The end of a melody is not its goal: but nonetheless, had the melody not reached its end it would not have reached its goal either — A parable.
The relationship between hooks and closers
With essaypop, every short response begins with a hook and ends with a closer. There is good reason for this. We feel that these two paragraph elements act as important framing features and that without them there would be a tendency for your body paragraphs to become unstructured and undefined.
The key to a coherent paper is structure and a smooth transition between different thoughts and concepts. The initial hook tells the reader that a concrete idea is about to be discussed. It sets the mood and the context of the paper. The closer indicates that the discussion of a concept is finished. In this regard, hooks and closers create a sense of rhythm and symmetry; they act as bookends. That is why they are important and why we keep them where they are.
What does the closer do?
Once you have completed all the parts that make up your response, the hook, and the research detail(s) and the interpretation(s), it is important to inform your reader that you’re finished. A single sentence or two at the end of the paragraph is usually all that is needed to accomplish this. We call this summary or concluding sentence at the end the closer. The closer accomplishes several important things:
- It signals that the response is done.
- It quickly sums up the content of the response.
- It reiterates or echoes the thesis statement.
Often the closer reiterates or reconfirms the response’s thesis statement, albeit using different words. Closers often begin with a phrases like, “So, as you can see” or “It should now be clear”. As with the other writing frames, we provide you with a number of helpful, closer-sentence starters that you can access via the pull-down curtain located in the bottom portion of the writing frame. Closers can also be written the form of a question or as a provocative statement that will leave the reader thinking.
The Models
The closers are highlighted in yellow and following a portion of the preceding interpretation.
Model 1
Type of essay: short response/response to literature
The prompt: In Denise Levertov’s poem, “Moon Tiger”, what is the moon tiger really? Use textual evidence to justify your answer.
…Everything else in the poem, the small head, the large feet, the prowling, the sniffing, is all imagined by the child. The moon “tiger” is, very simply, the creation of a child’s overactive imagination and nothing else. It’s amazing how poet’s often hide that which is obvious in plain sight, but few people seem to notice.
Notes
- Closer: One simple sentence that expresses the writer’s thoughts, making this short paragraph feel finished. All in all, the paragraph coherently addresses the prompt.
Model 2
Type of essay: Expository / Argument
The prompt: We just read the Atlantic Monthly article, “How Two Common Medications Became One $455 Million Specialty Pill” by Marshall Allen. In a 300-500 word short essay, discuss whether you believe the Horizon Pharmaceutical Company is justified in selling the drug Vimovo at the price that they do.
…And despite the company executives claiming that they only are charging what the market will bear, and that they receive few complaints about their pricing, well, that’s only because they’ve done such a good job of concealing their unethical tactics. I’m with Mr. Asimov, it’s too bad a company like Horizon can’t simply honestly make their profits.
Notes
- Closer: Returning back to Asimov, this closer makes the short response feel like it’s come full circle, which is an impressive thing for a writer to do.
Model 3
This is response to an actual University of California application question. It extends the basic short response template with the addition of a second research detail.
Type of essay: University of California Application / Personal Insight Question / personal narrative.
The prompt: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Limit: 350 words.
…In bringing back Bridges, we brought back a support system for our most vulnerable students that was dearly missing from Eagle Rock. We recreated a program that has helped students in need find the support they need during one of their toughest, transitional times. Giving back what I received growing up has always been a priority for me. Resurrecting Bridges has allowed me to achieve this goal.
Notes
- Closer: This closer wraps up the response by briefly restating the writer’s motivation and the thesis itself. Like any good closer, this element allows the response to feel finished.
Model 4
Type of essay: expository/ argument
The prompt: Based on the documents we reviewed in class today that assign blame for the Titanic tragedy to several different individuals, who, in your opinion, is most responsible for the sinking of the RMS Titanic and the deaths of over 1,500 passengers?
…It is surprising that a captain with 38 years of experience would be so reckless, and had he heeded these warnings, the ship would have survived. It also makes one wonder if Captain Smith was caught up in the overconfidence and hubris of the moment. I mean, why worry about iceberg warnings if you’re sailing an “unsinkable” ship? Sure, the blame could be spread around in regards to this tragic event, but if one person must be held most responsible, it is the captain.
Notes
- Closer: The response closes a single sentence that reiterates the prompt and the thesis sentence, making the response feel finished.
Model 5
Type of essay: research/expository
The prompt: We have reviewed several articles about the of the planet’s more interesting and unusual animals. In a text- evidence-based response (300-400 words), explain why you find one of these creatures to be the most intriguing. You have 35 minutes to complete this assignment.
...It’s one thing to be able to stretch out to the size of a sequoia redwood, but to possess the ability to live forever?– that’s truly unique, not to mention a skill that we humans would most likely want to emulate if they could ever figure out how. All in all, when you consider some of their unusual abilities and characteristics, jellyfish truly are some of the weirdest organisms on the planet, although that butt-breathing trick that turtles do is pretty unique.
Notes
- Closer: The response reiterates the prompt and the thesis sentence, making the response feel finished. The added humor at the end is skirting the boundaries of what is considered appropriate for academic writing, but sometimes a writer needs to have some fun. The turtle-butt reference also is a reference to the hook which makes the writing feel like has come full-circle.
Model 6
Like model 1, this response uses just the basic template formula which is appropriate for an in-class, timed assignment.
Type of essay: persuasive/ argument
The prompt: Our school’s administration announced recently that they are considering instituting a school dress code at Marshall High School. Based on your understanding of the rights granted U.S. citizens in the Constitution, do you feel such a policy would is advisable, ethical, or even legal? Your response should be 250-350 words in length and contain some researched or factual evidence. You have 30 minutes to complete your response.
… And it certainly extends to students who might want to wear some loose-fitting jeans or a punk-rock tee shirt. Expressing one’s style, politics, or ideas with one’s choice of clothing is no different than doing so with words spoken aloud or written down on paper. So if the adult leadership of our school is serious about forcing a dress code on the students of Huntington High, then they might as well also admit that they are a willing party to willingly violate our basic constitutional rights. And such an admission ought to make everybody in our community pause and consider what this school’s priorities really are.
Notes
- Closer: This closer maintains the indignant tone that permeates the rest of the paper. The writer is on a mission and wants others to follow her lead. It is in many ways a call-to-action; she is urging her readers to be vigilant in the face of injustice. The transitional phrase, “So”, (taken from the sentence starter options) is powerful in its simplicity and lets the reader know that things are going to get wrapped up.
