Writing your concluding paragraph

1
Writing your concluding paragraph
2
The concluding paragraph
Conclusions are often the most difficult part of
an essay to write, and many writers feel that
they have nothing left to say after having
written the paper. A writer needs to keep in mind
that the conclusion is often what a reader
remembers best. Your conclusion should be the
best part of your paper.

• A conclusion should
• i. stress the importance of the thesis statement
• ii. give the essay a sense of completeness
• iii. leave a final impression on the reader

3
So, in the concluding paragraph

• 1. Summarize thesis and main points (Scope/Topic
  sentences) Paraphrase, do not repeat. Come
  full-circle.
• 2. Answer the question So what?. Show your
  readers why this paper was important. Leave them
  thinking that your essay was meaningful and
  useful.
• 3. Leave a provocative concluding
  statement/thought

4
Thesis statement Example Essay P91/92
Japans entire social structure, including
families, businesses, and the government, must
work together to encourage families to have
babies.
Paraphrased thesis statement in the concluding
paragraph P92

• There needs to be a balance between raising
  children and working. In order to find this
  balance, all members of Japanese society should
  participate in raising and paying for the cost of
  children.

5
Satisfying ending/Final Comment

• You can make a provocative and satisfying ending
  by
• 1.  Referring back to your hook from the
  introduction.
• and/or
• 2.  Making a powerful statement. For example,
• a question
• a call to action
• an interesting quotation
• a logical extension of the topic
• a prediction about the future

6
Introduction

• Japanese society is facing its most serious
  threat in recent years. Japans birthrate keeps
  falling steadily. If this continues, the
  population will get smaller and smaller. While
  the number of babies is decreasing, the average
  Japanese life span is increasing. It is one of
  the longest in the world. This is a national
  catastrophe because there are fewer working-age
  people who pay into the social security system,
  and there will eventually be too few workers. The
  Japanese can no longer delay addressing the issue
  of its shrinking population. The only way to grow
  the population is by bringing babies back to
  Japan. Japans entire social structure, including
  families, businesses, and the government, must
  work together to encourage families to have
  babies.

Conclusion
Increasing the birthrate is a key defense against
the shrinking of Japanese society. There needs to
be a balance between raising children and
working. In order to find this balance, all
members of Japanese society should participate in
raising and paying for the cost of children. In
the long run, a vibrant young population helps
everyone, including companies, families and
taxpayers, in Japanese society. We had better
take matters seriously for a bright Japanese
future. Imagine your own old age, without any
children. What would happen?
7
Warnings and Cautions

• There are some things that you do not want to do
  in your conclusion!

8

• 1.  Do not introduce new ideas!  
• The conclusion is where you summarize and wrap
  up, not where you give new ideas or information. 
  
• 2.  Do not copy your thesis statement!
• You want to restate it-- use the same ideas, but
  in different words.
• 3.  Do not just stop writing!
• A concluding paragraph is your last chance to
  make a good impression.
• 4.  Do not weaken your argument!
• You should not apologize for your opinions.  Your
  essay is your proof that you have good ideas, so
  don't back away from them.
• 5. Do not introduce the conclusion with
• In conclusion... or other such expressions