Ending your Essay

By Professor Allison Knox, Elgin Community College

Take Your Reader Back Home

Bring back the imagery from the attention getter

We live in a society today where everyone plays an important role to keep a stable society. As citizens, we each live in a particular “class.” A majority of people make up the middle class, while fewer are considered to be lower or upper class.

So . . . in my conclusion,

I want to bring back the idea of human society

compared to fish

Since I just hinted at theactual ads, maybe in the

conclusion, I could actually describe part of one . . .

Dude, use the onewith girl in the swim suit,

like, catching Doritos, like, in her mouth!

Don’t Leave Reader Stranded!

Remind the reader what you have covered and where you have been.

Acceptance of the good and bad moments in my life has led me to some success and has helped me become the independent and determined person that I am today.

Now, in my conclusion, I need to remind my readers that I have

shown bothindependence and

determination

Some go on to lead happy lives without further education. Some, like me, seek second chances. . .

My conclusion needs to remind my readers thatI am making up for my

mistakes and that this schol-arship will help give me

my “second chance.”

Conclusion should

REFLECT the

Introduction

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Start broad

Narrow tothesis

Body maintainsfocus on thesis

Start conclusion with narrow focus

Move back to broader focus

To Do in Small Groups:Re-read the intro and conclusion “Phonics First” in Sticks and Stones.

Find the thesis statement in the intro

Find the restatement of the thesis in the conclusion.

Re-read the Intro and Conclusion for “Only She”Where does the Conclusion reflects ideas or imagery from the Intro?Where is the Thesis Statement restated or implied?

To Do in as a class:

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “anxiety” as a “state or cause of uneasiness and apprehension; worry.” I define anxiety as teenagers; giving my teens the freedom to make decisions. Many of my nights are sleepless, yet my days are buoyed by the hope of being a “good enough” mom. Sometime I wonder if am am going to survive parenthood at all. I feel I am drowning in a sea of anxiety. After all, family life is not what is used to be. I find that our current American culture creates an alarming atmosphere in which to raise teens.

Start conclusionwith

restatement of thesis

Then reviewexamples from

BODY thatshow the anxiety

Close conclusionwith new definition

or some reference todefinitions used in intro

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “anxiety” as a “state or cause of uneasiness and apprehension; worry.” I define anxiety as teenagers; giving my teens the freedom to make decisions. Many of my nights are sleepless, yet my days are buoyed by the hope of being a “good enough” mom. Sometime I wonder if am am going to survive parenthood at all. I feel I am drowning in a sea of anxiety. After all, family life is not what is used to be. I find that our current American culture creates an alarming atmosphere in which to raise teens.

How would you develop a conclusion for this essay, given this introduction?