1. Cody Hoover English 1C Spring 2016
Making Conclusions
Cody Hoover
English 1C
Spring 2016

2. What matters in a conclusion?
Pull together the key components of the issue you just argued in order to answer the question “so what?” (Do not simply give a summary of your paper. This isn’t what we do in academic papers.)
Establishing why your argument is important: What will happen if things stay the same? What will happen if things change?
Talk about how this argument relates to a broader context: What sociological implications does my argument bring up? How do my ideas contribute something new to the conversation?
(Adapted from Greene and Lidinsky, From Inquiry to Academic Writing)

3. Different purposes for a conclusion
According to Greene and Lidinsky, conclusions can be used to do the following things:
Echoing the Introduction
Challenge the Reader
Look to the Future
Pose Questions

4. Echo the Introduction
Helps the reader see the continuity and development of your paper, from beginning to end.
Perhaps refer back to things you mentioned in the introduction that you have since developed and built over the length of your paper

5. Challenge the Reader
This may “create a sense of urgency, provoking them to act to change the status quo” (Greene and Lidinsky 268).
Emphasize the extent of the problem
Explicitly challenge people to do something about this issue

6. Look to the Future
Must establish “the persistence of a problem and the consequences of letting a situation continue unchanged” (Greene and Lidinsky 269).
Perhaps identify a range of options that your readers may take to make this change you are arguing for.
Illustrate a concrete vision of a future reality that has these problems you’re attempting to argue against. This could be a deeply rhetorical and pathological appeal.

7. Pose Questions
“This stimulates readers to think about the implications of your argument and to apply what you argue to other situation” (Greene and Lidinsky 270).
Extrapolate your argument, raise questions that could be applied to not the particular issue you’re discussing but even other problems and situations.

8. Some questions to help prompt conclusion-drawing
Why does this issue and my argument about this issue even matter? Why is this significant?
What does this say about our society? How can my argument perhaps better society?
How does this argument I just made allow us to better understand what it means to be human?
What does this mean for my own life?
Maybe there are things you are arguing for? Maybe you are suggesting overall that we as a country or community make a certain specific change? Maybe you’re suggesting we look at an issue in a different light than most people do currently?

9. Some Things to Remember About Conclusions
Don’t just summarize your paper!!!
When you are done explaining your argument and writing the body of your paper, perhaps give whatever summary you find absolutely, 100% necessary for your reader to understand your conclusion you will be making.
Making conclusions at the end of your paper is a rhetorical move. What do you want your readers to get from the conclusions that you make?

10. Freewrite: After viewing this presentation, what are your concrete plans now to write your conclusions for Project 4?