The conclusion allows you to have the final say on the issues you have written about in your essay, to synthesize your thoughts, to demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and to propel your reader to a new view of the subject. It is also your opportunity to make a good final impression and to end on a positive note. Conclusions are usually considered to be difficult and most students believe it to be the most tricky part of an essay. Most conclusions written by students often are a summary of what they have already written. However, there are too many do's and don'ts regarding writing a conclusion which is the reason why they are considered to be very difficult to write. T
Your conclusion can go beyond the confines of the assignment. The conclusion pushes beyond the boundaries of the prompt and allows you to consider broader issues, make new connections, and elaborate on the significance of your findings. Unfortunately, too many students fall into the trap of undermining their hard work with a vague or poorly-thought-out conclusion. What makes a conclusion “bad,” though? What should you avoid?
Your conclusion should make your readers glad they read your paper. Your conclusion gives your reader something to take away that will help them see things differently or appreciate your topic in personally relevant ways. It can suggest broader implications that will not only interest your reader, but also enrich your reader’s life in some way.
Here are some points how NOT to write a conclusion:
- Do not summarise: It is essential that students avoid writing summaries of their essays as conclusions. This is because summaries can make the essay sound boring, monotonous and repetitive. It is important the conclusion of your essay is though-provoking and extends your previously presented ideas in a concise manner. Just remember that the conclusion of the essay should answer the question "so what?"
- Do not use the Introduction as conclusion: Students often use the material written in the introduction as their conclusion. This should be avoided because it makes your essay sound repetitive. The conclusion of the essay should be written in a way that it highlights the main points of the essay and also helps the reader to think about the issues presented on a greater level. Conclusion should be written in consistent language and you should try to find ways to reword your ideas, using varied vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Avoid bringing up minor points: Do not write minor points about your topic in the conclusion, these minor points should be written only in the supporting sentences or the body of your paragraph. For example, if the main point of your essay is that computer is the greatest invention ever because it provides ease of connection, then talking about its inventor or the country of origin might not be the best choice for your conclusion. This is because it’s largely irrelevant to the “big picture” that you want to highlight. Think about it this way: what do you want readers to take away from your paper?
- Avoid introducing new information: Introducing new points in your essay will distract your readers from the main ideas you have already presented in your essay. Moreover, new information can also confuse your readers but also give them an impression of poor organisational skills. As such, it is best not to include new ideas in your conclusion. If you want to introduce new information present them further up to bulk up your argument not as an afterthought!
- Do not use language that weakens your essay: Conclusions often go beyond the original scope of the paper, thus tempting students to use language that suggests that we are not experts. Phrases like "I am not an expert" or "I believe" and "I think" will only weaken your essay. In short, don’t weaken or hedge your arguments with language that is less than confident.
- Avoid the phrases “in summary” and “in conclusion.” As easy-to-use as they may be, phrases such as these come across as cliché. Your reader can see that he or she has reached the end of your paper because it is the last paragraph of the last page. Thus, beginning your conclusion with a phrase like “in conclusion” is a bit redundant.
Strategies for writing an effective conclusion
One or more of the following strategies may help you write an effective conclusion:
- Play the “So What” Game. If you’re stuck and feel like your conclusion isn’t saying anything new or interesting, ask a friend to read it with you. Whenever you make a statement from your conclusion, ask the friend to say, “So what?” or “Why should anybody care?” Then ponder that question and answer it.
- Return to the theme or themes in the introduction. This strategy brings the reader full circle. For example, if you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay is helpful in creating a new understanding. You may also refer to the introductory paragraph by using key words or parallel concepts and images that you also used in the introduction.
- Synthesize, don’t summarize. Include a brief summary of the paper’s main points, but don’t simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used fit together. Pull it all together.
- Include a provocative insight or quotation from the research or reading you did for your paper.
- Propose a course of action, a solution to an issue, or questions for further study. This can redirect your reader’s thought process and help her to apply your info and ideas to her own life or to see the broader implications.
- Point to broader implications. For example, if your paper examines the Greensboro sit-ins or another event in the Civil Rights Movement, you could point out its impact on the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. A paper about the style of writer Virginia Woolf could point to her influence on other writers or on later feminists.
