Coursebook Lesson 7: The Conclusion

Passing Judgement

Whether you write your essay using an argumentative approach or a discursive one, you will need to have offered a clear perspective on the issue by the conclusion. Perhaps you are wondering, however: if a discursive essay is supposed to explore both sides of the issue objectively, why would it choose one side in the end?

After genuinely exploring the issues in the body paragraph, the discursive writer has an obligation to the audience to make a decision in the final paragraph. This helps them challenge or validate their own opinion. If you don’t offer your perspective, you may risk your credibility as a writer.

Passing judgement - tone

Until you arrive at your final judgement,the tone of your conclusion will continue to reflect your initial approach (argumentative or discursive). If you broach the topic objectively to start, for example, your conclusion will not take on a biases tone until you have made your decision.

Conclusion 1: argumentative

Clearly, there is a link between good grammar skills and professionalism. Good grammar still plays an important role in how we build relationships and how we present ourselves to others, particularly in the business world. Although it may be true that our attitude toward grammar in changing because of technological progress, a professional approach to the way to speak in still expected. While it is still true that speech can depend on context, there is no denying that the words we use communicate our level of respect for our audience. Therefore, good grammar is certainly good for business.

Conclusion 2: discursive

Clearly, the ways we communicate with one another will continue to evolve in the digital era, and the traditional rules of grammar are bending with each turn we take. Accurate grammar can be a powerful tool in formal contexts, such as on the political stage or in the professional world, and it establishes our credibility to an audience that is sometimes skeptical. However, in a world where texting and abbreviation are the norm, our language is not necessarily wrong if grammatically incorrect. It therefore appears that to keep up with the present, where we are willing to sacrifice form for content, grammatical accuracy should not matter as much today as it traditionally has in the past.

New Insights

One approach to offering new insights is to think about the impact your topic will have on the future. In addition to the elements on the previous slide, an argumentative conclusion may also:

• Revisit opposing views and remind the audience of your counterarguments
• Consider implications and consequences
• Offer solutions or recommendations, and consider their limits

Concluding an argumentative or discursive essay is therefore more complicated than simply rehashing previously made points.