72 Part 11 IWritinganEssa1/
TheConcludingParagraph
Theconclusionis thefinalparagraphinanessay.It hasthreepurposes.1.Itsignalstheendoftheessay.Todoso,beginyourconclusionwitha
transitionsignal.SeeTransitionSignalsinAppendixC,pages297-299.
2.It remindsyourreaderofyourmainpoints,whichyoucandoinoneoftwo
ways:Youcan- summarizeyoursubtopics.
- paraphraseyourthesis.
3.Itleavesyourreaderwithyourfinalthoughtsonthetopic.Thisis your
opportunitytoconveya strong,effectivemessagethatyourreaderwill
remember.
Herearetechniquesthatyoucanusetowritea memorableconclusion.
Makea prediction.
Wehaveseenhowthecostsofattendingcollegehavebeenrisingwhile,atthe
sametime,sourcesoffinancialaidforstudentshavebeendisappearing.If this
trendcontinues,fewerandfewerfamilieswillbeabletosendtheirchildren
throughfouryearsofcollege.Suggestresultsorconsequences.
Tosumup,thecostsofattendingcollegeareupandfinancialaidforstudents
is down.Fewerandfewerfuturemembersoftheworkforceareabletoeducate
themselvesbeyondhighschool.Asa result,thenationwillwastethe
intelligence,imagination,andenergyofa largesegmentofthepresent
college-agegeneration.Suggesta solution,makea recommendation,orcallforaction.
It is clearthattheU.S.systemofhighereducationisintrouble.Formany
students,fouryearsofcollegeis nolongerpossiblebecauseofincreasing
costsanddecreasingfinancialaid.Toreversethistrend,wemustdemandthat
governmentincreaseitsfinancialsupportofcollegesanduniversitiesandrestore
financialaidprograms.Ourfuturedependsonit.Quoteanauthorityonthetopic.
Inconclusion,costsarerisingandfinancialaidis declining,withtheresultthat
manycannolongeraffordtogotocollege.If ournationis toprosper,increased
governmentfundingforeducationis essential,evenifit requireshighertaxes.
AsHoraceManniarguedinhisFifthAnnualReport,a nation'seconomicwealth
willincreasethroughaneducatedpublic.It is thereforeintheself-interestof
businesstopaythetaxationforpubliceducation.IHoraceMann(1796-1859)isconsideredtbefatberofpubliceducationintbeUnitedStates.