How to Conclude Your Essay – A Quick Guide with Example
An essay conclusion is the most underrated part of an essay, but it allows the author to end the paper with a strong impression on the readers. You must write a concluding paragraph for your essay once you have completed the main body paragraphs.
The Purpose of the Essay Conclusion Paragraph
The essay conclusion aims to:
- Connect different points explained in the main body.
- Demonstrate the relevance and significance of your arguments.
- Provide insight into your works just by reading a short paragraph.
The conclusion paragraph of an essay is the epitome of the essay. It gives a sense of culmination and completion to the author’s arguments whilst shedding light on new possibilities and questions that previous researchers didn’t consider.
Here is an example essay conclusion paragraph taken from our essay examples database.
Steps of Writing a Powerful Essay Conclusion
Step 1: Go Back to your Thesis
The concluding paragraph begins by signalling that the essay is closing by bringing the original thesis statement into focus.
Avoid simply rewriting the thesis statement. Consider rephrasing your argument in a way that shows how your argument has evolved since you wrote the essay introduction.
For example,
This essay presents two studies examining gender-based toys for boys and girls. The observation from the above literature has shown that toys are still given in a very predictable way based on the perceived dominant gender roles.
Step 2: Focus on the Key Points
Quickly summarise the key points you presented in the essay to support the main argument. Again, avoid simply rewriting those points and try to show a connection between them to make their relationship crystal clear to the readers.
For example,
Dolls were consistently seen for girls in household activities, while guns, cars, and action figures displaying hostility or abuse were always regarded as something for boys. There were, however, also toys that were usually considered acceptable for kids of both genders.
The second observation shows that toys belonging to the Female gender were more attractive and more focused on appearance. Boy toys were more likely to be deemed as aggressive as a toy for a girl.
Step 3: The Significance of your Work
Wrap up the conclusion paragraph by demonstrating the broader relevance and importance of your essay topic and the implications of your arguments.
You might want to consider:
- The overall contribution of your arguments in better understanding the topic.
- The new questions it poses for future work.
- The predictions and practical recommendations it provides.
- Its implication on a broader theme or context.
Regardless of the essay topic, your conclusion paragraph must emphasise the significance of arguments within your academic subject and beyond.
End your essay with an assertive, meaningful and decisive closing sentence(s) that leaves your readers curious to learn more about your topic.
For example,
It was observed that there are more competitive toys for boys. Another thing that is brought to light is that toys belonging to boys need adult supervision while playing, while the toys belonging to girls are cute, compact and do not have anything harmful.
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What Should You Avoid in the Conclusion?
Avoiding the following mistakes can make your essay conclusion more impactful.
Avoid New Evidence
Refrain from presenting any new evidence at this stage of the essay. Many students make this naive mistake. You can include new evidence, points or analysis in the essay’s main body.
The concluding paragraph can have a sentence or two containing new information about the possible implications in a broader sense. But you cannot introduce new sources of information or ideas that might require further investigation and exploration.
Don’t Use “Concluding Sentences & Phrases”
Avoid using stock phrases like “in short”, “to sum up”, “to conclude”, and “in conclusion” because they are forbidden in academic essays.
The stock phrases can make your writing sound weak because they may signal that you are trying to spell it out for the readers. Consider returning to the original thesis, and it will become clear that you are putting closing touches to your essay.
Avoid Undervaluing your Argument
Using any of the following apologetic phrases in your conclusion will effectively undermine your central argument.
- There is no specific approach to solving this problem.
- Both sides of the issue have equally good arguments.
- This is just one way of approaching this issue among many.
It would be best if you had a clear position on the topic, even though there could be several existing points of view. If you sound confused and uncertain, you will not be able to convince your audience.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Writing an Essay Conclusion
Build your essay conclusion by following a simple three-step approach:
- Go back to your original thesis.
- Focus on the key points you presented in the main body.
- Talk about the importance of your arguments.
The conclusion paragraph must reflect on the broader implications of your argument, demonstrating how your ideas could apply to other debates and themes.
The essay conclusion paragraph is typically 10-15% of the overall length of the essay. It is generally shorter than the introduction.
Ensure the conclusion does not present:
- Any new evidence or analysis.
- Apologetic and uncertain sentences and phrases that could undermine your work.
- Generalised concluding phrases such as “to sum up”.
