|
Conclusions
What is the purpose of a conclusion?
The conclusion of a paper serves two functions: it signals the end, and it
leaves readers with something important to remember. The first is necessary
for the reader's sense of completeness. The second leaves the reader to
think about what is important and appropriate.
You may look either backward or forward in your conclusion. In looking
backward, you may return to some image or other motif in the introduction,
restate the thesis, or summarize the main points. In looking forward, you
may forecast the future, call for action, discuss implications, or point out
the significance of the ideas.
Examples:
The following examples come from student essays on how to secure a summer
job:
I .
Look Backward: Return to the Introduction
Despite
all these suggestions, finding a summer job may still be as difficult as
locating an inexpensive apartment near campus. But you can be confident that
you have gone about it efficiently and looked into all the possibilities.
The rest is up to luck.
2.
Look Backward: Restate the Thesis
You can
see that looking for a summer job need not be a hit-or-miss process. It can
be conducted in a systematic, efficient manner that should procure results.
Almost always, it will.
3.
Look Backward: Summarize the Main Points
What is
important is to start looking for a summer job early and to follow the
specific suggestions noted here. You may not want to investigate all the
possibilities: overseas employers, federal agencies, local or state
government, industries in other areas, and local businesses. But you should
realize it is better to have too many opportunities than too few.
4.
Look Forward: Forecast the Future
Despite
these suggestions, you may not find summer work. The growing demand for
these positions and the diminishing supply of them means that many young
people will be unemployed. Therefore, you may find yourself volunteering for
a community service organization or returning to campus to attend summer
sessions. So while you are working hard to find a summer job, think about a
back-up plan, so that you will be sure to make valuable use of your time.
5. Look Forward:
Call for Action
The
important point to remember is to get started looking for that summer job
today. You can write letters to federal agencies, check into local and state
government possibilities, get a copy of the Summer
Employment Directory, and follow my
suggestions about seeking a position in local business. Those who hesitate
may be lost this summer.
Writing Center
Home |
Online Writing Center