Compelling Conclusions and Smooth Transitions

From your Unit 2 decompression writings, you all have expressed the need for us to talk about transition phrases and conclusions, so here we go!

Transition Phrases

A transition phrase is used to connect paragraphs and to turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. Instead of treating paragraphs as separate ideas, transition statements can help readers understand how paragraphs work together and reference one another to build a larger point. The key to producing effective transition phrases is highlighting connections between corresponding paragraphs. By referencing in one paragraph relevant information from previous paragraphs, writers can develop important points for their readers.

It is a good idea to continue a paragraph where the preceding on left off by mentioning a key phrase from the previous paragraph or with transition words, such as additionally, even though, similarly, in contrast, as previously stated, etc.-- if you cannot connect the ideas at all, this may be a sign that your essay is in need of better organization!

Picking up key phrases from the previous paragraph and highlighting them in the next can create an obvious connection for your readers in a place that might have been unclear without the transition phrase. 

Here is a link to some useful advice and examples of transition phrases that can be included in the beginnings of paragraphs effectively: 

Transition Words and Phrases

Conclusions

First, see Writing Analytically (pgs. 361-361 and 364-365), then read below:

It is important to have a strong conclusion, since this is the last chance you have to make an impression on your reader. The goal of your conclusion isn’t to introduce any new ideas, but to sum up everything you’ve written. Specifically, your conclusion should accomplish three major goals:

•  Restate the main idea of your essay, or your thesis statement in a new way (no copy and pasting of your thesis statement into the conclusion!)

•  Summarize the the subpoints of your essay

•  Leave the reader with an interesting final impression

The paragraph below is an example conclusion. As you read, think about what each sentence accomplishes within the paragraph. What sentence(s) restates the essay’s thesis statement? What sentence(s) summarizes the essay’s subpoints? What sentence(s) leaves the reader with an interesting final impression?


"Getting a better job is a goal that I would really like to accomplish in the next few years. Finishing school will take me a long way to meeting this goal. To meet my goal, I will also prepare my résumé and search for jobs. My goal may not be an easy one to achieve, but things that are worth doing are often not easy."



Notice that the first sentence restates the thesis. The second and third sentences summarize the essay’s subpoints. Finally, the fourth sentence leaves the reader with an interesting final impression. No new information is presented in this paragraph. Instead, the writer sums up what has been written so far and leaves the reader with a last thought. While the content of the paragraph is very similar to the introduction, the paragraph itself is not exactly the same. This is important. Even though the goal of the conclusion is to restate a lot of the information from the introduction, it should sound different because the conclusion’s purpose is slightly different from the introduction. Remember to support the points you have gathered. Remember to restate your thesis by picking out a few key words, summarize your subpoints, and leave the reader with an interesting final impression.

If you still have concerns, Writingcommons.org has a helpful handout on writing compelling conclusions, which can be found at the following link: 

Writing Commons, "How to Write Compelling Conclusions"