Hello, my name is Miss Grant.

I'm so glad you've decided to learn with me.

Today we are in our Midsummer Night Stream unit.

So we're looking at Shakespeare's comedy from about 1595 to six.

Today we're going to look at how to write fantastic conclusions.

So we're gonna consider the idea that you've written an amazing analytical essay and now you want to sum up all of your ideas.

Well, how do you do that? We're gonna learn, we're gonna focus on that skill today.

I'm gonna be your support and guide as we work through today's lesson together.

I can't wait to hear all of your fantastic ideas.

Let's get started.

So by the end of today's lesson you're going to be able to write a well structured conclusion.

So you've written a full analytical essay, you've got your introduction, your main body paragraphs, and then you think, right, well I need to write a conclusion now, what does that actually look like? And by the end of today's lesson, we're gonna know exactly what a great conclusion looks like.

And you're going to have written a conclusion to an analytical essay about "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

There are some keywords which are gonna help us unlock our learning today and help us achieve our objective.

And they are thesis evaluation, general idea, specific idea and writer's intentions.

Let's go through their definitions.

So thesis is an idea you develop and maintain throughout an essay.

So you set your thesis out in your introduction, you develop it, you maintain it throughout your analytical main body paragraphs, and you need to speak to it in your conclusion as well.

So that's why it's one of our key words for today's lesson.

Evaluation, this means making a judgement or comment about something.

And again, this is something you will do in your conclusion.

You will evaluate the presentation of a particular theme or character in the play.

General idea, this is an idea that's not tied to any particular detail.

Specific idea is an idea that is tied to a particular detail.

And the idea of a general idea and a specific idea.

These are also important to a conclusion and we're gonna look at these in more depth later.

And writer's intentions, this is what a writer wants to achieve or explore in their work.

And we're gonna consider Shakespeare's intentions in writing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and we're going to include that as part of our conclusion.

So these words are gonna be referenced throughout today's lesson and they're gonna help us achieve our objective.

Our lesson outlined for today, we're gonna start off by understanding the purpose of a conclusion and then we're going to finish by writing a powerful conclusion.

Let's start off with understanding the purpose of a conclusion.

So I'd like you to discuss what does the word conclusion mean to you? Pause the video and discuss the question now.

Really nice discussion there showing off our initial ideas about what this word conclusion means.

And lots of people said, well, it's a synonym.

It means the same as an ending.

So signalling the ending in some way.

And you can see that in lots of different texts.

You might have a final chapter or final verse.

We also see it in lots of other different art forms. So if you're watching a film or a TV programme, you might think, ah, this is the conclusion.

This is the ending where everything is sort of tied up.

Now in English literature essays, the word conclusion has a specific meaning and purpose.

So conclusion reminds the readers what you've said, and there's a focus on the writer's intentions for their work.

Now, conclusions are good for the reader of your essay because it reminds them of your overall thesis.

So it reminds them, this is what I've argued throughout my essay, and I'm just reminding you in the final paragraph of the power, the strength of my argument.

But conclusions are also good for you, the writer of the essay.

'Cause it allows you to sum up your ideas and show off your evaluative skills.

So good for the reader, but also good for you the writer.

And in conclusion, that's what you are working towards in your essay.

You've got your introduction, your main body paragraphs, and then you work towards your conclusion, the ending of your essay, where you sum up your ideas and show off your evaluative skills.

So a conclusion moves from the specific to the general.

What does that mean? You first of all have a specific response to your thesis.

That's generally the first sentence of your conclusion, a specific response to your thesis where you're saying, this is what I argued.

Second, your second sentence might be an evaluative comment about the writer's intention.

So in this case, it will be, what did Shakespeare intend for his work? Can I make a judgement about what Shakespeare intended for his work? And finally, your third sentence might be a general comment about why the text is still important.

So yes, you've answered a specific essay question, but you might want to think, let's broaden out my ideas a little bit and let's think about why this play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in this case is still so important.

Why do we still read it today? Let's have a look at an example of a conclusion so that we can really understand what this three-part conclusion might look like.

So here's an example, which concludes an answer to this question.

How does Shakespeare use Puck to explore the supernatural? we've got ultimately, though the supernatural is a source of the much of the chaos, confusion and comedy, it's actually presented as malicious and untrustworthy.

