How to Write an Essay Conclusion
Do you want to know how to write an essay conclusion? This article will take you through the process of writing a good conclusion. However it’s good to note that to perfect the art of writing compelling conclusions, you must always practice by writing.
Bear in mind that while writing your essay conclusion, a lot is at stake. After all, the conclusion gives you the last opportunity to persuade your reader that your point of view is correct. It is also your last opportunity to prove you are a critical thinker and writer.
The impression you create while writing the conclusion will shape the kind of impression you leave with your reader once they are through reading it.
As such, it is imperative that you convey closure, completeness and a sense of lingering possibilities of the topic in the future. Anyone who knows how to write an essay conclusion knows that a good conclusion is supposed to:
- Rephrase the question
- Summarize main ideas
- Offer an opinion in the event you haven’t already
- Look into the future
Remember that as you write your essay conclusion, you are not supposed to introduce any new information.
How to write an essay conclusion- Step by step
Step 1: use transition signals to introduce the conclusion. These signals include:
- In conclusion
- In summary
- In brief
- Indeed
- In short
These are an indication the reader has come to the concluding remarks and they have put him n the right mindset to contemplate on implications of the essay.
Step 2: Summarize main points
Summarize your essay’s main points. This is done through restating the different thesis statement in varying words or addressing every idea individually. Be certain to include all major issues the writer presented in the article body in the conclusion.
Step 3: Synthetize summarized ideas regarding the essay. Rather than present the conclusion in the form of point by point restatement, you should use the summary as a means of putting ideas together so they can fit.
Step 4: State your final comment regarding the topic. This is supposed to be a statement that is thought provoking, recommendation or question that is based on the information you provide.
Tips on how to write an essay conclusion
- Brainstorm the conclusion
“So what” question must be answered and it also helps in generating arguments and ideas.
By asking yourself “so what” you create room to dig deeper and get a better ideas. Also, ask yourself whether what you have written matters.
- List main ideas in the essay
By having a clear sense of what your main ideas are, it becomes easier for you to make a decision on what to include in your conclusion. This does not mean you have to cram all points and sub-points in the conclusion but simply include the most important ideas.
Knowing the focus of your essay is beneficial as well since it ensure you do not introduce new topics or information in your conclusion.
- Look for themes introduced in the first paragraph
To get a good conclusion, you can go back to the theme you started with. See whether it is possible to take the theme one step further by bringing it to the conclusion. For instance, if you started the essay with the notion of humankind’s sense of smallness when faced with vast expanses, you can go back to that same idea in the conclusion. However, there might be a need to expound on the theme and include the idea as human knowledge grows, space becomes smaller.
- Consider linking your argument to a new context
One of the best ways to conclude an essay is by extending the relevance of your discussion to a picture that is broader in context. This will help your reader understand how they can apply the arguments you made to another topic, thus giving your essay purpose- teaching.shu.ac.uk.
Writing your essay conclusion
- Start with small transition
While this is optional, it helps cue your reading the essay has come to an end and hence, there is need to pay closer attention. While the last paragraphs in most essays begin with a transition, you do not need one if you feel it is clear to the reader your essay is ending. Transitions can be simple. You are just supposed to:
- Stay away from phrases that are overused like ‘in conclusion’, ‘in closing’ or ‘to summarize.’ This is because such phrases are used so many times they have become stiff and cliché.
- Summarize the main points briefly
Make the attempt to take the first sentences of every paragraph and rewrite the main points in 2 or 3 sentences. This helps reinforce the argument of your essay and reminds the reader of what you were arguing for or talking about.
Before you write an essay conclusion it’s good to note that you are not supposed to summarize main points exactly as you wrote them. Readers have already read the essay and they do not need to be reminded of every point you made.
- Keep it short and simple
No fast or hard rule exists regarding the length of your conclusion. While this is the case, most college and high school essays tend to be five to seven sentences long. If it is less, you have probably not summarized the main points enough and if it is too long, you probably are rambling a lot.
Check out this essay on should we test products on animals which has a perfect example of the length of a conclusion:
“I agree that we need to make sure that animals who are used for testing new products have the minimum suffering. However, I am convinced that animal testing is necessary, and that it will continue to benefit humans in new and wonderful ways.”
Visit writefix.com for some samples to help you know how to write an essay conclusion.
- If you had a thesis, find a way of adding it to the conclusion
If you had a reference, it is advisable to reference it at the end of the essay even if it is just in passing. Bear in mind the thesis is the main point of the essay, it is what you are arguing for. If a read reads your conclusion and they are still unable to tell what your thesis is, then you have done a poor job of telling them.
- There are interesting ways of adding your thesis to the conclusion. For instance, you can use a different language. By restating the thesis using the same words, you will only strike your reader as someone who is lazy and incapable of offering fresh insight into an argument.
- Write authoritatively
Sounding authoritative will mean you have to use the appropriate words and not just old words. You should rely on solid evidence from sources and believe in you skills as a writer. Do not make any apologies for your use of heavy qualifying language or ideas.
- For instance, rather than saying “That’s why I think Abraham Lincoln was the best American President in the 19th century,” say “That’s why Abraham Lincoln was the best American President in the 19th The reader knows that when you made the decision to write an essay about Abraham Lincoln, you believed it. Therefore, saying “I think” makes it sound like you are hedging and it also makes you less authoritative.
- Do not make apologies for your own view since they are your ideas. You are supposed to take ownership of them. You should never say “I may not be an expert’ or “At least this is my opinion,” as such phrases weaken your credibility and reliability.
- End the conclusion with a flourish
The last sentence must be elegant, stimulating and to the point. While this might appear easier said than done, especially if you do not know how to write an essay conclusion, it all starts with illustrating the major point of your essay. You need to ask yourself “what is the topic of my essay and what am I actually saying and progress from there.
- Use a little irony by being playful and posing ironic byproduct of what you talked about. This will make the end of the essay provocative- le.ac.uk.
- Appeal to your readers emotions. Oftentimes, essays are rational they forget about emotions. It is therefore important to appeal to your reads emotions to have a great conclusion. if you do this in the right manner you will have a compelling conclusion.
- Include call to action (this should be used sparingly). If the essay is about getting readers to change, adding a call to action is a great tool. However, use it sparingly since in the wrong context for instance, argumentative or expository essay, it tends to overkill.
If you do not know how to write an essay conclusion or you need help to write an entire essay, get in touch with us today for assistance or visit our homepage for more information about our custom writing services. Alternatively you can continue reading more writing guidelines and samples on our blog.
Sources
http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
http://www.wikihow.com/End-an-Essay
http://classroom.synonym.com/write-effective-conclusion-paragraph-essay-4870.html