Writing the Conclusion Chapter 4 Writing the Conclusion

Overview This chapter explains how to write the Conclusion to a General Paper Essay. It covers the following areas: Different Components of the Conclusion Activity 7, which will require you to write effective Conclusions.

Why is the Conclusion Important? Your conclusion will shape the last impression your reader has of you. The Conclusion gives you the last chance to convince the examiner to agree with you. The Conclusion gives the reader the impression of a complete essay, not one where loose ends are not tied together.

What your Conclusion can do Unfortunate! Badly written Conclusion That’s it! A well written Conclusion!

What to Avoid in a Conclusion Don’t introduce new points/ arguments in the Conclusion. Avoid words like ‘in conclusion’, ‘therefore’, ‘finally’ as the Conclusion should flow naturally from the Body of the essay.

Components of the Conclusion A link to essay question and acknowledgement of the possibility of other arguments for or against (where applicable) and a stand. Summary of your main points / thesis statement in different words. Concluding comment where you look at the current scenario, look into the future, ask a question, or end with a quotation relevant to the question.

Components of the Conclusion Link & Opinion Link the Body to the question State your stand Summary of points Provide a simple but effective summary of the main points in the Body. Closing comment Look into the future or Ask a question or Write a quote.

Example 1 Assess the advantages & disadvantages of hydroelectric power generation The Conclusion Please refer to the Thesis Statement and the Body of the above Essay which we covered in Chapters 2 and 3. Then, look at the next three slides which show you how the different components of the Conclusion are added on.

First Part: Take a stand. Example 1 Assess the advantages & disadvantages of hydroelectric power generation The Conclusion First Part: Take a stand. Link all the points in the Body of the essay back to the question. Hydropower provides one of the most effective methods to achieve a renewable energy future although there will obviously be some disadvantages.

Second Part Summarize main points Example 1 Assess the advantages & disadvantages of hydroelectric power generation The Conclusion Second Part Summarize main points Although its construction may be expensive and sometimes destructive, all this is duly compensated as it makes cheap electricity available on a long term basis without further destroying our surroundings.

Conclude with a comment Example 1 Assess the advantages & disadvantages of hydroelectric power generation The Conclusion Third Part Conclude with a comment Hydroelectric power will continue to be an important contributor to the future world energy mix for a long time to come.

Activity for Chapter 4 Please go to Activity 6 where you will can try writing effective Conclusions to essays.