Conclusion Paragraphs Or..tying it all up in a pretty, pretty bow

How do I write an effective conclusion? Refer back to the introduction – Make a reference or hint at the hook you used – do NOT repeat it * Refer to it in an unusual, creative way * Link it to your concluding statement

How do I write an effective conclusion? Remind your reader why they should accept your thesis Use strong, confident language Broadly summarize (not specifically) your topic ideas from the body paragraphs

How do I write an effective conclusion? Re-word your thesis Say it in a new, interesting way Do NOT simply re-state it

Previous Introductory Paragraph Ex. Like looking at our refection on a quiet, still stream, the reader is able to see the wisdom and reality of the human condition thanks to Shakespeare’s expertise. As we read we are escorted down an unfamiliar path, yet our guide will lead us into a place of profound understanding and wisdom, which we will receive from the most unexpected of travelers. It is through this journey of the unexpected that Shakespeare masterfully uses the most unlikely of characters to impart the most profound truths.

Sample Conclusion As Shakespeare journeys through his epic tales, he carries the reader on a winding path full of unexpected scenery. It is through the encounters with those who seem most unlikely to be of value that the reader learns the lessons of life. Indeed it is within this paradox of what one expects and what is true of a character that one finds the clarity that we need and Shakespeare’s morals are discovered like the rare treasures they are.

Compare and Re-phrase Like looking at our refection on a quiet, still stream, the reader is able to see the wisdom and reality of the human condition thanks to Shakespeare’s expertise. As we read we are escorted down an unfamiliar path, yet our guide will lead us into a place of profound understanding and wisdom, which we will receive from the most unexpected of travelers. It is through this journey of the unexpected that Shakespeare masterfully uses the most unlikely of characters to impart the most profound truths. As Shakespeare journeys through his epic tales, he carries the reader on a winding path full of unexpected scenery. It is through the encounters with those who seem most unlikely to be of value that the reader learns the lessons of life. Indeed it is within this paradox of what one expects and what is true of a character that one finds the clarity that we need and Shakespeare’s morals are discovered like the rare treasures they are.

Remember this introduction? Since the beginning of the written word, great writers have gifted readers with characters who captivate or teach lessons that shape who we are as humans. Writers such as Hemingway, Chaucer, and Tolstoy have crafted characters who become tools to teach us and enlighten us, yet no writer posesses the ability to use characters to point the reader to truth more than William Shakespeare. It is through a journey of the unexpected that Shakespeare masterfully uses the most unlikely of characters to impart the most profound truths.

Pretty, pretty bow!