Writing the Conclusion Paragraph

1. Writing theConclusion Paragraph Reviewing the thesis. Summarizing the topic points. Making the structure complete. Honors Sophomore English

2. Some general rules… • The conclusion should be the same length and cover the same material as the introduction. • You should never simply “copy” or too closely rephrase the introduction, • You should, however, go back through all of your major points. Honors Sophomore English

3. (continued) • Think of the introduction and the conclusion as two halves of the same whole. • When done properly, the introduction and the conclusion “bookend” the writer’s thinking in the essay. • You never, never, never, never introduce new material in the conclusion! Honors Sophomore English

4. Step one: Review the thesis. • In the introduction, the thesis was the last sentence. • Go back and review that thought. • Ask yourself this question: Have you done all that was necessary to show with quotes and to explain your own thinking in responding to the essay prompt? Honors Sophomore English

5. Here is a thesis: Although Venice and Belmont appear insignificant as just backdrops to the action, these two places represent conflicting male and female forces in the play. Honors Sophomore English

6. Step two: Review your topic sentences. • If properly done, each topic sentence is a major sub-point of your thesis. • Look carefully at these sentences just after reviewing your thesis. • How do these major ideas support your thesis? Honors Sophomore English

7. Although Venice and Belmont appear insignificant as just backdrops to the action, these two places represent conflicting male and female forces in the play. This thesis may have then been followed by three topic sentences that looked like the following: Honors Sophomore English

8. The city of Venice is a masculine location and is a place of business, of hatred, and threat. • Belmont, on the other hand, is a feminine setting, characterized by music and poetry. • The two different settings reflect and reinforce Shakespeare’s two contrasting plot lines. Honors Sophomore English

9. Remember… • A conclusion should return to the main idea, your thesis. • It should also review quickly and without bringing in new material, your major points. • It should clearly bring the structure of your essay to a stylish conclusion. Honors Sophomore English

10. The “Merchant of Venice” is a complex play. It’s locations, like its characters and plot lines, though intertwined, are different. Portia’s Belmont is a softer, gentler place, a place of love and music. It is a haven. Venice is colored with the hatred between Antonio and Shylock, a hatred that sets all of the male characters in motion around the possibility of Antonio’s death. Shakespeare uses these two forces, these two different settings, to subtly support the action in the two plots. In the end, Venice nearly kills Antonio and ultimately destroys Shylock while Belmont is crowned with the marriage of three couples. The settings are as significant in this play as are the characters.

11. Summary • The conclusion matches the introduction in size and content. • The conclusion revisits, briefly and without merely repeating, the thesis. • The conclusion will, with style and confidence, review the major points of evidence indicated by the topic sentences of the body paragraphs. Honors Sophomore English