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Tips and tricks for writing a conclusion to get the best grade possible
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So, you’ve written an outstanding essay and couldn’t be more proud. But now you have to write the final paragraph. The conclusion simply summarizes what you’ve already written, right? Well, not exactly. Your essay’s conclusion should be a bit more finessed than that. Luckily, you’ve come to the perfect place to learn how to write a conclusion. We’ve put together this guide to fill you in on everything you should and shouldn’t do when ending an essay. Follow our advice, and you’ll have a stellar conclusion worthy of an A+ in no time.
Tips for Ending an Essay
- Rephrase your thesis to include in your final paragraph to bring the essay full circle.
- End your essay with a call to action, warning, or image to make your argument meaningful.
- Keep your conclusion concise and to the point, so you don’t lose a reader’s attention.
- Do your best to avoid adding new information to your conclusion and only emphasize points you’ve already made in your essay.
Steps
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Start with a small transition. This isn’t necessary, but it can help your essay flow seamlessly and cue the ending of your argument. Read the last sentence of the previous paragraph. What naturally comes to mind as a following sentence? Try using one of these transitional phrases: [1] X Research source- “All in all”
- “Ultimately”
- “Furthermore”
- “As a consequence”
- “As a result”
- “In brief”
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Briefly summarize your essay’s main points. Rewrite the topic sentences of your body paragraphs in 2 or 3 sentences. Basically, list the main points of your essay and restate why they’re important. This will help reinforce your argument and remind readers what the entirety of your essay is about. [2] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source- Make sure to write your main points in a new and unique way to avoid repetition.
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Rework your thesis statement into the conclusion. Your thesis statement is the main point of your essay, so making sure it’s concluding at the end is very important. Go back to your introduction and pull out your thesis statement. Then, rephrase it for your conclusion. [3] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source- Let’s say this is your original thesis statement: “Allowing students to visit the library during lunch improves campus life and supports academic achievement.”
- Restating your thesis for your conclusion could look like this: “Evidence shows students who have access to their school’s library during lunch check out more books and are more likely to complete their homework.”
- The restated thesis has the same sentiment as the original while also summarizing other points of the essay.
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End with something meaningful. Keep your last sentence elegant, to the point, and provocative. What is your essay about, and what are you trying to convey? If you’re making an argument, try ending with a call to action or a warning against your opposing point. Appeal to readers by giving them something memorable to leave with. Look at these endings and see which works best with your essay’s topic and tone:- Call to action:
Invite readers to make a change or do something in their lives.
- “When you use plastic water bottles, you pollute the ocean. Switch to using a glass or metal water bottle instead. The planet and sea turtles will thank you.”
- Warning:
Reiterate a danger to persuade readers.
- “The average person spends roughly 7 hours on their phone a day, so there’s no wonder cybersickness is plaguing all generations.”
- Evoke an image:
Emphasize a previous image or idea to paint a bigger picture.
- “Imagine walking on the beach, except the soft sand is made up of cigarette butts. They burn your feet but keep washing in with the tide. If we don’t clean up the ocean, this will be our reality.”
- Universal comparison:
Show how your argument compares to another scenario.
- “ Lost is not only a show that changed the course of television, but it’s also a reflection of humanity as a whole.”
- Prediction:
Persuade readers with a shocking discovery.
- “If action isn’t taken to end climate change today, the global temperature will dangerously rise from 4.5 to 8 °F (−15.3 to −13.3 °C) by 2100.”
- Call to action:
Invite readers to make a change or do something in their lives.
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Keep it short and sweet. There’s no hard and fast rule for how long a conclusion should be, but a good rule of thumb is to keep it between 5 and 7 sentences. Anything less, and you probably haven't summarized your points enough; anything more, and you've restated too much.- Focus on your essay's most prevalent or important parts. What key points do you want readers to take away or remember about your essay?
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Popular concluding statements Phrases like “in conclusion,” “to conclude,” “in summary,” and “to summarize” can come across as stiff because they are used so often. Instead, use unique transition statements that match your essay's flow. -
Restating main points word for word Avoid summarizing your points in your conclusion the same way they’re written in the body of your essay. Remember, readers have already read your essay. Give them something new by rewriting ideas rather than restating them. -
New material Keep new information or details out of the conclusion. Now is the time to sum up your thoughts, not present a new idea. Focus on your original argument or opinion, so readers won’t leave your essay wanting more. [4] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source -
Minor points or issues The conclusion is not the time to nitpick small themes. Instead, focus on the big picture rather than highlighting every detail. What is the heart of your essay? What should readers be thinking about when they finish reading? [5] X Research source -
Apologetic language Unless you’re writing an informal essay, your language should be authoritative. The more professional and formal your word choice is, the more likely readers will believe your argument. Avoid apologizing for your ideas and stand firm in your beliefs.- For instance, instead of writing, “That’s why I think that Abraham Lincoln was the best American President,” write, “That’s why Abraham Lincoln was the best American President.”
