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How to Write a Great Essay Conclusion

Published by at August 18th, 2021 , Revised On August 23, 2023

The conclusion is perhaps the most underrated and critical section of an academic essay. Regardless of the type of essay you writing, you will want to end it so that your readers can grasp the whole idea of it just by reading the concluding paragraph (s).

While the primary purpose of an essay conclusion is to summarise the most important points which you have already discussed in the essay introduction and main body, it should also aim to;

  • Establish connections between the central points of your essay.
  • Demonstrate why there was a need to investigate the topic further.
  • Show why your arguments and analysis will add value to the existing knowledge.
  • Provide readers with a deeper insight into the implications of your work.

Example Essay Conclusion

The following example of an essay conclusion has been taken from an essay; Should students have mobile phones in elementary school?

What are the Features of a Great Essay Conclusion?

There is no fixed method to write a captivating essay conclusion, but there are some points that you must take into consideration when writing your essay conclusion.

Summarise the Key Points

Your readers will be looking to see a clear relationship between your conclusion and the arguments presented in the essay’s introduction and main body. However, this is not just about paraphrasing what you have already said or simply summarising each paragraph of the essay into sentences.

Ideally, you would want to group your points to enable the readers to see the connection between them and extract implications. In short, the conclusion section will allow you to demonstrate how all parts of your essay add up to create a single coherent piece.

For example,

If you argued against elementary school children having access to mobile phones, you might also want to highlight parents’ implications. Similarly, if your essay’s focus was one specific place, you can also discuss how it relates to worldwide patterns.

Even if your essay’s topic is narrow and specific, there is absolutely nothing wrong with briefly touching upon ideas that may not even fall within the scope of your thesis statement.

Highlight the Importance of the Thesis Statement

In addition to highlighting your essay’s key points, the conclusion paragraph should also discuss your essay topic’s merits by reiterating why there was a need to explore the chosen topic.

Here are some questions that you might want to consider when writing your essay conclusion;

  • Does your thesis add to existing knowledge in your field of study?
  • Is it challenging a recognized and established idea?
  • What will be the implications of your work in the context of current and future developments in your area of study?
  • Is your essay’s central argument have consequences for the policymakers?

Regardless of your academic level, academic subject, and the type of essay you are writing, the conclusion of your essay should aim to establish a clear connection between the importance of your argument and possible consequences concerning the topic you are investigating.

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Emphasize the Broader Problems

Make sure to close your argument in a way that gives a sense of completion. On the other hand, your primary focus needs to be on raising new possibilities, suggestions, relationships, and questions explored by other essayists.

You can achieve this by constructing your argument in a larger context. An interesting recommendation that you must remember is that “the introduction of an essay tends to move from the general to the specific, while the conclusion can move from the specific back to the general.”

What Not to Include in Essay Conclusion

You can enhance your essay conclusion’s quality and content by avoiding typical errors in the first place. Here are some tips for you to avoid making mistakes that could hamper your ability to achieve the highest academic grade.

Avoid Introducing new Arguments

At this stage of the essay writing, you are expected to summarize your study, and you do not want to be introducing new arguments or evidence. All such arguments and evidence must be included in the main body of the essay.

However, this doesn’t stop you from including new pieces of information, particularly those that could enable you to put your work in connection with the broader picture.

For example

you introduce a quotation to support the central point of your essay. However, any new information that needs further elaboration and concept explanation should not be included at this stage.

Avoid Using Conclusion Words and Phrases

Your readers already know what they are doing. Using conclusion words and phrases will only appear as an attempt to increase the word count. Here are some phrases and words that you should avoid;

  • “In short,”
  • “To sum up,”
  • “To conclude,”
  • “In conclusion,”
  • “This essay argued”

Like other paragraphs in your essay, your conclusion paragraph should also start with a topic sentence that carries the preceding paragraph’s ideas. There will be no need to make up conclusion phrases and words if you continue to follow the same pattern into the conclusion paragraph.

Avoid Undermining your Own Arguments

Using regretful phrases and words will diminish your arguments’ strength, so it is recommended to avoid a tone that sounds like you are uncertain or confused.

  • “There are no obvious answers to this question.”
  • “The counter-argument is equally strong.”
  • “This is one way of solving the problem among many.”

While there is nothing wrong with preceding counter-arguments, you will be expected to take a clear stance on where you stand on the issue. While there might seem to be several solutions to the problem you are investigating, you will need to make sure that you leave readers completely convinced that your approach is the best one.

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More Essay Conclusion Examples

The conclusion is a significant part of your essay. Many readers skip straight through to the conclusion paragraph because they expect to find a summary of the whole essay there.

Below, you will find conclusion examples for different types of essays, including argumentative, analyticalpersuasive and more. These essay conclusion examples will help you to choose the right approach for your own essay.

Argumentative Essay Conclusion Examples

Let’s start with the argumentative essay conclusion example.

Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

The primary cause of Anorexia Nervosa is role modelling. Young girls get attracted to how celebrities look. To prevent the expansion of such a problem, it is necessary to limit access to social media.

Should nuclear weapons be banned in all countries?

Because of the political tensions between different countries, it is not likely that every world leader would follow a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons. Other countries must be able to protect themselves from potential attacks with equally strong weapons. However, more limitations on testing and launch authorizations should be enforced to ensure hot-headed leaders do not use or even advertise these dangerous weapons simply as a show of force.

Are pre-employment drug tests an invasion of privacy?

Although companies need to hire capable, dependable employees, they should not dictate what their employees do in the comfort of their own homes. There are better ways of determining whether someone is right for a position, including education, past employment, personal and professional references, and trial periods.

