“I find it hard to focus looking forward. So I look backward.” — Iggy Pop
What is the Echo?
As part of the summing up duties that the conclusion paragraph must accomplish, the echo acts as a reminder to your reader of what has been accomplished in the paper. Think of the echo as the hook in reverse. It’s referred to as an “echo” because it does, indeed, echo or mirror some of the thoughts expressed in your essay’s hook. This technique gives your essay a “full-circle” feel. To use an electrical analogy, the echo “closes the circuit”.
Please note that you certainly would not want to simply repeat your hook word-for-word. That would be a fairly awkward experience for the reader. The key is to reread your hook, then think about how it could be cleverly rephrased in a way that evokes the ideas and feelings from the original hook.
Here’s an example of how it works.
First, let’s take a look at a hook from the introductory paragraph a response-to-literature essay.
Perfectly still, except for a flickering, forked tongue, lies a prehistoric-looking serpent sunning itself on terra cotta, granite sands. Its eyes are black pinpricks, and its black-brown scales glisten as if recently sprayed with mist. Only when disturbed or annoyed does it sound its ominous and wickedly dry rattle. “Stay away or suffer the consequences!” it announces. While most cautious folks would take great care to give wide berth to such a creature, the residents of Southern California’s Northridge suburb have grown quite accustomed to the sound of the Mojave rattlesnake in a state of agitation.
Now take a look at the echo:
Ultimately, as we listen to that wicked rattle, or stare into the prehistoric, pinprick eyes, or watch, terrified, as it curves hideously towards us, we must decide if these primitive fears are enough to justify the removal of this misunderstood creature. Do our phobias merit the extinction of another creature?
As you can see, this echo uses vivid imagery from the hook, then asks a provocative question that will lead into a restatement of the thesis statement. Again, the intention here is to provide the reader with a small reminder of of how your essay began in the first place. This will give the reader the satisfying sense that you’ve intentionally led them on a journey. It shows that you have been confidently in control of the essay the whole time. Notice that the hook and echo are both highlighted in blue.
The Echo Models
The following echo models will be shown in relation to the original hooks. For context, the hooks will be shown transitioning into a portion of the thesis statement. Likewise, the echos will be shown transitioning into a portion of the restated thesis statement.
Model 1
Type of essay: response to literature
The prompt: n a text-evidence-based, multiple-paragraph essay, give your reaction to Denise Levertov’s short poem, “Moon Tiger”.
First the Hook
Have you ever looked back at a childhood memory and just been baffled by how oddly surreal life was when you were just a tyke? Everything was frightening. Everything was larger than life. Trees were tall and menacing villains; the wind was the voice of a ghost. Perhaps it was because we were so young. Perhaps it was because we were so small compared to everything else. In the short poem, “Moon Tiger”, Denise Levertov explores this theme of…
Now the Echo
Trees becoming villainous intruders – The wind whispering secrets –The imaginations of children truly can create some fantastic, if not hyperbolic results. In the mind of a child, the normal becomes bizarre and the safe and secure are transformed into the treacherous. In “Moon Tiger” Denise Levertov portrays…
Notes
Some of the same imagery from the hook is used here, albeit in a slightly rephrased manner. Restating these ideas helps the essay feel as though it has gone “full circle” which gives the reader a satisfying sense of completion.
Model 2
Type of essay: Expository / Argumentative
The prompt: Pit Bulls are commonly considered to be unpredictable and even vicious animals. They are frequently portrayed in the media as enough of a societal threat that they should be subject to stringent leashing requirements and prohibited from public spaces such as playgrounds and dog parks. Do you believe that pitbulls should be singled out and restricted because of their vicious natures?
First the Hook
Camryn Rogers is a professional dog trainer in Southern California and at any given time she owns or houses anywhere from seven to twenty dogs. You could say she is a bit canine-obsessed. Over time, Camryn has learned to reliably assess the relative temperament of most dog breeds. She even has developed a temperament scale that provides a ferociousness/friendliness score for most common canine breeds. Surprisingly, pit bulls, dogs that are popularly considered to be very aggressive, tend to score in the “friendly” spectrum of this scale. According to Rogers, many of her most docile and loyal dogs are, in fact, American Bull Terriers or pit bulls. “They really are a very misunderstood breed”, says Rogers. Rogers is not alone in her defense of the breed. The evidence shows that despite frequent attempts by the media and public at large to portray pit bulls as vicious and savage animals, they are…
Now the conclusion
In the media, we see plenty of anecdotal accounts of pit bulls acting dangerously and ferociously towards people. The breed is also often paraded around by tough guys who go out of their way to make their dogs look tough as well. For many people, the pitbull’s reputation is sealed. But if you put away your preconceptions and prejudices, you will understand what professional dog trainer, Camryn Rogers means when she says pitbulls are a misunderstood breed. This paper has shown that…
Notes
At three-sentences long, the echo sets up the “anti-discrimination” message to come in the reflection with the phrase, “preconceptions and prejudices”. It then echoes back to the views of the veterinarian who was mentioned in the introduction. Again, restating these ideas helps the essay feel as though it has gone “full circle” which gives the reader a satisfying sense of completion.
