Writing Strong Conclusions for Essays
A conclusion is the last paragraph of an essay, research paper or other non-fiction work. Its purpose is to wrap up or conclude the argument or discussion that has been presented in the body of the essay and leave the reader with a lasting impression. The conclusion should summarize the main points or reiterate the thesis statement but not introduce any new information. Here are some tips for writing strong and effective essay conclusions:
Restate Your Thesis Statement
The conclusion is a good place to restate your thesis statement so the reader leaves with a clear understanding of your argument or position on the topic. You don’t want to just copy the thesis verbatim. Try rephrasing it in new words to avoid repetition. For example if your thesis stated “Diet and exercise are crucial for maintaining good health and preventing disease” you might restate it as “Maintaining a balanced diet and regular physical activity are essential components of an overall healthy lifestyle.”
Summarize Supporting Points
Briefly summarize two or three of the strongest supporting points or examples that you used in the body paragraphs. This allows you to reinforce your main arguments and leave the reader with a clear sense of the evidence and analysis you provided. Make sure not to just copy verbatim from the body or introduce any new information.
Draw a Logical Conclusion
Based on the arguments and evidence presented, draw a logical conclusion on what can be inferred from your discussion. This conclusion should strengthen the position taken without adding anything radically new. It may state the implications, applications or significance of the topic. Try to provide closure or resolution to the discussion by connecting back to your thesis.
Call for Action (optional)
Some conclusions call the reader to take action based on the topic discussed. For example a paper arguing for stronger environmental protections could conclude by urging readers to contact their political representatives. This can help wrap up the discussion by suggesting how the topic impacts society and what citizens could potentially do in response. Not every essay requires or benefits from a call to action.
Provoke Thought
A provocative conclusion leaves the reader thinking more deeply about the topic by posing thought-provoking questions, implications or possibilities for further discussion. It stimulates intellectual debate rather than coming to a definitive close. This works well for papers examining complex issues with reasonable opposing viewpoints. You still want to connect back to your thesis and add closure rather than leave the discussion entirely open-ended.
Use Formal Language
Save the chattier, informal language for the introduction and body paragraphs. The conclusion should maintain a serious, scholarly tone appropriate for the final paragraph. Avoid slang, rhetorical questions or ambiguous words. Use precise, academic vocabulary to send the reader off with a dignified, sophisticated impression consistent with the rest of your essay.
Check Paragraph Structure
Re-read your conclusion paragraph to ensure it has a clear topic sentence that ties back to your thesis, sufficient supporting details that don’t introduce new information, logical flow and cohesion between sentences, and formal academic style. Check that the structure adheres to standard conventions for conclusions by summarizing arguments without regurgitating the entire body.
Proofread for Errors
Give your conclusion one last proofread before turning in your final essay. Check for any grammatical errors, unclear phrasing, repetition from other paragraphs, or ambiguities in wording or punctuation. Small errors in the conclusion can undermine the professionalism of your overall paper. So take the time to catch potential issues that could detract from your closing message.
Writing an effective conclusion is crucial for tying together your essay’s main points and strengthening your overall argument or discussion in a way that leaves lasting impact on the reader. Though succinct, conclusions deserve careful attention to structure, content and tone. Following some basic guidelines will help produce thoughtful, polished conclusions that satisfy grading rubrics across the academy. With practice, strong conclusions will become second nature for wrapping up written work.