How To End An Essay: What is an essay conclusion? The last paragraph of an essay or any other college paper is the conclusion of the essay. It summarizes the thesis, and the arguments stated in the write-up. A conclusion paragraph is what the readers are left with. A strong conclusion paragraph aims at tying together the main points of the essay.
A conclusion paragraph wraps up the entire essay demonstrating to its readers that the essay has accomplished what it set out to do. It also shows the readers how the thesis statement has been proved, giving the readers a sense of closure on the topic. A well-written conclusion shows the readers what new possibilities and questions have opened up.
How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay?
When writing a conclusion paragraph, one summarizes what they have written in the paper. When framing a good conclusion paragraph, one must think about the main point that was included in the write-up and be sure to include it. Here are some points to remember on how to write a conclusion.
- Use the introductory paragraph as a guide, but don’t copy: The introductory paragraph can be a guide that one can follow. However, the conclusion must not be a repeat of the introduction. Making it completely similar to the introductory paragraph will just be repeating of words and those defeats the purpose of writing a conclusion.
- It’s not the place to add new content or make new arguments: The essay conclusion shouldn’t merely be a summary or a recap of what has been written down in the essay’s main body part. It is also the place where the arguments of the essay are reflected upon rather than starting the introduction of anything new.
- Leave the readers with something that they can think about: Suggest the readers learn more about the topic that will want them the look more into the issue. Sometimes authors use the element of mystery to keep their readers hooked to the topic. Often an unanswered question arises curiosity in the minds of the readers.
Steps for Writing a Conclusion Paragraph
The following steps have been listed to make the process of framing a well-written conclusion easier.
- Step 1 – State that the write-up is coming to an end: When you reach the conclusion of the essay signal that the piece of writing has come to an end in the beginning of the conclusion, this will help wrap up the contents of your writing.
- Step 2 – Return to the thesis: Don’t just repeat the thesis statement. Instead, try and rephrase the argument in such a way that showcases how it has been developed and dealt with since the introduction.
- Step – 3: Review the main points: Remind the readers about the main points that have been used for supporting the argument. Avoid merely summarizing the entire paragraph or repeating each point in order. Try and bring all the points together in a way that makes the connections between them clear. The conclusion of the essay is the final chance to show how each paragraph of the essay adds up to a coherent whole.
- Step 4 – Show why the topic matters: In order to wrap up the conclusion, focus on a broader view of the topic and consider the implications of the arguments. Such as:
- Does it contribute to a new understanding of the topic?
- Does it lead to predictions or practical suggestions?
- Does it raise any further questions for future study?
- Can it be associated with a broader theme or debate?
- Can it be applied to different contexts?
Whatever the essay is about the conclusion must emphasize the essay’s argument, whether that is within the academic subject or in the wider world. Try concluding with a strong, decisive sentence that leaves the readers with a lingering sense of interest in the topic.
What Shouldn’t be included in a Conclusion?
Now that we have covered what should be included in the conclusion, it is also necessary to learn about the things that should not be included in a conclusion. The most effective and easy way of improving the conclusion of an essay is by eliminating the following common mistakes.
Don’t undermine the argument: Refrain from using apologetic phrases that sound confused and uncertain such as:
- There are more arguments on each side of this issue.
- This write-up is just one approach among many more.
- This problem has no clear answer.
Even if different points of view have been explored in the essay, one should be clear and specific about their position. The topic might have many other possible approaches, but one must want to leave the readers convinced their one is the best.
Don’t include new evidence
Any evidence or analysis that is essential for supporting the thesis statement must be mentioned in the main body of the essay. The body is meant for discussing in detail about the topic.
The conclusion may include minor pieces of new information – such as a sentence or two discussing the broader implications or any quotation which nicely summarizes the central point. However, it should not introduce any significant new ideas or sources that will need further explanation for understanding.
- Avoid using ‘concluding phrases’
Don’t use the apparent stock phrases to the readers what is coming.
- ‘To sum up…’
- ‘In conclusion…’
- ‘Coming to a conclusion…’
These phrases haven’t been forbidden. However, it is suggested to avoid them as they make the writ up sound weaker. It will quickly make it clear that the essay is being concluded by returning to the main argument. It doesn’t need to be spelled out.
Don’t state the thesis statement for the first time.
The thesis statement is the building block of the essay. The conclusion is not the place where it should be stated for the first time. The thesis statement must be mentioned in the introduction paragraph itself, and there should be evidence supporting the thesis statement discussed in detail in the main body.
The thesis statement can be restated differently in the conclusion showcasing how the entire write-up has dealt with it.