Model 3
Type of essay: Expository / Argumentative
The prompt: People have a natural, almost primal fear of rattlesnakes. Often the first reaction to seeing a rattler in a residential area is panic and fear. In areas such as suburban Southern California, is it possible for rattlesnakes and humans to coexist with one another?
First the hook
Perfectly still, except for a flickering, forked tongue, lies a prehistoric-looking serpent, sunning itself on the terracotta tiles of somebody’s back porch. Its eyes are black pinpricks, and its rusty-brown scales glisten like glass. Only when disturbed or annoyed does it sound it’s a wickedly dry rattle. “Stay away or suffer the consequences!” it announces rhythmically. While most cautious folks would take great care to give wide berth to such a creature, the residents of Southern California’s Northridge suburb have grown quite accustomed to the sound of the Mojave rattlesnake in a state of agitation. Does the rattling cause these residents to panic? Not really. The sound creates instead a healthy sense of cautiousness, curiosity, and respect. Human beings and rattlesnakes seem a truly unlikely pair but in many suburban regions…
Now the Conclusion
Ultimately, as we listen to that wicked rattle, or stare into the prehistoric, pinprick eyes, or watch, terrified, as it curves hideously towards us, we must decide if these primitive fears are enough to justify the removal of this misunderstood creature. Do our phobias merit the removal or extinction of this creature? The fact is, humans and rattlesnakes…
Notes
This is essentially a condensed version of the hook from the introduction. It begins with vivid descriptions of the creature’s fearful appearance, then transitions, in the form of a question, to the crux of the thesis itself.
Model 4
Type of essay: response to literature
The prompt: In a multiple-paragraph essay discuss a recurring theme that is addressed in Smokey Robinson’s two songs, “The Tracks of My Tears” and “The Tears of a Clown”.
First the hook
Love hurts, a wise man once claimed. That fellow must have been onto something because they are literally catalogs of popular music dedicated to the subject of heartbreak and its effect on its unfortunate victims. There are, one might surmise, dozens of ways to react to unrequited or rejected love and the subsequent turmoil it causes. Dark and desperate melancholy; “I’m so lonely I could cry”, wailed Hank Williams in the face of being left by a woman. Jimi Hendrix scribed an ode to revenge when he wailed, “Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down.” The Clash’s Mick Jones isn’t quite as extreme as Jimi’s desperate Joe, but still sounds disappointed when he asks, “Did you stand by me? No, not at all. Did you stand by me? No way.” Of course, another common reaction to heartbreak is…
Now the echo
There is a multitude of different reactions that those who experience the heartache of lost love might demonstrate. There are catalogs of popular music dedicated to the subject. Some of these songs express anger, some seek revenge; others just go quiet and sullen. Perhaps the most common is the reaction played out by Smokey Robinson’s jilted lovers in “The Tracks of My Tears” and “The Tears of a Clown”. In both sad cases, the men…
Notes
This is essentially a condensed version of the hook from the introduction. It makes reference to the songs discussed in the hook without naming them specifically.
Model 5
Type of essay: persuasive/argumentative
The prompt: Our principal announced recently that, based on a recommendation from our school’s booster club, she would likely be setting aside most of our $500,000 in State bond funds for the purchase of football stadium lights. Advocates of his plan are excited by the prospect of finally being able to enjoy some Friday night games; they believe stadium lights will create a sense of school tradition and spirit. Opponents contend that diverting these funds would hurt the school’s academic programs and that this money would be more wisely spent on purchasing new textbooks, hiring more teachers, or creating a computer lab. In multiple-paragraph, evidence-based essay, argue why the available funds should be used to purchase football stadium lights, as our principal and boosters wish, or whether they should be set aside for our academic program.
First the hook
It’s pretty amazing. At a time when it seems that funding for schools is rapidly disappearing, Whitney High School has suddenly been graced with $500,000 to make improvements to our campus. How did we get so lucky, you ask? Well, if you haven’t heard, principal MacGuire was approached last month by district officials who informed her that a stockpile of State bond money had been discovered and some of it was earmarked for Whitney – a half-million dollars, to be exact. The talk around campus has regarding how to spend these funds has been quite energetic. Students, teachers, and alumni groups have all weighed in. One of the most vocal of these groups has been our powerful boosters club who have advocated that we use the funding to construct football stadium lights so that Whitney can finally host night games. The proposed cost of such a project? $488,000 — almost the entire amount that we will be receiving in bond money. While football stadium lights certainly would create a “Friday Night Lights” atmosphere and increase our school spirit, this is not
Now the echo
So, yes, we are indeed in the enviable position of having half a million dollars of State bond money to do more or less what we would like with. The debate has been lively, with the Boosters coming in the loudest, and, some would argue, the most convincingly. It’s hard to argue that a “Friday Night Lights” atmosphere would be very popular at Whitney and quite a bit of fun as well. Having said this, however, it seems clear that we need…
Notes
This is essentially a condensed version of the hook from the introduction. It summarizes the debate at hand and even concedes the opposition’s contention that stadium lights would actually create a lot of fun and excitement.
