A concluding paragraph serves to summarize the ideas presented in a text, in order to close it properly. Its goal is to satisfy the needs of the reader, making him feel fulfilled. By following these tips, you can learn how to write a clear and effective conclusion.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare for Conclusion
Step 1. Think about your goal and the tone you used
When writing a conclusion, it is important to think about the purpose of the essay. Why did you write it? Do you intend to inform, persuade, entertain or present discoveries? This determines how to set the conclusion. The tone must also conform to the rest of the essay.
- If the essay is informative, you need to remind the reader of what was explained to him.
- If the essay is persuasive, remind the reader why they should agree with you rather than with the contrary ideas.
- If the essay is humorous, a serious conclusion will compromise its cohesion and will not close it properly.
Step 2. Ask yourself:
"So?". This can help you select the information to include in the conclusion. The closing of the essay should answer the question "So what?". Also, ask yourself, "Why should the reader be interested in the text?" Answering these two questions in the conclusion can help you formulate your final thoughts on the main points you addressed in the essay.
For example, if the text explains why schools should remove soda machines, ask yourself these two questions: "So what?" and "Why should the reader be interested in the question?". The answers will help you understand what to say in the conclusion
Step 3. Before writing the concluding paragraph, reread the essay several times
You should be aware of the introduction and middle paragraphs. The conclusion should logically arise in these parts. Keeping the text in mind can help you write a focused concluding paragraph so that it covers the most important points of the essay.
Step 4. When writing your first draft, introduce it with the phrase "To conclude"
This rather common, but overused, transition phrase can help you get started writing the first draft of the concluding paragraph.
Once you've written the first draft, delete or replace this sentence. When correcting and completing the concluding paragraph, you should avoid expressions such as "in conclusion", "to summarize", "to conclude" or "to finish"
Step 5. Before writing your conclusion, take some notes
It is a good technique that is often ignored by students. This phase precedes the drafting of the first draft. It serves to put your ideas in writing.
- Freely write three to six sentences that explain the topic of the text. After writing the whole essay, you are able to instinctively finish it.
- When writing ideas, ask yourself "So what?" and "Why should the reader be interested?". In this way, the first answers you gave to such questions will begin to turn into clear sentences.
Part 2 of 2: Start Writing the Conclusion
Step 1. Write the first sentence, which should be transitional
It should build a bridge between the middle paragraphs and the final thoughts. Use words and phrases related to the topic to connect this sentence and the concluding paragraph to the rest of the essay.
- This sentence does not have to reiterate your thesis or main points. It simply serves to connect the topic of the essay to the concluding paragraph.
- If the text is about the benefits of physical activity, the transition phrase could be this: "Exercising five times a week therefore has several benefits."
- If you say camping is rewarding, you can introduce the conclusion like this: "Although we went camping with different expectations, we all came to the conclusion that it was a rewarding way to spend the weekend."
- Both sentences contain transitional expressions other than "in conclusion", "in summary" and so on. Instead, they use words like "therefore" and "although".
Step 2. Start talking about the topic
Re-formulate the theme of the essay with different words than those of the introduction. After reiterating the topic, write a sentence explaining why the topic and your arguments are important.
- If the essay is about the negative effects of bullying, here's how you might rephrase the argument: "Bullying has become a fairly common problem in schools and must be stopped."
- The next sentence should explain why the argument or theme is important: "Some kids don't treat their schoolmates with due kindness and respect."
Step 3. Reiterate your thesis
At the beginning of the concluding paragraph, remind the reader of your thesis statement, but not word for word. Try to elaborate it in a way that allows you to emphasize that you have demonstrated this extensively in the essay.
- If your thesis is about some offensive stereotypes, you could write the following sentence to rephrase it: "Stereotypes like the hyperemotivated woman, the goofy blonde, and the partying college student are wrong and offensive."
- The conclusion should make it clear that your thesis has been fully demonstrated and that you have reached the end of the journey. The reader must think that he has embarked on a journey that is now over. The concluding paragraph should logically follow the introduction and middle paragraphs.
- When you reiterate the thesis, if you find that it is not in line with the essay, you should review it.
Step 4. Use a sentence that allows you to link back to the introduction
You can present the conclusion by linking it directly to the introductory paragraph: a shared sentence is enough. Use an image, comparison, story, or phrase that has already been used. This reaffirms the original theme or idea, giving the reader a different perspective in light of what he has read in the entire essay.
For example, in the introduction you name your first car as an "indestructible tank" and your thesis states: "Novice 18-year-olds shouldn't get new cars." In this case, you can start writing the conclusion with the following sentence: "Although my first car was over 20 years old, that indestructible tank allowed me to learn from my mistakes, making me a better driver"
Step 5. Highlight a comparison or contrast
If you've talked about two or three characters, groups of people, animals, or whatever, you can use the ideas you compared or contrasted in the essay to start writing the conclusion. Return to the two ideas you compared by writing a single observation or sentence relevant to the essay.
If your essay talks about the differences between two tourist destinations, you could start writing the conclusion like this: "Whether you sunbathe on the beaches of Sardinia or ski on the slopes of the Alps, going on vacation should be a relaxing and pleasant"
Step 6. Start writing the conclusion with a statement
Base this sentence on your exposition or the arguments you used to try to convince the reader. This sentence serves to reiterate the argument. It also presents a way of reasoning based on the information elaborated in the central paragraphs.
If the thesis was "Morality sometimes leads individuals to make sacrifices that have no obvious benefit. Nonetheless, the sacrifice satisfies an intrinsic desire to do the right thing," then your final statement may be: "The sacrifices that people make. people don't make sense until the reasons why they were done are revealed."
Step 7. Start writing your conclusion with a question
Using a rhetorical question can be an effective strategy to reiterate a point. This tactic can work with an argumentative essay. To make your point clear, the question must be quite suggestive.
