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B. Step one: Identifying the Conclusion
In most presidential elections in the United States, more
than half the states are ignored; voters who don’t live in
so-called swing states are in effect bystanders in these
quadrennial events. An Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution should replace the archaic electoral vote
system with a direct vote. Only in this manner will
citizens in all 50 states be able to take part fully in
selecting our nation’s leaders. (Lawrence R. Foster,
"End of the Electoral College," The New York Times, 27
September 2000)
Answer: it’s the sentence in the middle.
What's the conclusion in this example?
Hint: it isn't always the last sentence.
B. Step one: Identifying the Conclusion
Sometimes the conclusion may be left implicit, or stated
in the form of a question.
It is in the national interest to have an educated populace. On average,
college graduates earn almost twice the annual salary of high-school
graduates. The cost of the nation’s investment in the education of student
borrowers is recouped many times over through the increased productivity
and greater earnings. By making college education possible for millions of
Americans, federally sponsored student loans produce a tremendous
return for the U.S. Treasury and students, whose incomes—and tax
payments—are greatly increased with their college degrees. … Why
shouldn't Washington have a bigger share of the student loan industry?
(Richard W. Riley, Insight, 29 April 1996, slightly modified)
Although the conclusion here is stated as a question, it
is clear that the author means to argue that Washington
should have a bigger share of the student loan industry.