Conclusion Paragraph Guide
I. Restate Thesis
• Don’t copy/paste
• Use synonyms
• Thesis: Lady Macbeth is primarily responsible for
Macbeth’s actions because her position as both his wife
and partner in crime motivates him to push forward in
attaining power and the constant belittlement of her
husband’s manliness encourages Macbeth to behave in
ways that would not have otherwise been illuminated.
• Restatement: Lady Macbeth’s ability to control her
husband lies in her position as not only his partner in
crime, but also his wife, and her skill for attacking his
insecurities.
Conclusion Paragraph Guide
II. Revisit Hook
• What type of hook did you use?
• Return to that idea
• Hook: “Power is always dangerous. Power
attracts the worst and corrupts the best”—
Edward Abbey
• Revisit Hook: The desire for power can be a
dangerous road to travel. With Lady
Macbeth pushing her husband to act, his
greed is amplified to a degree that would
have never been achieved without her.
Conclusion Paragraph Guide
III.Universal Statement
• Answer the “so what?” question
• Why should the reader care?
• How does topic apply to everyone?
• Last sentence of conclusion paragraph
Example: A toxic relationship can
encourage even the best of individuals
to act in the worst of ways.
Conclusion Paragraph
• Lady Macbeth’s ability to control her husband
lies in her position as not only his partner in
crime, but also his wife, and her skill for
attacking his insecurities. The desire for power
can be a dangerous road to travel. With Lady
Macbeth pushing her husband to act, his
greed is amplified to a degree that would
have never been achieved without her. A toxic
relationship—in this case, one between man
and wife—can encourage even the best of
individuals to act in the worst of ways.
What good commentary looks like…
Lady Macbeth is primarily responsible for Macbeth’s actions because her position as both his
wife and partner in crime motivates him to push forward in attaining power and the constant
belittlement of her husband’s manliness encourages Macbeth to behave in ways that would
not have otherwise been illuminated.
Transition
Lead in
Concrete Detail (Quote): In addition, Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manliness, exclaiming,
Quote
“When you durst do it, then you were a man” (3.2.45-49).
CM #1: Lady Macbeth associates evilness with manliness, saying that he was only a man
when he wanted to murder King Duncan.
Offers analysis of previous quote
CM #2: Lady Macbeth forces Macbeth to feel like he must commit the crime in order to
prove that he is a man. Such threats and pressure encourage Macbeth to continue his
assent to power.
Offers further analysis of quote/ connects back to main sentiment of thesis
What bad commentary does….
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Repeats the CD (quote)
Offers obscure or unclear analysis
Uses clichés such as: Macbeth keeps secrets from Lady Macbeth and everyone knows that
secrets don’t make friends.
Gives plot summary instead of analysis
Is repetitive and vague because you don’t really know what you are talking about.
You Try! Play Bad Commentary Match-Up on your own sheet of paper.
What bad commentary looks like…
•
Concrete Detail (Quote): In addition, Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manliness, exclaiming, “When you durst do
it, then you were a man” (3.2.45-49).
•
CM #1: Lady Macbeth then goes on to tell Macbeth that she would rather have her own baby’s brains smashed in,
rather than give up on her ambition, but in Act two she isn’t up to the task of killing Duncan because he looks too
much like her father.
Plot Summary/Unnecessary information
CM #2: Lady Macbeth doesn’t think that Macbeth is a man.
Repeats the CD/Doesn’t offer anything fresh or insightful
CM #4: Lady Macbeth doesn’t think Macbeth is a man, because he acts unmanly all of the time.
Repetitive/Sounds like you don’t really understand the literature
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CM #3: Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to essentially “wear the pants in the family” and do what needs to be done.
Relies on a cliché instead of formulating your own opinion