"All is well that ends well", but many writers consider the ending to be the hardest part of a theme. The best final sentences are memorable, communicate a sense of closure, and can leave the reader with clues to broader topics or insights. There are many ways to achieve these goals, so consider your choices before deciding on the best sentences for your writing.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing an Ending Type
Step 1. Consider a "panoramic" ending
Taking a step back to reveal the larger context can be helpful for more complex topics. If you are commenting on a book, mention changes in society or literature that are visible in the book. If you are discussing a problem, tell people why the problem matters.
- Example: "Without a detailed understanding of Tolstoy's personal ideology, the reader can only imagine the meaning of his works."
- Example: "In an age when the stray cat population is at an all-time high, the problem of caring for domestic cats has never been more important."
Step 2. Discuss possible consequences or implications
If you have no ideas on how to continue a topic, ask yourself "So what?". Why should the reader care about your conclusion? What is the next step your argument might lead to? Answer these questions in the final sentences of your essay.
Step 3. Give your opinion on disputes
If you have described and examined a controversial topic in your essay, the conclusion is an ideal time to include your opinion. Write your own "editorial" on the subject, but be sure to base your theories only on certain facts. For a particularly dramatic ending, write a warning to the reader, or call him to action.
Example: "If nothing is done to prevent these injuries, rugby does not deserve to be taught in schools."
Step 4. Conclude by describing an image
A visual description can be easier to remember than an analysis or other opinion. Try to describe a person or scene related to the topic of the topic, especially if the topic provokes an emotional reaction.
Step 5. Use humor
The final sentence usually gives a sense of closure or completion, but often also includes a catchphrase that can make the reader think, or provoke an emotional reaction. A joke or an ironic statement can be a great way to impress the reader. This isn't a good choice for all topics and theme styles, though, so don't force a similar ending if you've written everything else in a more serious or direct tone.
Part 2 of 3: Finishing the Last Sentence
Step 1. Consider using short words for a strong effect
A sentence made up of short words, especially monosyllables, often seems dramatic and conclusive. This tactic is not mandatory, but works particularly well in the event of a cautionary or call to action.
Likewise, a simple, straightforward sentence will often have a greater impact than one with many subordinates and commas
Step 2. Refer to the introduction or title
Finishing similar to the intro is one of the most common ways to create a catchy, "symmetrical" theme. The secret in this case is not to repeat a point already expressed, but to refer to something you have already written as part of a new thesis. Try using the title of your essay, a short sentence from a quote in the introduction, or an important term that you defined earlier in the paper.
Step 3. Use a memorable phrase
A short, easy-to-remember sentence can help the reader remember your theme. Try including a popular saying or a short quote in your last sentence.
Try not to include quotes of more than a few words in the last sentence. It's hard to end the theme elegantly and relevantly without using your own words
Step 4. Organize the sentence with a parallel structure
Writers and speakers often get to the point using a series of three parallel sentences. Your audience is conditioned to this type of exposure and associates it with a sense of completeness. Here are some examples of a possible final sentence created with a parallel structure:
- "For the pioneers who founded the farms, for the people who work there and for the animals that are raised there, it is time to fight."
- We will be celebrating Janet Smith's novels for years to come, for their unique characters, inimitable poetics and inspirational messages."
Part 3 of 3: Mistakes to Avoid
Step 1. Cut out redundant sentences
Anyone who will read the writing will have already noticed that it is the last sentence. There is no reason to write "in conclusion", "summarizing" or similar expressions. Delete these sentences from the last paragraph to get a more direct and impactful conclusion.
Step 2. Be careful when summarizing
If your theme is five pages or less, try to avoid summarizing or repeating your main topic in the concluding paragraph. The reader does not need to be reminded of what they have just read, and this boring preamble makes it difficult to write a final sentence that inspires or is interesting.
Step 3. Be careful about introducing a new topic
The last paragraph is not the place to introduce a new topic, just before leaving ship and leaving the reader to delve into it on his own. If your last sentence mentions a topic you haven't already discussed, delete it and try again. You can make an exception if your concluding paragraph links your theme topic to a larger one that encompasses it, but be careful not to include irrelevant elements.
Ending with a question can be difficult for this reason, as questions often introduce new ideas. You can use a rhetorical question as a final sentence, but it is best expressed as an affirmation if you are unsure
Step 4. Move the evidence supporting your thesis to the previous paragraphs
You may have found the perfect stat to reinforce your position, but you should put it earlier in the theme. Likewise, don't end with a quote that you include just to support your thesis. If you use a quote, choose one that produces an inspirational or dramatic effect.
Step 5. Avoid drastically changing your tone
Emotional and dramatic endings are fun to write, but that doesn't mean they're always suitable. An analytic theme that carefully examines evidence and supports a logical thesis cannot have a final sentence full of emotional outbursts, praise or condemnation.
These endings often take the form of praising a nation, of "overcoming injustices" or other appeals to global phenomena not specifically relevant to the topic of the theme
Step 6. Don't apologize
Write a final sentence, and the whole theme, loud and direct. Avoid excuses, insecurities, and other phrases that can undermine your authority. If you don't have time to talk about a topic, don't mention it and apologize for not doing it; your theme is what it is, and it's up to the readers to decide if they like it.
Step 7. Quoting famous phrases at the end can add extra flair to what you write
It also helps a bit to cover up any mistakes you may have made in the last paragraph or perhaps throughout the topic.
