The conclusion of an essay is like the bow of a well-wrapped gift - tie everything together and present your essay as a finished and cohesive whole. The conclusion should briefly summarize all the articles covered in the essay; then, it should end in a provocative way, or with a verbal embroidery. With a little bit of effort, you can complete your essay with a perfect ending.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Finding Suitable Ideas for Conclusion
Step 1. Consider the question "So what?
". You can generate the conclusion by imagining the reader asking you," So what? "About your topic. Why does what you write matter? What can you say in the conclusion to help convince readers that they should care about your ideas and your own. arguments?
This question can also help you go deeper into your ideas as you write your essay
Step 2. List the main ideas of the essay
Understanding what the essay's main ideas are will help you understand what you need to include in the conclusion. You won't have to concentrate every point and sub-point in the conclusion - just talk about the most important things.
Knowing the focus of the essay will help you avoid introducing new information or arguments into the conclusion
Step 3. Look for themes introduced in the first paragraph
You can give a good sense of closure to the essay by going back to the theme you opened with. See if you can take the theme one step further when you take it back.
If, for example, you started the essay with the idea of how small a man feels in the face of the magnitude of space, you might come back to that idea in the conclusion. You could, however, expand on the topic, introducing the idea that as human knowledge grows, space actually becomes smaller
Step 4. Consider connecting your topic to a different context
To conclude the essay well, you can extend the relevance of the discussion to an "overall" context. This helps the reader understand how he could apply the arguments proposed to another area, giving your essay a broader scope.
You could, for example, extend the essay from "Orange is the New Black" to American culture on prisons in general
Part 2 of 3: Writing the Conclusion
Step 1. Start with a short transition (optional)
This may be a warning to the reader that you are finishing the essay, and that their attention is needed. Although many essays begin their last paragraph with a transition, you don't have to do so if it already seems clear enough to you that you are about to wrap up. This transition can be very simple.
You should avoid trivial phrases like "In conclusion", "To sum up" or "To conclude". They are used so often that they have become heavy clichés
Step 2. Briefly summarize the main points
Try selecting the first sentences of each paragraph (the topical ones) and rewriting the main points in 2-3 sentences. This will add strength to your arguments by reminding the reader of what you talked about or what your thesis is.
Avoid summarizing key points the same way you wrote them. Readers have already read the essay: you don't have to remind them of every single point just covered
Step 3. Write a short and interesting conclusion
There is no fixed rule on the length of the conclusions, but for almost any college or high school essay, a good rule of thumb is that your conclusion should be 5 to 7 sentences long. If you are more concise, you probably won't summarize the points well; if you go any further, you are probably wandering too far.
Step 4. Make sure you address the essay's thesis, if any
If you have formulated a thesis, you should refer to it in the conclusion, even if only in one passage. Remember, your thesis is the focus of your essay, the reason you are writing. If those who read your conclusions still do not know what your thesis is, it means that you have not been clear enough about it.
Find a way to rephrase the thesis in an interesting way, using a different language. Rewriting the thesis using the same words will give the reader the impression that you are listless and don't know what to add
Step 5. Write with authority on your subject
Appearing authoritative means using the right words, basing your arguments on other sources, and trusting in your ability to write well. Don't apologize for your ideas and don't use too bombastic language.
- For example, instead of saying "This is why I believe Abraham Lincoln was the best American president of the nineteenth century", write "This is why Abraham Lincoln was the best American president of the nineteenth century." The reader already knows that if you write that Lincoln was the best president, you believe so. Saying "I believe" seems like you are unsure of your words and makes you appear less authoritative.
- Another example: don't apologize for your opinions. They are your ideas, so claim them. Don't say something like "I'm not an expert, though" or "At least that's my opinion", as that would weaken your authority.
Step 6. Finish in style
Your last sentence should be well written (more curated than in the rest of the essay), relevant and inspiring… easier said than done! Begin by illustrating the main points of the essay. Ask yourself, "What should my essay be about, and what am I saying instead?" Then start there.
- Conclude with a hint of irony. Be playful with your last sentence and insert an ironic reference to what you are talking about. So the end of your essay will be particularly interesting.
- Appeal to emotions. Most of the time, wise men are very rational, far from emotion. This is why appealing to human emotions can be a very powerful way to end an essay. Done right, it will make the article have a heart. Just make sure that the conclusion respects the overall tone of the essay.
- Include a call to action (use with caution). If your essay is really about changing people, then including a call to action will be a useful tool for awakening readers. But use it thoughtfully: in the wrong context (an explanatory or expository essay) it could be fatal.
Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes
Step 1. Avoid just restating your thesis
A problem common to many conclusions is to become a copy of the thesis and a summary of what has been said. This does not give the reader a reason to read the conclusion - he already knows what you will say.
Instead, try taking the reader to the "next level" in the conclusion, or offer some insights into the original ideas
Step 2. Resist the temptation to enter quotes
There is no need to clog your essay's ending with quotes and analysis - you should have done that in the main paragraphs. In the conclusion you will have to tie the essay for the readers, not introduce new information.
Step 3. Don't use bombastic language
Don't use too many high-sounding or pretentious terms in your conclusions. You want it to be legible and understandable, not to look like a computer code. Much better to use concise and clear language than long sentences with words of many syllables.
Don't use "First", "Second", "Third" etc. to number arguments either. Make it clear immediately what you are saying and how many points you want to list
Step 4. Do not insert new material into the conclusion
This is not the time to introduce new ideas or content - you will create confusion and divert attention from the original argument. Don't mix things up - stay where the essay came and express the opinions you have gained through the necessary analysis.
Step 5. Don't focus on a minor point or problem in the essay
In the conclusions you must not get lost on issues of minor importance. Instead, it's time to step back and focus on the big picture. Make sure the essay focuses on the heart of the topic and not on a distant branch.
Advice
- Always make sure to re-read your essay after completing it. Check that the grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct.
- Always try to include only relevant information in the conclusion.
