Conclusions Summary or something more?

Here are various conclusions from an essay about Wuthering Heights. After you read each one… #1 Identify the techniques (you name them) used in the conclusion. #2 Value them, saying if each is good or bad and for what reasons.

#1 Therefore, it is easy to see that Nelly is nothing but a meddlesome old fool who needs to get a life and stop passing judgment on her benevolent employers. For one thing, she leads Mr. Lockwood to believe that all her masters are incapable of correct behavior. Next, she inserts her own “goodness” into her narration. Lastly, as explained in the essay, she herself was in love with Heathcliff and never forgave him for choosing Catherine over her, clouding her already limited vision.

Simple Summary No new information or ideas Reiterates that this was already covered in the essay. This is Level One. Dull and short. DON’T DO IT!

#2 Although Nelly’s foolishness and her tainted narrative lead Mr. Lockwood astray, can a reader rightly blame her? Look at her station in life. She was born and bred in the same place and at the same time as these privileged youngsters, yet she was condemned to care for these feckless children while she herself was but an innocent child. Because of the all important social distinctions on this over rated desolate moor, her existence was one of harsh lessons and harsher work. Therefore, perhaps a reader should have some compassion for poor Nelly who tried to do her best in the worst of times.

Evaluation/Modified Call to Action This conclusion leaves the reader with a final persuasive twist. It is furthering the argument and suggesting how the reader should FEEL and THINK about the information presented in the essay. Emotional language is used!

#3 People want to paint themselves in the best light. When telling an extended narrative, a person may embellish the facts, twist the truth, or merely leave out uncomfortable items. Why do people do this? Isn’t this lying, and isn’t lying a sin? Yes and no. Lying implies some sort of malicious intent to deceive, when the truth is that most people just want to be liked. Telling a mostly true tale, as Nelly eagerly does with Mr. Lockwood, invites the listener to powerfully bond with the narrator, confirming her validity and worth in the world. After all, isn’t that what most people want? To be appreciated and recognized as a benevolent person, doing her absolute best in the world?

Universal Appeal This strategy is to apply the specific information in the section to humanity at large. What does this essay about Nelly have to do with the way humans should behave or DO behave? This also has the evaluation aspect, suggesting to the reader to feel and think about the essay’s points.

#4 What if Nelly hadn’t told the story to Mr. Lockwood? What if young Catherine had narrated it to him? Mr. Lockwood’s experience of the characters would have been incomplete and even more tainted because it would have been told by a participant in the noxious tragedy. Although Nelly’s depiction of events was tainted by her own desires, she was still the best person to relate the tale. Not only was she the only one still alive from the first generation of Catherine, a miracle in itself considering that she is not that old and yet everyone else has perished from their overabundance of emotion, she has the unique perspective of being in the tale and out of it at the same time. Lockwood, although unwittingly mislead, listened to the most accurate rendition possible.

Scenario/Evaluation You know this one! The reader is asked to see the situation from the opposite side, creating a contrasting situation that highlights the points in the essay. Again, there is evaluation where there is a suggestion about how to feel about the points.

Synthesize, don’t summarize! Summary: comprehensive and usually brief restatement of previously stated facts or statements. Synthesize: to combine into a single entity

The first important item to ask yourself is, what do you want the essay to do? What did you promise it would do in the thesis statement? This is where you should start thinking about what should go into your conclusion.