- There’s no room for ifs, ands, or buts—your opinion matters and doesn’t need to be apologized for!
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Quotations Resist the urge to quote resources in your final paragraph. Remember, the conclusion is where you tie everything together for readers, not where you introduce new information. So, avoid adding quotes unless they will be meaningful or impactful in your concluding argument. [6] X Research source -
Fluffy language and adverbs Focus on keeping your conclusion short and simple. Leave the details in the body paragraphs and avoid words that end in “-ly,” as these can put doubt in your statements. All in all, do your best to make your thoughts clear and concise.- For instance, words like “firstly,” “secondly,” and “thirdly” may be great transition statements for body paragraphs but are unnecessary in a conclusion.
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Ask yourself, “So what?” A helpful way to think about your conclusion is to imagine someone reading your essay and then asking, “So?” Why should the reader care about your argument or what you’ve written about? What can you say in your conclusion to help convince them that your opinions and ideas matter? [7] X Research source -
Make a list of the main ideas in your essay. If you’re stuck on what needs to go in your conclusion, make a numbered or bulleted list of the important topics you discussed in your essay. You don’t need to put every point in the conclusion, but this can help you decide what to focus on. -
Check for themes introduced in the first paragraph. Reread your essay's introduction to get the creative juices flowing. What did you write to spark the reader’s curiosity, and can you put something similar in the conclusion? Returning to a theme from the beginning of the essay at the end can bring your ideas full circle. [8] X Research source- For instance, say you began your essay with the idea that humanity’s small sense of sense stems from space’s vast size. Try returning to this idea in the conclusion by emphasizing that as human knowledge grows, space becomes smaller.
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Think about your essay’s argument in a broader “big picture” context. Try linking your argument to a different context. What can readers take away from your essay that’ll impact other parts of their lives? This is an excellent way to end an essay because it makes readers think.- For example, you could extend an essay on the television show Orange is the New Black by bringing up the culture of imprisonment in America.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I end a paragraph in an essay?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIf your teacher wants a specific essay structure, you will probably want to end your paragraphs with a sentence that summarizes the main point, or in the intro, your thesis statement. If you have more freedom you might focus on leading naturally into the ideas of the next paragraph or you may end the paragraph when you feel you have made your point. You can also think of paragraphs like a slight pause in a conversation between topics. Read your paper aloud and make the paragraph breaks when it feels like a good place to pause (this will be easier for native English speakers). If you find all this confusing, your best bet is to just summarize the paragraph.
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QuestionWhat is a "catchy" closing sentence for an argumentative essay?Community AnswerAn argumentative essay means a written debate. You are going to debate your points on a specific statement. Go for double sided statements. For example, "Homework is helpful, but under some circumstances, it poses a hazard." Such statements prove that you believe you are correct, but acknowledge that other opinions exist. This is a perfect way to end an argumentative essay.
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QuestionBut what if I have already stated the main points in the first sentence of the conclusion?Community AnswerElaborate on them by giving an example for each point, one sentence each. Read other conclusions to essays to help you to get a better feel for them rather than over-focusing on construction perfection -- learning by seeing other conclusions often works best.
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Tips
- Always review your essay after writing it for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and don’t be afraid to revise.Thanks
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- Have somebody else proofread your essay before turning it in. The other person will often be able to see errors you may have missed!
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References
- ↑ https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/support/helps/self-help-resources/grammar/transition-signals
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/argument_papers/conclusions.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/argument_papers/conclusions.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/argument_papers/conclusions.html
- ↑ https://www.pittsfordschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=542&dataid=4677&FileName=conclusions1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cuyamaca.edu/student-support/tutoring-center/files/student-resources/how-to-write-a-good-conclusion.pdf
- ↑ https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185935
- ↑ https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185935
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To end an essay, start your conclusion with a phrase that makes it clear your essay is coming to a close, like "In summary," or "All things considered." Then, use a few sentences to briefly summarize the main points of your essay by rephrasing the topic sentences of your body paragraphs. Finally, end your conclusion with a call to action that encourages your readers to do something or learn more about your topic. In general, try to keep your conclusion between 5 and 7 sentences long. For more tips from our English co-author, like how to avoid common pitfalls when writing an essay conclusion, scroll down!
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