The epic TV series is known as “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

The epic TV series is known as “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” is the best start in learning Roman and Greek mythology. It has many differences from the original legend but is understandable for students. Students must keep in mind 3 major differences. Atlanta or Daedalus did not accompany Hercules. The authors did not mention Perseus, who played a significant role in Hercules’ destiny, and there is also no love story between the hero and Psyche in the myth. The rest of the plot reflects the myth better than other related shows. The image of Hercules remains the same popular and recognized through centuries, and it never changes.”

Persuasive Essay Conclusion Examples

A persuasive essay conclusion is structured in the same ways as other types of essays.

  • Restate the thesis;
  • Restate your two main reasons;
  • Write a strong call to action.

Here you need not restate everything you said in the introduction and main body of the essay. Rather present your central point.

Is Banning Smoking a Good Idea?

My position was defended by multiple credible sources – related studies of the field’s authorities. Banning smoking is a bad idea. This action means a limitation of human rights, a negative impact on the country’s economy, and a potential threat to people who suffer from the nervous system’s problems.

What is the most important thing high school students should be learning but aren’t they?

There are many areas where public high school education could improve, but financial planning is most important. While some may argue for better nutrition or fitness programs, that information is easily available online and even in commercials—and should actually be taught starting in elementary school. Stronger financial planning curricula would teach high schoolers how to establish credit, save for retirement, and budget. These are important for life in the real world but can be filled with confusing jargon and advertising schemes. With Americans having more than $11 trillion in debt, it is time for the younger generation to be taught how not to be another statistic.

Should college education be free?

The amount of student loan debt is an indication that something is definitely wrong with the system. Although universities need an income to survive, getting a college education should still come at no direct cost to the student. Free education would allow for a more educated nation as a whole, it would leave some students with more time to work more on their studies than their jobs, and it could encourage universities to get more creative. If more universities embraced the Pay It Forward model, the United States might become one of the world’s most educated countries.

Analytical Essay Conclusion Examples

Let’s describe an analytical essay conclusion example of Coco Chanel’s influence on women and modern society.

Analyze the theme of compassion for one character in the Hunger Games series.

The obvious choices for compassion in the Hunger Games may be Katniss or Peeta, but the character who personifies compassion best was Prim. Throughout the series, her compassion is seen when she keeps secrets from her mother for Katniss when she heals Gale after he gets whipped, and through the last act of her life as she rushes to save children in the Capitol. She truly lives Albert Schweitzer’s words, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”

Analyze the theme of disguise in The Taming of the Shrew.

The theme of disguise in The Taming of the Shrew is evident from the very beginning. The play within a play lets the reader know that every character is an actor. The main characters—Kate, Bianca, and Petruchio—all disguise their true identities and intentions for the same reason: to get what they want.

Analysis Essay Conclusion Examples

The conclusion in an analysis essay would be the same as in the analytical one. You also need to restate the thesis and bring your main idea to the stage. Here is an example,

While WWII was at its highest peak, humanity was slowly sledging to an end. The main reason why we are still here is that human nature is still more about struggling for life than destroying it. It is well displayed in the book. Its main characters are shown from both sides. You are damaging your future. You are building something absolutely new.

Expository Essay Conclusion Example

If you want to learn how to write a conclusion for an expository essay, you also need to focus on your main idea and thesis statement. Take your introduction and use it to make a perfect ending for the entire paper.

What is the scientific method?

The scientific method is common sense. First, a person must have a research question they want to be answered and a little background knowledge on the subject. Then the person forms a hypothesis, or what he or she thinks the answer to the research question is, which the person tests with an experiment. Finally, the person should analyze the data and conclusions. This method can be used both in and out of the scientific realm, testing everything from history to social issues.

What are the causes of homelessness?

Passing by a homeless person is not uncommon, especially in urban settings. Homelessness can be caused by many factors, including job loss, lack of family support, and the diminishing availability of affordable housing. Although it is easy for some to think that homelessness is caused by mental problems or general laziness, there are other factors to consider. Only when the whole scope of the problem is known can society begin to develop a comprehensive solution.

 

Narrative Essay Conclusion Examples

Speaking of narrative essays, you need to keep in mind that you are telling a story. There are no facts and nothing to state. It would help if you told you about a certain time frame and the actions that happened with your characters. This final part would be different from a classic essay conclusion we all got used to.

 A time machine has taken you back to meet your favourite author (Edgar Allan Poe, in this case). Write about that meeting.

As Edgar and I discussed the common themes and dark imagery of his works, the waiter interrupted us. I reached for the wine decanter, poured myself a glass, and asked if he would like some.

“No thanks,” he said, laughing grimly. “After all, it might be poisoned.”

English Essay Conclusion Examples

English essay conclusion example might seem the toughest one of all. But you need to understand that in most cases, the conclusion you need to make is already written by the author and lays just on the surface. Just read the book carefully to get to the main idea.

Orwell wanted to portray his characters to make them real. He even tried to get some features of real people and even historical characters such as Stalin. And Orwell portrays Napoleon. He shows that the power he held damaged him absolutely. And our thing is to argue if Napoleon was corrupted and damaged from the very start. To capture reality, the author used special effects that may seem too hard for the unprepared reader. And even seem to be fiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A strong essay conclusion:

  1. Summarizes key points concisely.
  2. Restates the thesis.
  3. Provides closure to the topic.
  4. Offers broader insights or implications.
  5. Leaves a lasting thought or question.
  6. Ensures a cohesive and impactful ending.

About Grace Graffin

Avatar for Grace Graffin"Grace has a bachelor's and a master's degree from Loughborough University, so she's an expert at writing a flawless essay. She has worked as a professional writer and editor, helping students of at all academic levels to improve their academic writing skills."