Tutorial: Essay Conclusions

 

Study Skill 13.1 Part B Tutorial: Essay Conclusions

 

Introduction

Looking at two example essays, we will break the parts of a conclusion. Here is the prompt for the essay: 

  Writing Prompt

Write a five-paragraph expository essay on the topic of fast food.  Your target audiences are your peers and teacher. Remember, an expository essay provides information.  You are NOT trying to persuade someone to eat or not eat fast food. Your introduction should have a hook, an overview of the body of your essay, and a strong thesis statement.  Each body paragraph must have a topic sentence, several supporting sentences, and a transition sentence to the next paragraph. The conclusion should restate your thesis using different words and connect the information to your life and that of your reader.  Facts and information from sources must have MLA format in-text citations. Don’t forget to include a Works Cited page in MLA format on a separate page at the end of your essay.  

Below are two example conclusions:

Example 1 

     In conclusion, you should not eat fast food because it is bad for you.  Listen to your mom and not your friends. Peer pressure might make you want to eat fast food but it is not good.  That is why you should not eat fast food.

 

Example 2 

      While Chicken Fluffy is still tasty and a great place to hang out with friends, it is easy to see that ordering fried wings and milkshakes isn’t the healthiest choice.  As I get older and participate in sports that are more competitive, I realize the value of eating right. Not only does getting good nutrition help me at sports, but I feel better about myself because of my healthy choices.  This confidence translates to my grades at school and my relationships with classmates and family. Researching the nutrition of various fast food restaurants has made me more aware of how I can make healthier choices and be a role model to my friends.  We will still meet at Chicken Fluffy after school, but we can eat grilled chicken instead of fried and reserve those calorie-laden milkshakes for special occasions.  

Paragraph Analysis

Click on the tabs below to review the key concepts of a conclusion paragraph and answer questions about each.

Practice

Use the following new example conclusion paragraph to answer the questions in Practice 1 and Practice 2 below.

  New Sample Conclusion

Social media is a part of our lives and it can be either a positive or negative influence.  Many kids, like Marty, experience cyberbullying at some time throughout their school years but we can learn important lessons from their experiences.  Being mindful of what you post, being kind and considerate, and paying careful attention to security measures on your digital devices are just a few things that can help you reduce your chances of being cyberbullied.  For adults, remember that you are a role model. Your reactions to social media posts are being observed by the young people around you everyday. While cyberbullying has become a negative force in our lives, we can reduce its effects through awareness and education on how to navigate the online world.

 

Key Ideas

  • The conclusion has three important requirements.

    • Restate the thesis using different words.
    • Consist of a fully developed paragraph of at least three sentences.
    • Connect to YOUR life and the life of your reader to show why the topic is important.

    Remember, the conclusion is just as important as the introduction because they both help to hold the hamburger together.  Without the conclusion, you have a big mess on your hands!

Apply

  • In the following week, think about a conclusion for an essay about something that happened at school or at home.  How would you convey the importance of this event to your reader?

  • Work with a friend on this writing practice:  they write an introduction and you write a conclusion.  Talk about how each of you met the requirements for these parts of an essay and how you can improve your writing.

  • Look at essays you have written in the past.  How could you make your conclusions stronger? Practice these goals going forward in your writing courses.  

  • Look at the examples of thesis statements at this website and practice rewriting them in different words. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/ Links to an external site.