​Interim Conclusions

​It might be useful to think of interim conclusions as the many battles which take place in the context of a larger war. In your discursive essay, several battles between opposing viewpoints will take place before you determine whether either side has won the war, or if it is a stalemate.

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​Interim Conclusion = Inference

​It is an inference you draw as you finish a sustained point. You may not know the final outcome at this point, but you are in a position to pass preliminary judgment.

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​Review the text. Be ready to answer these questions, if you are called upon.

​1. Where does the author include interim conclusions?

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​2. How do these conclusions break up the text?

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​3. Why are these appropriate places to offer these insights?

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​4. In what ways does this strategy help the organization of the discursive essay?

​As the essay demonstrates, you may offer several different conclusions during the course of your discursive essay. As the main points of your essay develop, interim conclusions can help you keep track of ideas as you head toward your final judgment. In this way, you are more likely to draw an evidence-based conclusion.