Conclusions
A conclusion should… RESTATE your thesis Give the essay a sense of completeness Leave a final impression on the reader
Suggestions for writing…. Call to action: Answer the question “So What?” Summary: Show them how your examples and points fit together Circle ending: Echo your attention grabber
The “Don’ts” Don’t REPEAT the thesis—restate! Don’t include a question in your last paragraph Don’t bring in new information Do not write “this paper, or the paper..” Don’t repeat yourself!
STRONG Example 1: In the novel, John Steinbeck shows through his examples that without George, Lennie would go nowhere. There is a reason George and Lennie are such strong companions and it is because they are such good friends. It would be extremely hard to get along in their world if they did not have each other. Steinbeck has put Lennie and George together in his novel because they both needed to be taught life lessons: Lennie was taught how to make friends and make better decisions and George was taught that sometimes a person has to make sacrifices for loved ones.
WEAK Example 2: In Of Mice and Men, all the characters show signs of companionship or what happens when a person has no companions. George and Lennie’s friendship with each other helps them get through the hardships life throws at them. All companionships are built off understanding, dependence and love. A flower depends on its companionship with the sun to live just as people should depend on each other
WEAK Example 3: In Of Mice and Men, the theme of dreams is shown through believers like Lennie, George and Candy and people who do not believe like Crooks. “To dream anything that you want to dream, that’s the beauty of the human mind. To do anything you want to do, that is the strength of the human will.”~Bernard Edwards
STRONG Example 4: Steinbeck includes friendship in Of Mice and Men because he wants people to know the importance of having friends and keeping them. From the book it is realized that companionship is one of the most important lessons to learn. It is an important lesson because one should try to always keep it before it is gone forever. A true friendship consists of faithfulness, assurance and honor. Companionship is needed by everyone and George and Lennie are really good friends because their friendship has all these qualities.
WEAK Example 5: Companionship means having loyalty and being trustworthy. It is okay if one does not understand some things between their friendships. Lennie and George truly did not experience companionship till the end when George took Lennie’s life so Lennie could not experience any more pain.