Writing a Persuasive Essay

1. The Conclusion Writing a Persuasive Essay

2. Last Paragraph • A conclusion is the last paragraph in your research paper, or the last part in any other type of presentation.

3. An effective concluding paragraph • Should provide closure for a paper, leaving the reader feeling satisfied that the thesis has been fully explained. • Probably the shortest paragraph of an essay, the conclusion should be brief and to the point. • The conclusion should provide a restatement of the thesis, a summary of the author's conclusions, and perhaps a solution to the problem, if this is the writer's intent.  • However, a good writer avoids a blatant repetition of the thesis statement which can leave a reader feeling annoyed an disappointed after reading an otherwise interesting paper.  • Repeating the thesis, word for word, in the conclusion seems lazy and is not very interesting. 

4. What NOT to do in a concluding paragraph: • DO NOT introduce new arguments, evidence, or details • DO NOT apologize for doing a poor job of presenting the material or suggest that someone else could have done a better job. • DO NOTblunt/bold the impact of points made

5. 4 Elements of the Conclusion Paragraph • The summary statement • The clincher • Remind the reader of our evidence / support • Call to action:

6. The Summary Statement • The summary statement is an effective way to start your concluding paragraph because it helps to drive home the ideas you've expressed in your essay. • Look at your thesis statement again and rework it in a new way. Avoid repeating key words and phrases from the thesis statement because you don't want the summary statement to sound boring or repetitive. Using a thesaurus is a good way to find new, interesting words.

7. Summary Statement Examples: • Thesis Statement: Many Americans are buying the Toyota Corolla because of its competitive price, fuel economy, and high resale value. Summary Statement: Reasonable pricing, low miles per gallon, and an attractive resale value have all contributed to the popularity of the Toyota Corolla in today's market. • Thesis Statement: San Francisco is a stimulating place to visit because of its magnificent location, its theaters and art galleries, and its many fine restaurants. • Summary Statement: If you love beautiful surroundings, world class theater and art, and an exquisite meal, then San Francisco is the place for you.

8. The ‘Clincher’ or ‘Closer’ • Theclincher, also referred to as the closer, is your last opportunity to connect with the reader. One way to make the most of this moment is to return to the technique you used for your ‘attention grabber’ or ‘hook’. • Pose a question • Add a quote • Input a statistic • Make a prediction

9. Call To Action!!! • What was the point to your presentation? • If you were trying to persuade your audience to do something, this is the time to strongly, yet tactfully, suggest to them to take action.

10. Homework • Complete your conclusion paragraph • Type out your introduction and body paragraphs, print them out and bring them to class on Thursday