The Conclusion Paragraph

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The Conclusion Paragraph
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Chapter 23 Quiz

• 1. What are the kids scared about?
• 2. What does Atticus think should be required for
  someone to be sentenced to death?
• 3. Who is the one person on the jury that kept
  them from convicting Tom right away?
• 4. What is Jem proud to show Scout on his body?
• 5. What does Jem decide about Boo Radley?
• 6. According to Atticus, what makes a white man
  trash?
• 7. Why does Aunt Alexandra not want Scout
  becoming better friends with Walter Cunningham?

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The conclusion paragraph in an essay of literary
analysis functions as follows

• It finishes off the essay and tells the reader
  where the writer has brought them.
• It restates the thesis and contains echoes of the
  introduction and body paragraphs without listing
  the points covered in the essay.
• It creates a broader implication of the ideas
  discussed and answers the questions so what? Or
  why do we care?

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Anatomy of the Conclusion

• The conclusion begins with a restatement of the
  thesis, not a repetition, and gradually widens
  toward a final , broad statement of implication.
• Borrows from the body paragraphs, without being
  flatly repetitive or listing points already
  covered.
• Creates echoes of the introduction and body
  paragraphs to reinforce analysis/ ideas.
• Moves outward with a statement that relates the
  thesis to a broader implication so the reader can
  see the analytical focus in a larger perspective
  or application.

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Strategies for Composing Conclusions

• Strike a note of hope or despair.
• Give a symbolic or powerful detail/fact.
• Create an analogy that relates your topic to a
  larger implication.
• Give an especially compelling example.
• Use a meaningful quotation. (If you used a
  meaningful quotation in your introduction, refer
  back to this quote and tie it in with your
  overall analysis.)

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• Recommend a course of action without being
  preachy.
• Echo the language and approach of the
  introduction.
• Reference and make meaning of the title of the
  work you are analyzing.

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Consider the following checklist when writing a
conclusion

• Avoid first-person point of view, abstract/vague
  language, poor diction, and slang.
• Avoid simply repeating the thesis and/or listing
  the main points.
• Dont conclude more than you reasonably can from
  the evidence you have presented.
• Echo the language and ideas from your
  introduction and body paragraphs.

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• Expand on the implications of your analysis So
  what? Why do we care about these ideas? Whats so
  important about what youve developed in your
  paper? Are there any other applications for your
  ideas?
• Avoid any attempts at humor, cuteness, or
  sarcasm.
• The conclusion need not be longer than four to
  six sentences, as with the introduction, but must
  be adequately developed.
• Include the title(s) and author(s) once more.

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Sample Conclusions

• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the
  sample conclusions to follow.
• Identify possible references to the thesis
  statements, introduction, and body paragraphs.
• Identify broader implications.
• Identify and evaluate other strategies used.

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Sample 1

• In To Kill a Mockingbird, outcasts are present.
  Boo Radley is an example of an outcast. He is
  mysterious and violent. To Kill a Mockingbird is
  a southern gothic novel because it contains
  outcast characters.

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Sample 2

• The Southern Gothic genre exposed the darkness
  within Southern culture in a time of oppression
  and prejudice. To Kill a Mockingbird,
  specifically, exposes the close-minded nature of
  this culture, through outcast characters. With
  Boo, Scout, and even Dill, the reader sees the
  heartbreak and perseverance of characters deemed
  to be different. Through this novel, and the
  Southern Gothic genre, we can learn that outcasts
  can actually be the key to progress.