Literary EssayLiterary EssayThe Book of NegroesThe Book of Negroes

Writing the ConclusionWriting the Conclusion

English 12 African HeritageEnglish 12 African Heritage

Purpose of a Conclusion:Purpose of a Conclusion:

1. To sum up your arguments. 1. To sum up your arguments.

2. To clearly state that your 2. To clearly state that your thesis has been proven. thesis has been proven.

3. To leave a lasting impression 3. To leave a lasting impression on your reader.on your reader.

Elements of ConclusionElements of Conclusion

Thesis Statement – re-stated in Thesis Statement – re-stated in different terms (Don’t copy and different terms (Don’t copy and paste – it looks really amateurish)paste – it looks really amateurish)

Brief summary of your main Brief summary of your main pointspoints

One last, universal comment that One last, universal comment that lends finality to your paper.lends finality to your paper.

Conclusion Example: Conclusion Example:

Aminata Diallo’s literacy was her gift to Aminata Diallo’s literacy was her gift to the world, and also the world’s gift to the world, and also the world’s gift to her. It allowed her to become the her. It allowed her to become the storyteller she had always dreamt of storyteller she had always dreamt of being. Aminata faced many challenges being. Aminata faced many challenges as a slave, a wife, and a mother, but as a slave, a wife, and a mother, but through them all, her ability to read through them all, her ability to read and write gave her a voice. It is that and write gave her a voice. It is that voice that makes Lawrence Hill’s voice that makes Lawrence Hill’s The The Book of Negroes Book of Negroes a compelling tale of a compelling tale of survival and triumph.survival and triumph.

What has gone wrong here?What has gone wrong here?

So you can see that the book is about So you can see that the book is about a woman who survives a great deal a woman who survives a great deal and through it all it was the people and through it all it was the people she loved who showed her how to get she loved who showed her how to get through it, like her parents, her through it, like her parents, her husband and her children who stayed husband and her children who stayed with her long after they were lost and with her long after they were lost and that is why love is the central theme that is why love is the central theme of the novel of the novel The Book of Negroes. The Book of Negroes.

What has gone wrong with What has gone wrong with thisthis conclusion?conclusion?

It was sad and tragic. She was It was sad and tragic. She was kidnapped. And raped. How she lost kidnapped. And raped. How she lost her children. And she also lost her her children. And she also lost her husband and really her homeland. husband and really her homeland. The Book of Negroes The Book of Negroes explores all of explores all of that tragedy that happened. During that tragedy that happened. During slavery. The book is a living slavery. The book is a living testament to those who were stolen. testament to those who were stolen. And those who died.And those who died.

What has gone wrong with What has gone wrong with thisthis conclusion?conclusion?

It’s so sad that I bawled for about a week It’s so sad that I bawled for about a week when I got to the end of the novel. Not when I got to the end of the novel. Not that the ending is sad, except that I think that the ending is sad, except that I think she died. I think I was really crying she died. I think I was really crying because she had such a hard life, and it because she had such a hard life, and it makes me feel like crap because I have it makes me feel like crap because I have it easy and I whine all the time about easy and I whine all the time about nothing. nothing. The Book of NegroesThe Book of Negroes by Lawrence by Lawrence Hill made me re-evaluate my whole life.Hill made me re-evaluate my whole life.

What has gone wrong with What has gone wrong with thisthis conclusion? conclusion?

““Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘survival’ Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘survival’ as: ‘a natural process resulting in the as: ‘a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.’” In this essay I have the environment.’” In this essay I have proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Aminata Diallo, the main character that Aminata Diallo, the main character in Lawrence Hill’s in Lawrence Hill’s The Book of NegroesThe Book of Negroes, , is a textbook survivor, because she is a textbook survivor, because she adapted to her environment and she adapted to her environment and she evolved.evolved.

Now… It is time to write your conclusion.

Don’t fret too much if you’re having trouble finding a lasting, final line. During your peer-editing session you can ask your editor to help you write that all-important final statement.

Be clear and concise – this should be your shortest paragraph.

Sum-up your arguments and re-state your thesis. You’ll be fine.