The conclusion paragraph is one of the most important paragraphs in an essay. It gives readers their last impression of your argument and leaves them with a sense of closure and completion. While many students rush through writing their conclusion in order to just finish their essay, taking the time to craft an effective conclusion is key to concluding your essay on a strong note. In this article, we will explore what should be included in a conclusion paragraph and give specific tips for how to write a powerful conclusion to your essay.
To start, a conclusion paragraph should briefly restate your thesis statement from the introduction. This serves as a reminder to the reader of the main argument or point you have been making throughout your essay. The thesis statement should not simply be copied verbatim; it should be rephrased to flow naturally with the rest of the conclusion. For example, if your introduction thesis stated “This essay will argue that social media has more positive effects on society than negative ones,” your conclusion might state “While social media does have some detrimental societal impacts, on the whole it provides more benefits to bringing people together and facilitating connections.” By restating your thesis concisely, you bookend the essay and bring the reader full circle.
In addition to restating your thesis, the conclusion should also briefly summarize the main supporting points you made in the body paragraphs of your essay. For a five paragraph essay, you would want to summarize the three main points from each of the body paragraphs. Keep these summaries high-level – you do not need to reiterate all the details and evidence again. Simply hit the top-level topics, for example “This essay examined three key ways social media positively impacts society. It facilitates connections between friends and family who live far apart. It allows people to easily spread important information and raise awareness for causes. And it gives many individuals and small businesses an accessible platform to market products and services.” By summarizing the main evidences and ideas explored in the body paragraphs, you remind the reader of the overall structure and flow of your argument without retreading old ground.
In addition to restating your thesis and summarizing key points, strong conclusions also consider the broader implications and importance of the topic. You may point out how your analysis contributes to existing discussions. You could also mention areas for potential further research. For instance, in concluding an essay arguing social media has benefits, you may say “While this analysis has focused on the present-day positive effects of social media, as platforms and usage continue evolving, more longitudinal research will be needed to determine long term societal impacts. Continued examination of privacy and surveillance issues will also remain crucial as technologies advance.” Considering broader context shows the reader you understand your argument is part of an ongoing discussion and helps emphasize why your topic merits attention.
Finally, powerful conclusions should stick the landing with a memorable parting thought that leaves the reader with a lasting impression. Avoid generic closing statements like “In conclusion…” or “Thank you for reading.” Instead, try to restate your main idea or thesis in a new, impactful way. You could relate your topic back to a famous quote, make a bold prediction about the future, pose a thought-provoking question, or issue a call to action. For example, in closing an essay arguing for the benefits of social media, you might say “As we move further into the digital age, platforms that facilitate bringing people together from all corners of the world will remain critically important to global progress. If used responsibly and regulated wisely, may social media continue enriching our shared human experience for generations to come.” A strong closing statement leaves the reader with food for thought even after they’ve finished reading.
An effective conclusion paragraph restates your thesis concisely, briefly summarizes the main points of your essay, considers broader implications, and leaves the reader with a parting thought that sticks with them. While conclusions may seem like an afterthought, taking the time to carefully craft an impactful conclusion can elevate an essay from competent to excellent. It gives your argument coherence and completion. With practice following these tips, students can learn to write conclusions that appropriately and powerfully tie a bow on their line of reasoning. Mastering conclusion paragraphs is an important step in developing strong analytical and persuasive writing abilities.