Shakespeare's presentation of Puck is the strongest example of the supernatural's cruelty.

Perhaps part of the reason for the play being so popular is because this darker side to what is presented as a typical Shakespearean comedy.

So a really nice example of a conclusion there.

Now the first sentence has got a specific response to the thesis.

Ultimately, although the supernatural is a source of much of the chaos, confusion and comedy, it is actually presented as malicious and untrustworthy.

So I know that this people in their essay has argued that the supernatural is presented as malicious and untrustworthy.

So they're speaking to their specific thesis, Shakespeare's presentation of Puck is the strongest example of the supernatural's cruelty.

So this is an evaluative comment about the writer's intention.

So this student believes that Shakespeare's presentation of Puck is the strongest example of the supernatural's cruelty.

That's their judgement on the text.

And finally, perhaps part of the reason for the play being so popular is because of this darker side to what is presented as a typical Shakespearean comedy.

Now this is a general comment about why the text is so important and this people believes, why the text is so important, the reason we keep returning to it is because whilst it is a Shakespeare comedy, it actually has these darker, more sinister sides and that is real interest to audiences still.

And that's why we still return and we still want to go and see it.

So a really, really nice example of a conclusion there which moves from the specific to the general.

Now Alex has understood what it means to write a conclusion and he does a first draught trying to answer his question, how does Shakespeare use Puck to explore the supernatural? And he's trying to follow that three part structure.

And he says, "Ultimately all these reasons mean my argument about the supernatural is correct.

I especially think the ending contributes to this interpretation when Park says he will make amends.

Lots of people really like the play still." Now here's the feedback that Alex was given.

Ultimately, all these reasons mean my argument about the supernatural looks right.

That first sentence is actually too general.

What did Alex actually argue? I need to know what Alex argued in the rest of his essay.

I especially think the ending contributes to this interpretation when Puck says he will make amends.

Well, conclusions don't necessarily need quotations.

The evaluation could be developed instead.

So he's saying, I especially think the ending contributes to this.

Well what is the this and that quotation Puck says he will make amends, not necessarily needed a quotation.

Maybe that's something that Alex could have explored earlier in his essay.

And finally, lots of people really like the play still, this statement is too general.

Why is the play still really important? So need to know why people still really like it, not just the fact that they do like it.

So Alex thinks, well, I've got all the feedback now I'm gonna have a go at writing a second draught of my conclusion which follows this three part introduction.

Can I make a better version of what I originally wrote? And he writes, ultimately, although the supernatural does put characters in danger, mainly it helps with restore order and happiness to Athens and the forest.

It is important to remember that Shakespeare made his play a comedy and this should make us reflect on the humour in the play rather than the harm.

Perhaps it is the lighthearted exploration of chaos and fairies, which means the play continues to be so popular.

So I'd like you to discuss how has Alex responded to his feedback? We saw his first draught, we've now got his second draught.

How has re responded to his feedback? Pause video and discuss the question now.

Brilliant discussion there showing off your fantastic knowledge of what it means to write a fantastic three-part conclusion.

So let's have a look at why this is such a stronger example of a conclusion compared to his first draught.

Well, that first sentence ultimately, although the supernatural does put characters in danger, mainly helps restore order and happiness to Athens and the forest.

This is a specific reference to Alex's thesis.

I now know that throughout his essay he has looked at the idea that the supernatural restores order and happiness.

This second sentence is important to remember that Shakespeare made his display comedy.

And this should make us reflect on the humour in the play rather than the harm.

This is an evaluative comment about Shakespeare's intentions.

He's saying Shakespeare chose to make the play a comedy.

We must remember that because that really informs our interpretation of Puck and the supernatural.

So really nice evaluative comment there.

And finally, perhaps it's the lighthearted exploration of chaos and ferries, which means the play continues to be popular.

So this is a general statement about why the play continues to be important.

And it's actually tied now to these details, the lighthearted exploration of chaos and ferries.

That's why Alex thinks that the play continues to be popular.

I also really like his use of the word perhaps because that is what we call a tentative approach.

So he's not saying it is definitely because of the fairies and the chaos.

He's saying this is a possible interpretation.

I'm putting this forward as a possible interpretation.

So really, really nice second draught to this conclusion.

Now a check for understanding before we look at two more conclusions and consider what is really good about them.

