Writing the conclusion is typically the final paragraph of an essay. Its purpose is to wrap up everything you’ve discussed in the body of the essay and drive home your overall point or thesis statement. While it may seem like a straightforward task, crafting an effective conclusion takes planning and thought. Here are some key tips on how to write an impactful conclusion paragraph:
Restate Your Thesis: The conclusion should reiterate your thesis statement in clear and concise language. This helps bring the reader fully back around to your central argument. Do not simply copy and paste the thesis – reword it slightly so you are not repeating yourself verbatim. For example, if your thesis stated “This essay will argue three reasons why global warming is a serious threat,” your conclusion might say “The evidence presented highlights three significant dangers of increasing global temperatures.”
Summarize Main Points: Provide a brief summary of the major arguments or points developed in the body paragraphs. This gives the reader a quick recap of the essential themes and evidence covered. You do not need to go into depth again, but touch upon the key takeaways of each section in 1-2 sentences each. The order should follow the same flow as the essay body.
Draw a Conclusion: Once you have restated the thesis and summarized key points, you can draw an overarching conclusion about the significance of the discussion. Explain why the topic matters and what the implications are. Perhaps you find the issue deserves more attention, or further research is still needed. This ties a nice bow on top of the full analysis by conveying the importance and meaning.
Call to Action (Optional): Depending on the thesis and subject matter, you may choose to conclude with a “call to action.” This can motivate the reader by suggesting ways the discussion or problem could be addressed going forward. For example, if arguing for policy change, propose specific solutions or next steps. Or if exposing an unjust situation, encourage readers to get involved or spread awareness of the issue. A call to action gives closure coupled with purpose.
Avoid Introducing New Information: Under no circumstances should entirely new information or analysis be introduced in the conclusion. Stick only to summarizing and concluding upon what has already been thoroughly discussed in the essay body. New topics or points risk confusing the reader and undermine the cohesive development of your overall argument.
Check the Flow: Read through the entire essay, including conclusion, and ensure a logical flow from introduction to body paragraphs to conclusion. The various sections should connect together seamlessly rather than feeling disjointed. Minor tweaks may be needed to conclusion wording or structure to achieve optimal continuity.
Keep it Concise: While a full summary is important, strive to keep the conclusion relatively brief and focused. Typically one well-written paragraph of 5-7 sentences will suffice. Drawing the reader’s attention back to the key takeaways is the priority rather than rehashing every minor detail. Brevity helps leave a memorable final impression.
Proofread Carefully: As with any part of the essay, proofread the conclusion thoroughly for typos, grammatical errors, coherence, and clarity of expression. Small mistakes here may undermine an otherwise solid piece of writing. Getting another set of eyes to review can also catch any issues you may have overlooked during drafting.
Writing an essay conclusion is about bringing all elements of the paper neatly full circle. With practice and attention to these guidelines, students can craft conclusions that thoughtfully wrap up discussions and leave lasting impacts on readers. The conclusion paragraph is the final opportunity to cement your arguments and impress upon the audience’s understanding, so making it as impactful as possible through restating the thesis, summarizing key points, drawing conclusions, and smooth continuity with the introduction and body is paramount.