Watching television is harming children's knowledge of more important issues. Only two out of three children surveyed by the Annenberg Public Policy Center knew the name of the U.S. President. Yet, nine out of 10 of those same children could identify Homer Simpson. Likewise, almost half of the children studied knew that the series Ally McBeal is aired on Fox. However, less than five percent knew the name of a "female Supreme Court Justice" ("Shh Buffy's On", 1999) This just goes to show that television's educational programming is lacking and our nation's children are suffering because of it.

   Once we begin writing, we sometimes we have a difficult time knowing how to STOP. The conclusion above seems to have the same problem. With so much information and little direction, the reader will have a difficult time reflecting on the arguments made in the paper.

   Knowing what to expect from a concluding paragraph will help you and the reader refocus on the paper's argument and supporting reasons by drawing together the ideas already in the paper.

  In this section, you will find:

 Why to Include a Conclusion

 How to Structure a Conclusion

 What to Avoid in the Conclusion

 Exercises to Practice Your Skills (Conclusion Assignment!)

 Sources Consulted

 

Prepared by Pam Benoit and Kelly Berg-Nellis to accompany Communication 104: Controversies in Communication. Suggestions or comments are welcome.  ©Pam Benoit, Professor, University of Missouri. Last updated  02/04/04 by Greg G. Armfield.