You’ve done all the hard thinking, now your job is to wrap it up clearly.
Your conclusion doesn’t need to introduce anything new. It should tie your ideas together and leave the reader with a clear, lasting impression.
What to include:
Restate your thesis: Rephrase your central argument and remind the reader of your key insight.
Answer your Line of Inquiry (LOI): Be direct. What’s your final answer to the question you started with?
Final thought: Why does your argument matter? Think about the bigger picture: what does the text reveal about society, human nature, or power?
Example
LOI: How does Atwood use narrative voice and literary techniques to explore the manipulation of female identity under patriarchal oppression in The Handmaid’s Tale?
Restate the Thesis
In conclusion, Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale uses narrative voice, symbolism, and intertextual allusions to expose how women in Gilead are systematically controlled, while also highlighting Offred’s quiet resistance. These techniques show the tension between identity and oppression in a patriarchal regime.
Reflect on the Line of Inquiry (LOI)
By focusing on Offred’s internal conflict and limited choices, Atwood reveals how identity is shaped and constrained by those in power, not only through force, but through more subtle tools like psychological control, religious ideology, and the manipulation of language.
Final Thought
Though Gilead is fictional, the anxieties Atwood unpacks remain relevant. Her novel acts as a sharp reminder of how easily autonomy can be eroded when power is left unchecked, and why resistance, however quiet, matters. It prompts readers to question the narratives and systems that influence identity today.
