1. Conclusions How to Conclude your Essay.

2. What is a Conclusion? A Conclusion is the final paragraph in your essay: A Conclusion is the final paragraph in your essay: Your Conclusion should: 1. Echo your thesis without directly repeating it. 2. Summarize the key points, or subtopics, in your essay. 3. Leave the reader with a lasting piece of information.

3. What makes a good Conclusion? Memorable conclusions: Pose a question to the reader. Pose a question to the reader. Plan a course of action. Plan a course of action. Leaving a lasting image. Leaving a lasting image. Offer advice for further study. Offer advice for further study.

4. Example #1: Posing a Question It was the worst experience of his life. Andrew decided that it was the last time he would ever go on a roller coaster. Who could blame him?

5. Example #2: Offering a Solution A criminal, no matter his/her age, should be dealt with according to the crime. The legal system is too lenient when it comes to juvenile offenders. Laws need to be rewritten immediately so that no more hard core criminals go free just because they are juveniles.

6. Example #3: Lasting Image I thought I would spend a few hours at Disneyland, before closing time. I could see tired children, toddling along and struggling to keep their eyes open as best they could. Others slept in their parents' arms as we waited for the parking lot tram that would take us to our cars. I felt a bit sad to think that in a couple of days I would be leaving California, my vacation over, to go back to my desk. But then I smiled to think that for at least a day I felt ten years old again.

7. Example #4: Call to Action American Sign Language is a fast growing language in America. More and more universities and colleges are offering it as part of their curriculum and some are even requiring it as part of their program. This writer suggests that anyone who has a chance to learn this beautiful language should grab that opportunity.

8. Conclusions should Not… Offer new information that was previously mentioned in the essay. Offer new information that was previously mentioned in the essay. Focus on minor points. Focus on minor points. Parrot the introduction Parrot the introduction Be apologetic. Avoid phrases, “at least in my opinion,” or “I may not be an expert on this topic.” Be apologetic. Avoid phrases, “at least in my opinion,” or “I may not be an expert on this topic.”

9. Let’s Practice: Look at the following example. Can you identify the restatement of thesis, subtopics, and the concluding remark? Because of mounting public awareness of the dangers of distracted by cell phones, state legislators must begin to tackle the problem with new laws, citizens must campaign for initiatives, and police need to hand out stiff fines. The time has come for states to adopt legislation restricting the use of cell phone in moving vehicles. Innocent lives are at risk this very moment.

10. Thesis Subtopics So What?

11. Structure for Draft When you turn in your full draft make sure you follow the “Yes” Test: When you turn in your full draft make sure you follow the “Yes” Test: Thesis takes a position on a legitimately debatable issue. Thesis takes a position on a legitimately debatable issue. Works Cited page in MLA format Works Cited page in MLA format 5 reliable, credible sources on Works Cited page 5 reliable, credible sources on Works Cited page In-text citations following all information from sources In-text citations following all information from sources In-text citations must refer to all sources on the Works Cited page In-text citations must refer to all sources on the Works Cited page 4-6 pages in length 4-6 pages in length Typed, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, double-spaced Typed, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, double-spaced Proper MLA page set-up (margins, headings, header) Proper MLA page set-up (margins, headings, header) Convention errors on the first page do not detract from the content Convention errors on the first page do not detract from the content

12. More Info about the Full Draft. If your essay is 4 pages, your Works Cited Page is page 5! If your essay is 4 pages, your Works Cited Page is page 5! Please put your Works Cited in alphabetical order using hanging format. Please put your Works Cited in alphabetical order using hanging format.

13. Please Stand for Think on Your Feet