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What does "drawing conclusions" mean in literature?

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In literature, "drawing conclusions" involves synthesizing information from a text to answer a specific question or argument. It requires evaluating evidence and forming a reasoned judgment, often acknowledging alternative viewpoints. A balanced conclusion should summarize key points and demonstrate the reasoning behind the final answer. More advanced essays might compare personal interpretations with those of previous critics, highlighting agreement or divergence from established views.

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Drawing conclusions means in general terms to come to the end of a written assignment. To draw a conclusion, however, demands that one has reached the end of a reasoned argument, ordinarily in response to a pre-determined question from an examiner of some kind.

The conclusion must make explicit reference to the terms of the original question asked but, in most cases, should not come be an absolute conclusion falling on one side of a debate, albeit that it may come down strongly on one side of an argument. However, in order to be a balanced conclusion, it must also be aware of alternative points of view and, even where it disagrees with them, at least address why that is the case and explain that such views are still legitimate. 

Equally, a conclusion must come on the basis of the examination of evidence which should be the basis for most...

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of theessay. In a literature essay, for example, the argument will form a number of assertions of opinion about the work of literature which will need to be substantiated by direct reference to the work in question and discussions of how these examples prove the opinions held. In the conclusion, a brief summary of these points will be needed to demonstrate why you have come to the final answer to the question that you have. Moreover, in more sophisticated literature essays, such a conclusion will also be made on the basis of examining whether one's own opinion fits in with or disagrees with the opinions of earlier critics. In a conclusion, a brief statement of how your own opinion marries with the opinions of earlier critics would also be a useful thing to do. 

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