Writing strong conclusions is one of the most important skills for students to master, as conclusions leave the final impression on your reader and help bring all of your ideas together in a coherent way. While there is no single formula for writing a perfect conclusion, following some best practices and analyzing conclusion examples can help you craft stronger closing paragraphs for your essays.
Summarize Without Repetition
The main purpose of your conclusion is to summarize the key points of your essay, but you do not want to simply repeat verbatim what you already wrote. A good strategy is to briefly recap your main argument or thesis in one to two sentences at the beginning of your conclusion. Try to restate the key points using different wording so it does not sound like a duplicate of your introduction.
For example, if your introductory thesis stated “This essay will examine three main causes of the Civil War: slavery, states’ rights, and sectionalism,” your conclusion might open with: “The most significant factors that led to the outbreak of the Civil War were the long-standing disputes over the institution of slavery, the tensions between federal and states’ authority, and the cultural divide between the Northern and Southern states.”
Emphasize Importance
Once you have restated the major elements of your argument, take it a step further by emphasizing the importance or significance of your topic. Leave the reader with a sense of why your subject mattered or still matters today. For instance, in the Civil War conclusion example, you could continue:
“These divisive issues deeply fractured the nation and ultimately led to armed conflict between the North and South that claimed over 600,000 American lives and cemented the federal government’s dominance over state authority. The impact of slavery and sectionalism are still felt in modern America as we continue to grapple with issues of racism, inequality and states’ rights.”
Call to Action or Broader Implications
Another effective strategy is to conclude by considering the broader implications or applications of your topic. This generates a stronger sense of resolution. You might call readers to action, pose new questions for further discussion, or connect your subject to contemporary issues.
For a science essay exploring the impacts of climate change, the conclusion could state: “Given the mounting evidence and potentially catastrophic consequences outlined in this paper, governments must take swift, coordinated action to curb carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy sources. More research is also needed to help vulnerable communities adapt to impacts that are already unavoidable. The decisions made in the coming decades will determine the future of our planet.”
Providing context on how your analysis connects to today shows readers the ongoing relevance and helps create a more memorable ending. It leaves them with more to consider beyond just summarizing your main points.
Analyze Conclusion Examples
Looking at examples of strong conclusions can give you models to emulate as you develop your own closing paragraphs. Here is a brief analysis of two conclusion examples:
History Essay Conclusion:
“The Emancipation Proclamation fundamentally altered the scope and aims of the Civil War by transforming it from solely a conflict over states’ rights to a war aimed at ending slavery as well. Lincoln’s issuance of the proclamation in 1863 ensured that the fate of four million slaves would be determined by the war’s outcome and helped turn the tide of international opinion in favor of the Union. Although the proclamation did not immediately end slavery everywhere and was originally a wartime measure, it set the stage for the eventual passage of the Thirteenth Amendment and marked a turning point in the struggle to define America as a nation both united and free.”
This conclusion effectively summarizes the major thesis points about how the Emancipation Proclamation changed the Civil War’s focus to ending slavery. It emphasizes the significance by noting the impact on millions of slaves and international relations. The concluding sentence provides context of the lasting implications on American identity. Overall, it leaves the reader with a coherent takeaway.
Psychology Essay Conclusion:
“In closing, cognitive dissonance theory demonstrates the complex nature of human decision-making and the numerous psychological factors that can influence our behaviors and attitudes. By understanding the driving forces behind cognitive dissonance, we gain insight into how and why people often rationalize choices that go against their beliefs or values. This theory remains highly relevant today as people navigate an array of options and seek to resolve inconsistencies between their actions and self-perceptions. With further research on reducing cognitive dissonance, we may discover new ways to promote consistency and rational, well-informed decision making.”
Similarly to the first example, this conclusion effectively ties the thesis on cognitive dissonance theory back to the importance of understanding human psychology and decision making. It emphasizes the significance by discussing implications for research and application. The final sentence leaves an opening for further thought, creating closure while still stimulating continued interest in the topic.
Incorporating Elements of Strong Conclusions
Analyzing examples of effective conclusions can show you the main elements to strive for in your own closing paragraphs. Some key components of strong conclusions, as demonstrated above, include:
Recapping the main thesis/argument points without direct repetition
Emphasizing the significance or importance of the topic
Considering broader implications, applications or questions for further discussion
Providing context for how the analysis connects to contemporary issues or lasts impacts
Generating a sense of coherent resolution while still stimulating thought
Leaving the reader with a memorable takeaway beyond just restating what was covered
By keeping these conclusion-writing best practices in mind and dissecting academic examples, you can learn to develop conclusions that tie up your essays in a compelling, impactful way. Wrapping up a paper strongly can elevate the overall quality and effectiveness of your writing. With practice summarizing main ideas concisely and tying them into deeper relevance, you will get better at crafting clear, focused conclusions for all types of essays.
Andrew Stroud