How to Conclude an Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Effective Conclusion
As a writer, you know that a great conclusion can make or break an essay. Your conclusion needs to tie together your arguments, summarize your evidence and add that extra bit of oomph that convinces your reader to care about what you’re saying. But as you stare at that blank page, you might be wondering how exactly to write that perfect ending. In this article, we’re going to explore the step-by-step process of crafting a compelling conclusion, that will leave your readers thinking and feeling long after they finish reading your essay.
Step-by-Step Guide
So, the first step in creating a strong conclusion is to make sure it flows with the rest of your essay. Start with a transitional sentence or phrase, signaling to the reader that you’re moving towards the conclusion. This could be something as simple as “In conclusion…” or “to summarize…”
Once you’ve signaled your intention to conclude, quickly summarize the main points or arguments you’ve made throughout the essay. This helps to reinforce the information and remind readers about what has been discussed.
After summarizing, it’s important to highlight the significance of these points or arguments. Don’t assume your reader will automatically understand why they are important. Clearly explain how each of your arguments supports your thesis and how they relate or build upon one another.
Finally, it’s time to provide a final statement. This last aspect is crucial since it is the lasting impression you will leave on your reader. Your final statement should not introduce any new information or arguments but should instead be a summing-up of what you’ve already said. Ideally, it should also leave the reader with a question to ponder after they finish reading.
The Purpose of the Essay
The specific aim and objective of your essay plays a crucial role in shaping the conclusion. You cannot write a suitable conclusion without knowing what the main goal of the essay is. Whether it’s explaining why your thesis is correct or answering a question, understanding the purpose of your essay before you begin writing the conclusion is crucial.
Refer back to the Introduction
Referring back to the introduction can help create a sense of coherence in the essay. Bringing in language, themes, or tones from throughout the essay can help tie everything together in the conclusion. This technique helps to reinforce a connection between the introduction and what has been discussed, from start to finish.
Restate the Thesis
One of the most important things you can do in your conclusion is to restate your thesis. This allows you to emphasize the main point of your essay in a memorable way while summarizing your key takeaways. Make sure that when restating your thesis, you give a brief summary of all the key points made in your essay, for maximum impact.
Be Specific
Specificity is crucial when it comes to conclusion writing. Instead of making sweeping statements, be specific about what you have proven or discovered in the essay. For example, instead of saying ‘Scientists have discovered more about global warming’, be specific by stating ‘Scientists have proven that the increase of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere is the main cause of global warming.’
Being specific helps the reader understand the key takeaways from the essay, so it’s important to choose your words carefully.
Commend or Challenge
Your conclusion can also be used to commend or challenge the reader. Effective conclusions should leave the reader inspired to think more critically about the topic, to do more research or take action. A good way to achieve this could be by using rhetorical questions and leaving your essay open-ended, to inspire readers to further engage with the topic themselves.
Conclusion
In summary, writing a good conclusion requires a lot of thought, planning, and effort. You need to start by understanding the aim and objective of your essay, and then move onto summarizing the main points and highlighting their significance. You should refer back to the introduction to reinforce a connection between the introduction and what has been discussed throughout the essay. By being specific, and restating your thesis, you can emphasize the key takeaways while leaving the reader with a memorable impression. Finally, use your final statement to commend or challenge the reader, encouraging them to think more critically about the topic.
By following this step-by-step process, your conclusion will be an effective tool that leaves a lasting impression on your reader and helps you achieve your writing goals.
