found what you wanted to say?
• Then go back to intro and change thesis.
• Add Add Add.
• Revise, revise, revise
• Be clear, be passionate about your work. It
  should represent your best thinking
• Read the book again if you think youre missing
  the point, or can go deeper.