How To Conclude An Essay

The Art of the Essay Conclusion: Leaving a Lasting Impression

The conclusion of an essay is not merely a summary; it's the final flourish, the lingering aroma, the lasting impression you leave on your reader. A well-crafted conclusion elevates your entire essay, solidifying your argument and leaving the reader feeling satisfied and enlightened. This article will guide you through the process of writing effective conclusions, exploring various techniques and providing practical examples to help you master this crucial element of essay writing.

1. Restate Your Thesis (But Don't Simply Repeat It!)

The foundation of a strong conclusion is a refined restatement of your thesis. However, this isn't about verbatim repetition. Instead, you should synthesize your main points, presenting your thesis in a new light, reflecting the insights gained throughout your essay. Avoid simply listing your arguments again; instead, show how they collectively support your central claim.

Example:

Original Thesis: The widespread use of social media has significantly impacted adolescent mental health, leading to increased anxiety and depression.

Restated Thesis in Conclusion: This analysis of social media's influence on adolescent mental well-being reveals a clear correlation between increased online engagement and heightened rates of anxiety and depression. The constant pressure to conform, the curated nature of online identities, and the pervasive fear of missing out contribute to a detrimental impact on young people's psychological health.

2. Summarize Your Main Points (Concisely and Insightfully)

After restating your thesis, briefly summarize your key supporting arguments. This isn't a point-by-point recounting; instead, focus on the overarching themes and connections between your arguments. Aim for conciseness and avoid introducing any new information.

Example:

Following the restatement above, you might add: "The evidence presented – encompassing studies on cyberbullying, social comparison, and sleep deprivation linked to social media use – conclusively demonstrates the negative impact on adolescent mental health."

3. Offer a Thought-Provoking Synthesis (Go Beyond the Obvious)

Elevate your conclusion by offering a synthesis that goes beyond simple summarization. This could involve:

Drawing implications: Explore the broader consequences of your findings. What are the real-world implications of your argument?
Offering a prediction: Based on your analysis, what might happen in the future?
Posing a question: Leave the reader with a thought-provoking question that encourages further reflection on the topic.
Suggesting a solution or course of action: If your essay addresses a problem, propose a potential solution or course of action.

Example:

"The detrimental effects of social media on adolescent mental health necessitate a multi-pronged approach, involving parental guidance, school-based interventions, and a critical reassessment of social media platforms' algorithms. Failing to address this issue will likely lead to a further escalation of mental health challenges in the next generation."

4. Maintain a Consistent Tone and Style

Your conclusion should maintain the same tone and style as the rest of your essay. Avoid abrupt shifts in tone or style. The conclusion should feel like a natural extension of your argument, not an afterthought.

5. End with a Strong and Memorable Statement

Your final sentence should be impactful and leave a lasting impression on the reader. This could be a powerful statement, a concise summary of your main point, or a thought-provoking question. Avoid clichés or weak phrases.

Conclusion

Crafting a compelling essay conclusion is an art form. By restating your thesis effectively, summarizing your key arguments concisely, offering a thought-provoking synthesis, maintaining a consistent tone, and ending with a memorable statement, you can transform your essay from good to exceptional. Remember, the conclusion is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impact on your reader.

FAQs

1. Can my conclusion be more than one paragraph? Yes, depending on the length and complexity of your essay, your conclusion might span multiple paragraphs. Each paragraph should, however, contribute to the overall impact of the conclusion.

2. Is it okay to introduce new information in the conclusion? No, avoid introducing any new information in the conclusion. The conclusion should summarize and synthesize the information already presented in the essay.

3. How long should my conclusion be? Generally, the conclusion should be proportionally shorter than the body paragraphs, perhaps 10-15% of the total essay length.

4. What if I'm struggling to write a strong conclusion? Try outlining your main points first. Then, consider what overarching message you want to leave your reader with. From there, you can craft a conclusion that effectively summarizes and synthesizes your ideas.

5. Can I use quotes in my conclusion? While sparingly using a relevant quote can be effective, it's generally better to rely on your own synthesis and interpretation of the material in your conclusion. Avoid ending on a quote unless it perfectly encapsulates your overall message.

Search Results:

Conclusions - Essay writing - Library at University of Hull 21 Jan 2025 · Conclusions are often overlooked, cursory and written last minute. If this sounds familiar then it's time to change and give your conclusions some much needed attention. Your conclusion is the whole point of your essay. All the other parts of the essay should have been leading your reader on an inevitable journey towards your conclusion.

How to Write a Powerful Conclusion: A Step-by-Step Guide 28 May 2025 · How Long Should a Conclusion Be? The length of a conclusion can vary depending on the type of document or piece of writing. Here are some general guidelines: 1) Essays and Short Papers: For a typical essay or short paper (around 1,000-2,000 words), a conclusion is usually one paragraph long, roughly 5-7 sentences. It should succinctly …

How to End an Essay: Writing a Strong Conclusion - wikiHow 24 Mar 2025 · To end an essay, start your conclusion with a phrase that makes it clear your essay is coming to a close, like "In summary," or "All things considered." Then, use a few sentences to briefly summarize the main points of your essay by rephrasing the topic sentences of your body paragraphs. Finally, end your conclusion with a call to action that ...

How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay (Examples Included!) 19 Jul 2023 · A good essay conclusion begins with a modified thesis statement that is altered on the basis of the information stated throughout the essay. It then ties together all the main points of the essay and ends with a clincher that highlights the …

Conclusions - Harvard College Writing Center In the conclusion to her paper about ADHD and RS, Roser echoes the stakes she established in her introduction—that research into connections between ADHD and RS has led to contradictory results, raising questions about the “behavioral mediation hypothesis.” ... To find your own “now what” for your essay’s conclusion, try asking ...

How to Write a Conclusion, With Examples | Grammarly 27 Jun 2023 · An effective conclusion paragraph should ultimately suggest to your reader that you’ve accomplished what you set out to prove. 5 key details for writing a conclusion. 1 Restate your thesis. As you set out to write your conclusion and end your essay on an insightful note, you’ll want to start by restating your thesis.

How to write an essay conclusion - BBC Bitesize A conclusion is the final idea left with the reader at the end of an essay. Without it, an essay would be unfinished and unfocused. A conclusion should link back to the essay question and briefly ...

39 Different Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay (Rated) 16 Jan 2024 · You can find better words to conclude an essay than that! So below I’ve outlined a list of different ways to say in conclusion in an essay using a range of analysis verbs. Each one comes with an explanation of the best time to use each phrase and an …

How to Write a Captivating Essay Conclusion - Oxbridge Essays 14 Sep 2018 · The essay conclusion takes the contents of a fairly bog-standard, elementary literary-critical argument and makes them seem exciting and relevant. A conclusion can’t save a bad essay, of course. But if you conclude an essay with the right sales pitch you can make even fairly elementary arguments sparkle!

How to Conclude an Essay | Interactive Example - Scribbr 24 Jan 2019 · The conclusion is your final chance to show how all the paragraphs of your essay add up to a coherent whole. Example: Reviewing the main points Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around.