The conclusion is the final paragraph or section of an essay that summarizes its central thesis, supporting arguments, and evidence. This article helps students understand why a good conclusion is important for a successful essay. It also delineates the structure of a conclusion and offers useful tips for writing an effective one.
Importance of a Good Conclusion
A conclusion (usually consisting of one or two paragraphs) is an integral part of an essay for the following reasons:
- It provides a sense of closure.
- It reminds the reader of the important points made in the essay.
- It demonstrates that the author has accomplished what they set out to do.
- It distances itself from the specific points made in the essay and takes a look at the bigger picture.
- It succinctly restates the main ideas and arguments, bringing them together to present a coherent thesis.
Structure of a Good Conclusion
The conclusion of an essay is the opposite of the introduction. While the introduction begins with the general and moves on to the specific, the conclusion begins with the specific and moves on to the general. The number of sentences in a conclusion depends on the number of paragraphs in the essay.
A well-written conclusion has three main components:
1. The Starter
This sentence begins the conclusion by restating or rephrasing the thesis of the essay, albeit with a deeper understanding.
2. The Summary
The starter is followed by 2 or 3 sentences that wrap up the main arguments of the essay and show how they connect to support the central thesis.
3. The Concluding Sentence
The final sentence of the conclusion (and the essay) connects back to the introduction, providing a sense of closure to the reader. It demonstrates the importance of the ideas presented in the body paragraphs, propels the reader to a fresh view of the topic, and most importantly, ends on a positive note
Now that the structure of the conclusion is clear, here are some tips to make it more effective.
Tips for Writing a Good Conclusion
An effective conclusion should:
- Answer the implicit “so what” question and reiterate why the reader should care about the author’s views on the topic
- Return to the themes in the introduction and refer to them using keywords, images, or parallel concepts
- Include an interesting quotation or insight from the author’s research or reading
- Evoke a vivid image of the ideas put forth in the thesis by suggesting results or consequences
- Include a concluding sentence that leaves the reader with feelings of satisfaction or curiosity
- Avoid introducing new ideas and must instead sum up the essay and suggest avenues for future research on the topic
- Avoid using stock phrases such as “in conclusion,” “to sum up,” or “in summary” since readers are bound to know once they reach the end of the essay
Examples of Good Conclusions
Example 1
Euthanasia should be legalized in the United States. Making a sick person suffer is one of the worst crimes I can imagine. My paper proves that not only is euthanasia moral and ethical, but also that healthcare professionals are doing a service to humanity by helping patients and putting an end to their suffering.
Example 2
College education should be free of charge. The main reason why education should be freely accessible at all levels is that adolescents without a college education are more likely to remain unemployed and engage in criminal activities than their more successful, college-educated peers.
Example 3
According to the Department of Justice, human sex trafficking and cybercrime are connected as they are both the results of modern technology. Adolescents today spend hours with their laptops, PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Thus, they are more likely to become prey to several kinds of crimes including sexual abuse, identity theft, and property theft, among others.