And I'd like you to identify the sections of the three part structure of a conclusion.

So we've got A, B, and C, the first sentence, the second sentence and the third sentence.

So what is a structure, three part structure of a conclusion? Pause the video and complete this check for understanding now.

Well done for completing that check for understanding and showing off your really exact accurate knowledge of what the three part structure of a conclusion follows.

So we've got A, that first sentence is a specific reference to your thesis.

So just reminding the reader, what did you argue in your essay? That second sentence B is an evaluative comment on the writer's intentions.

So why might Shakespeare presented it in this way and what's your judgement on that presentation? And the final sentence is a general comment on why the text might still be popular.

So putting forward an idea, why might the text still be popular? Okay, we're gonna move on to our practise task now, there are three tasks.

The first thing you're gonna do is read the two model conclusions.

These are found on the worksheet.

You're gonna identify in each the three part structure.

I've got the diagram below in order to support that identification.

And finally, you're gonna explain which conclusion you think is stronger and why.

So both conclusions there, there are strengths in both, but I want you to work out well which one is stronger and I want you to justify your idea.

So pause the video, show off your fantastic knowledge of what it means to write really, really strong conclusion by completing these three tasks.

Pause the video and complete the tasks now.

Welcome back, lovely to see people picking apart those conclusions and identifying the three part structure, but also having really nice valid conversations about which one is stronger, which model was stronger and why.

Now we're gonna focus our feedback on that third question, which model is stronger and why? Because they both did follow the three part structure.

So model two is stronger, had lots of people saying, actually I think model two is the better conclusion.

Now we're gonna compare each section and assess why.

So if we look at model one, we know that that first sentence is a specific response to the thesis and they've written, ultimately, everything is just really ambiguous in the play.

Whereas model two wrote, ultimately, Shakespeare presents a supernatural as an ambiguous force in his play.

Now I'd like you to discuss how did the model two help us understand the thesis? Pause a video and discuss the question now.

Lovely discussion there showing off your knowledge, not only of what first sentence should look like in a conclusion, but also this word thesis, the idea, the main argument in your essay.

So model one, it's not totally clear what they have argued.

Everything in the play is just really ambiguous, everything, well, what was the specific thesis? What was the focus of the question? Whereas model two says, Shakespeare presents the supernatural as an ambiguous force in his play.

So we know that the thesis was that the supernatural is presented as ambiguous.

If we look at the second sentence, these evaluative comments, model one says, "For example, when Puck says all should be well, but is also part of the plot to make Tatania love and language for something vile." And model two says "Shakespeare makes Puck the clearest example of this because he is both a malevolent fairy but also a loyal servant who respects the hierarchy.

So what I'd like you to discuss, how does model two evaluate? Pause a video and discuss the question now.

Welcome back.

Really, really nice discussion here.

Let's start off with model two, the stronger example.

Well, we can see that this student has used Shakespeare's name and saying Shakespeare makes Puck the clearest example of this.

And then they justify their evaluative comment there by saying, well, Puck is presented as a malevolent fairy, but he's also presented as a loyal servant.

Whereas if we look at model one, we've got, for example, Puck says, and then we've got a number of quotations.

Now quotations need a bit of time and space so that you can explore them.

So these quotations will be better suited to earlier in the essay, in the main analytical main body paragraphs.

And finally, the final sentence should be a general comment about why the text is so important.

And model one says "Perhaps a supernatural is good, perhaps it's bad.

Who really can know?" Whereas model two says, "Perhaps it is this mysterious characterization that keeps audiences coming back to the play time and time again." Now I'd like you to discuss why is model two a stronger general comment, pause the video and discuss this question now.

Welcome back, really nice discussion about this final sentence of the conclusion.

Now if we look at model one, lots of people said, well, is the tone of model one, it doesn't sound quite academic.

So to end on a question, who really can know? It might be something that you say in a discussion, but this is an academic essay.

And so rather than posing questions to the reader, you want to answer them.

So perhaps the supernatural is good, perhaps it is bad.

You need to have a bit more of a handle on the question, a bit more of an idea about why people keep returning to the play.

And we've got that tentative approach in model two with this word perhaps.

And then thinking about his mysterious or Puck's mysterious characterization.

And that is why audiences keep coming back 'cause they think, well, he's so mysterious, I need to see another example of Puck so that I can really understand or try to develop my understanding of how Shakespeare presents at this character.

