Deconstructing your essay conclusions

As we take a look at your essays today, what are some of the strategies for creating that WOW conclusion that will keep or boost you up to the next score on the AP exam.

Here is a little advice from Ms. Moraites:

The first step to an argument essay is to understand the point that you will argue for, against, or qualify. If you don't actually understand the argument, then your connections will be weak and may be faulty.

Figuring out what the argument is a lot like what we do in class. We take a text and analyze it -- what does it mean? What words are especially important? Who wrote it? Why would they say this?

As you begin writing your essay, it is important to start out your essay strongly and clearly! As a reader, it gets me interested in seeing what you have to say. Then, you will make connections, arguments, etc. But, it is equally important to end your essay with an UMPH! Keeping your essay solid throughout is not an easy task. Trust me, I have written many, many essays. Sometimes the conclusions come together and sometimes I felt like they didn't.

So, the question is -- how do I make that conclusion so awesome that the reader of your AP essay exam say "WOW! This student knows his/her stuff. This student is a solid 8! or 9! for this essay!"

Keeping that ending of your arguments and conclusion solid is one of the keys to keeping your reader engaged and interested in the points that you make.

Check out this website on Conclusions. What are you doing right? What could you work on?

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/conclusions.html

We will be working on these in class today and I am giving you an extra day to make changes and bring in a revised edition of your essay as a final copy for me. DUE TOMORROW! (THURSDAY!)


Our Agenda for today:

How do you work up to the conclusion? You have to be stating your thesis first and have made your arguments and points already.

How do you work through your paper? What does your intro say? What are the mini-thesis of each of your paragraphs or points to your argument. And can you share your conclusion?

Reflection: Where do you see gaps in your conclusion? How can it be made better? (Take a look at that website that I put above.)

Conference with a partner. Proof-read eachothers papers.

When you do this, read the conclusion first. Do you have any extra suggestions for your partner?

Then go through the rest of your paper with your partner to suggest any other issues or concerns as well as things that are good with their writing!


Ms. Moraites