To be convincing, an essay, literary analysis, or research paper should include a well-thought-out introduction and conclusion. This last part, when written correctly, offers the reader a summary of the text and clarifies the reasons why the subject matter is so important. You may also need to deliver a speech or presentation that needs an accurate conclusion. In this case, the same principles apply, but you'll want to carefully restructure the conclusion.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Write a Conclusion for an Essay or Papers
Step 1. Start with a passing sentence
If you are writing the conclusion of an essay or paper for school or college, it is important to understand its functions. The end of the document should not only reiterate the main points of the subject matter so as to detach itself from the rest of the text, but it should also be smooth and drafted as readers expect from the author.
- In order for it to have such smoothness, you should start with a sentence that connects to the closing of the main part of the text.
- It could be a sentence that reflects the content of the essay, but which is linked to the text highlighting the most widely discussed points that will then be briefly examined in the conclusion.
- The phrase "This poem is crossed by the transitory sense of human conquest" suggests a passage that leads to the conclusion, articulating the main topic in a single thought.
Step 2. Avoid saying "in conclusion"
If you are finishing an essay or research paper, you should avoid using phrases such as "in conclusion" or "to conclude" at the beginning of the final section. They are abused expressions and constitute an unoriginal way to begin the closure of a text. You should be able to signal that you are starting the conclusion without abruptly stopping the flow of the text.
Step 3. Consider starting with a reference to the original question
One way to begin the conclusion is to link back to the main question posed in the essay or something described in the introduction. If there is a particularly relevant sentence or quote, by bringing it back to the conclusion, you can demonstrate that the essay contains complete and coherent arguments. A great way is to capture a key image or idea from the introduction.
- For example, what if the essay's question asks: "To what extent did the battle of Monte Cassino change the course of the Second World War?"
- At this point you could start by writing: "The battle of Monte Cassino was a crucial moment that reflected the evolutionary dynamics of the Second World War, but did not in itself change the fate of the conflict".
Step 4. Don't just summarize
While the conclusion can be a useful passage in which to briefly summarize the key points of the discussion, you should try to go beyond this goal. It is important to demonstrate the consistency of the essay and that all its points are linked together. You can clarify this in the conclusion. Instead of just going through each argument used, try to summarize the subject matter of the essay so as to highlight how all the various segments that make it up are interconnected.
- A brief summary can be helpful if the essay is long, but try not to simply reiterate what you have already said in the same terms.
- Instead, it indicates the key points by placing them within a broader context, which shows a deeper understanding and which can open studies to new lines of investigation.
Step 5. Suggest some broader implications
The conclusion can perform various functions within an essay or document. If carefully drafted, it can highlight the importance of the subject matter and its particular relevance, as well as the value of the discoveries or the originality of the results contained. However, it can also go further and suggest to what extent your essay opens the window to possibly broader implications and applications than those present in your paper.
- In the structure of the conclusion, the implications are explained after the passing sentences and the explanation of how the different elements that make up the main theme of the essay are intertwined with each other.
- Also try to include a clarification on how the object treated in the essay can be considered universal, some link to current problems or an invitation to act.
Method 2 of 2: Conclude a Presentation or Speech
Step 1. Signal that you have come to the conclusion
While there are many similarities between the techniques used to close an essay and a presentation, there are also important differences between these two forms of presentation. Since a presentation is communicated orally rather than in writing, it is sometimes not always easy to pinpoint the moment in which to introduce the conclusion. For this reason, it is better to give some clear indications when preparing to close the discussion.
- Phrases such as "in conclusion" and "summarizing", which you would not use in writing an essay, can be useful for an oral report.
- By signaling that you are closing, you will encourage bystanders to focus on what you are about to say.
Step 2. Return to the original question
Once you have directed the audience's attention to the conclusion, you will need to demonstrate the circularity of your speech by returning to the initial question or problem you set out to address in the introduction. By doing so, you will be able to present the topic in a coherent and comprehensive way. Therefore, you can use techniques similar to those described for the conclusion of the essay, by picking up an explicit question asked previously or by repeating a key phrase or quote mentioned at the beginning of the presentation.
For example, before you begin offering a summary of the key points, you might ask the main question at the beginning of the conclusion: "So, what suggestion can I make to improve our sales in the western regions of the country?"
Step 3. Provide a clear summary
During the oral report, an understandable summary of the key points articulated in your speech can be a very important element when you come to the conclusion. It is possible that the audience was momentarily distracted while you were speaking, so a brief summary can support your discussion.
- In general, listening to a presentation is more passive than reading an essay, so it would be good to summarize the key points in the closing phase of an oral report.
- People will likely remember more of the last things they heard when they are gone, so try to retrace all the key points in the conclusion.
Step 4. Show enthusiasm and conviction
When you conclude a presentation, it is essential to end with conviction and enthusiasm, in order to leave a lasting mark on the audience. There are various ways to do this, for example by using concise sentences that get to the point, memorable and meaningful impact statements, but also by making strong eye contact with bystanders.
- You could also add a few brief anecdotes to support your reasoning and to serve as an invitation to action for the people in the room.
- A strong conclusion - which demonstrates how you can solve a problem belonging to one of the speakers - can help you establish a personal understanding with the public.
Step 5. Finish vigorously
When it comes to closing, you should try to make a mark and get the audience excited about the topic in your speech. You can achieve these goals by launching a strong call for action that encourages people who have spoken to actively react to the ideas presented, but which also demonstrates to what extent your speech relates to the demands of the audience.
- By using an action verb in the final sentence, you can indicate exactly how you want the audience to react.
- For example, when John F. Kennedy said "Don't ask yourself what your country can do for you, ask yourself what you can do for your country," he encouraged action from the audience.
- By concluding this way, you will demonstrate personal confidence and prompt the audience to follow your ideas.
