Questions: Essay Organization: Introduction, Body, Conclusion

Question 1

Which of the following conclusions best fulfills the function of a conclusion in an argumentative essay?

• A. Restating the thesis word-for-word to remind the reader of the main claim
• B. Summarizing each body paragraph in the order they appeared
• C. Synthesizing the argument and connecting it to a larger significance or implication
• D. Introducing a new counterargument that was not addressed in the body

Answer: (C)

A conclusion's job is not to summarize what the reader just read — they read it — but to answer the question 'so what?' by showing why the argument matters in a broader context. Restating the thesis is a weak move; summary is a wasted opportunity. Introducing unaddressed counterarguments is a structural error. Synthesis plus significance is the mark of a conclusion that earns its place.

Question 2

A strong conclusion should restate the thesis and summarize each body paragraph to help the reader remember the essay's main points.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: False

Summarizing what the reader just finished reading treats them as unable to remember the essay. A strong conclusion synthesizes — drawing together the implications of the argument — and adds significance by connecting the specific claim to something broader. Restatement and summary are among the most commonly critiqued conclusion failures in academic writing.

Question 3

Why should the order of body paragraphs reflect a logical or rhetorical sequence rather than the order in which the writer's ideas occurred to them?

Model answer: Because essay organization should serve the reader's understanding and the argument's persuasive force, not document the writer's thought process. A deliberate sequence — such as building from weakest to strongest support, or establishing a problem before offering a solution — makes the argument more coherent and convincing.

Writers often draft ideas in the order they arise during brainstorming, but this order rarely corresponds to the most effective argumentative sequence. Reorganizing body paragraphs based on logical progression, rhetorical impact, or causal structure serves the reader rather than the writer — which is the central obligation of expository and persuasive writing.