So well done for really zooming in on individual moments in those conclusions and working out well, what makes a really, really strong conclusion.

We're in a fantastic position now to write our own conclusions.

So we're moving on to learning cycle two, and this is going to see us write our own powerful conclusions.

Now you're gonna write conclusion in response to this question, how does Shakespeare use Puck to explore these supernatural? Now here are the three ideas about why the play remains so popular and important, the third part of your conclusion.

So we've got one, perhaps the reason for the play being so popular is because of this darker side to what is presented as a typical Shakespearean comedy.

So that also one of the first ideas we came across that the people gave for why the play is still so important and popular.

The second reason, perhaps it's the lighthearted exploration of chaos and fairies, which means the play continues to be so popular.

So completely different idea here, the lighthearted exploration of fairies and chaos.

And finally perhaps it's Puck's mysterious characterization that keeps audiences coming back to the play time and time again.

So three different ideas about why the play might remain so popular.

And that is of course the idea that you need to put in the final part of your introduction.

So I'd like you to discuss why do you think the play remains so popular and important? Pause the video and discuss this question now.

Welcome back, really beautiful discussion there, you can see lots of different ideas are going to be used to end an essay on "A Midsummer Night's Dream", the supernatural and Puck.

So some people saying, well, it is this malevolence, this evilness of the supernatural, which keeps audiences coming back time and time again.

That kind of evilness within the comedy is so strange, so sinister, it's sometimes hidden that that is why the play continues to appeal.

And other people saying no, it's the use of these supernatural to really imbue the comedy with lots of slapstick humour, sometimes rude humour, particularly through the character of Puck.

That is why audiences keep coming back to this play.

So whole range of ideas about what we could include in that final sentence of our conclusion.

A check for understanding, just before we write our conclusion so we've got a really clear idea of what should be included.

Conclusions should include evaluation and quotations.

Is this true or false? Pause the video and select a response now.

Well done if you selected false, now I'd like you to justify your answer.

Is it A, evaluation should be reserved for your main body paragraphs or B, analyse your quotations in your main body paragraphs, pause the video and select your justification now.

Well done if you selected B, analyse your quotations in your main body paragraphs, that's what they're there for, where you can really explore, spend some time with quotations, but conclusions is summing up of all of your ideas so you don't want to open up further exploration of quotations in your conclusion.

All right, we are now gonna write our own conclusions to this question.

How does Shakespeare use Puck to explore the supernatural? I've got the diagram on the board in order to help remind you of the structure that you should follow that three pile structure for your conclusion.

But you have got fantastic knowledge of what makes a really, really powerful conclusion and I'm so, so looking forward to seeing some really structured, careful writing in your conclusions.

So pause the video, get your pen, your paper, your laptop, whatever it is you're writing on, give yourself the time that this task deserves and I will see you back here shortly.

Pause the video now.

Welcome back, lovely to see people writing with such flair but also such precision.

In answer to this question, I can see people following that structure and lots of different ideas about why the play might still be important, and also looking at that first sentence where I can see, ah, this is the idea that you posited in your essay, the thesis that you had in your essay.

And I can see how you were speaking to that in the final moment of your essay.

In your conclusion, some self-assessment before we celebrate your work, I'd like you to self-assess your conclusion using the questions to guide you.

So is that first sentence a specific response to your thesis, is that second sentence, an evaluative comment? And is that final sentence, a general statement about why the play is still popular and important? So pause the video and complete the self-assessment now.

Lovely to see people approaching that self-assessment, that editing with the same energy and drive as they did with their writing.

Editing is such an important part of the writing process, so saw people identifying that three part structure just like you did with the other model conclusions earlier in this lesson.

But also a little bit of correction there of some spelling, some punctuation, some grammar.

It's amazing what you can pick up when you read through your work really, really carefully and just refine it and make it even stronger.

In conclusion, conclusions can follow a three-part structure.

Moving from the specific to the general, the first sentence of a conclusion could be a specific response to the thesis you've argued throughout your essay.

The second sentence of a conclusion could be an a evaluative comment about the writer's intentions.

The final sentence of your conclusion should consider why the text remains popular and relevant.

You don't need to include quotations in a conclusion.

It has been such a pleasure to work through today's lesson with you and I look forward to seeing you next time.