How to Write a Clincher for a Persuasive Essay
The clincher (sometimes called a closer) at the end of a persuasive essay should pack a punch, since this your final chance to sway the reader to your way of thinking. As an important part of the essay, you should give the clincher at least as much attention as any other element. The clincher allows you to voice your own position in a way that persuades the reader.
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Instructions
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Make sure you understand that the purpose of your persuasive essay is to get the reader to agree with your opinion or argument, change the reader's mind about the topic, and/or urge the reader into action.
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Place the clincher at the end of the conclusion. You have already grabbed the reader's attention and stated the thesis in the introduction, and you have convinced the reader with facts, statistics, examples and arguments in the body paragraphs. The clincher goes after your summary statement of the main points you made in your essay and after your restatement of the thesis. This final element is your last opportunity to persuade the reader.
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Give a lot of thought to the clincher by considering your options. The techniques are similar to the ones you used for the grabber in the introduction. The clincher is a personal comment or call to action. Examine each option and decide which one fits your essay best.
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Consider asking a rhetorical question for your clincher or using an anecdote. You might make a prediction based on the evidence that you presented in your essay, or you may present a quotation that relates to the topic. Another technique for writing a clincher is to make a recommendation based on the research, facts and statistics in your persuasive essay. Whichever technique you choose, make sure you engage the readers and persuade them to your point of view.
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Use library resources and the Internet to view samples of clinchers in a persuasive essay. This will give you an idea of how to frame your own clincher and how it relates to the conclusion and the rest of the essay. For example, your persuasive essay may be about the controversial issue of health care reform. In your conclusion, you might make a summary statement briefly stating the key points of your essay. This summary statement might say that the demand for medical care in this country is increasing, and without health care reform many people will suffer needlessly. A clincher that fits this topic can be: "How can we stand by and allow this to happen to our own fellow citizens?"
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Tips & Warnings
Work with a peer to edit your finished draft.
Write as many drafts as needed until you are satisfied with the finished product
References
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