Introductions often set the stage for your essay, but it’s the conclusion that truly leaves a lasting impression. Think of it as the final handshake, the lingering note after a song, or the satisfying resolution of a story. Just as a strong introduction guides your readers into the world of your analysis, a well-crafted conclusion serves as a bridge, helping them transition back to their own world while carrying the essence of your argument with them. Understanding What Is A Conclusion and how to write one effectively is crucial for impactful academic writing.
Your conclusion is more than just a summary; it’s your final opportunity to speak directly to your reader. It’s where you synthesize your ideas, emphasize the significance of your findings, and perhaps most importantly, leave your reader with a new perspective on your topic. It’s about demonstrating why your entire exploration matters, even after they’ve finished reading. This is your chance to make your essay resonate beyond the classroom.
Strategies for Writing an Effective Conclusion
To ensure your conclusion is as strong as possible, consider incorporating one or more of these strategies:
Play the “So What?” Game
If you find yourself staring at a draft conclusion that feels flat or uninspired, the “So What?” game can be incredibly helpful. Engage a friend or even question yourself directly. After each statement in your conclusion, ask, “So what?” or “Why should anyone care?”. This forces you to delve deeper into the implications of your points.
For example, consider this statement: “Education was crucial for Frederick Douglass.”
- Friend: So what?
- You: It was crucial because it empowered him to see himself as an equal citizen and to fight for his freedom.
- Friend: Why should anyone care?
- You: This is important because slave owners deliberately withheld education to maintain control. Douglass’s self-education directly challenged and undermined that system of oppression.
By continually asking “So what?”, you move beyond simple statements to uncover the deeper significance and relevance of your argument.
Return to Themes from Your Introduction
Creating a full circle effect is a powerful way to conclude. If your introduction began with a specific scenario, anecdote, or question, revisit it in your conclusion. This demonstrates how your essay has shed light on the initial idea and provided a new understanding. You can also echo keywords, concepts, or imagery from your introduction to create a sense of unity and reinforce your central theme.
For instance, if your essay about climate change began with a vivid description of melting glaciers, you could return to this imagery in your conclusion, highlighting the urgency and real-world consequences of the issues you’ve discussed.
Synthesize, Don’t Just Summarize
While a brief recap of your main points can be part of a conclusion, avoid simply regurgitating what you’ve already written. Instead, show your reader how your arguments and evidence connect. Synthesize your key ideas to create a cohesive understanding. Explain how the different pieces of your analysis fit together to form a larger, more meaningful whole.
Think of it as weaving together the threads of your essay to create a tapestry. A summary simply lists the threads; synthesis shows how they are interwoven to create a complete picture.
Incorporate a Provocative Insight or Quotation
Drawing on your research to include a thought-provoking insight or a powerful quotation can add depth to your conclusion. This could be a striking statistic, a relevant quote from a key thinker, or a nuanced observation that encapsulates your argument. Ensure the chosen element is directly relevant to your thesis and adds a new layer of understanding for the reader.
For example, in an essay about social media’s impact on society, you might conclude with a quote from a media theorist that encapsulates the complex relationship between technology and human connection.
Propose a Course of Action, Solution, or Further Questions
Encourage your reader to think beyond the confines of your essay. Suggest a course of action related to your topic, propose a potential solution to an issue you’ve explored, or pose questions that warrant further investigation. This can redirect your reader’s thinking and invite them to apply your insights to broader contexts or their own lives.
For example, an essay on urban traffic congestion could conclude by proposing potential solutions like investing in public transportation or exploring innovative urban planning strategies. Alternatively, it could raise questions about the future of urban mobility and the challenges of sustainable development.
Point to Broader Implications
Expand the scope of your conclusion by highlighting the wider significance of your topic. Consider the broader implications of your findings and connect them to larger issues or fields of study. This demonstrates the relevance of your work and its potential impact beyond the specific focus of your essay.
For example, an essay analyzing a local environmental issue could broaden its conclusion to discuss the global implications of environmental degradation and the interconnectedness of local and global ecosystems. Similarly, a paper on a specific literary work could point to the author’s lasting influence on literature or their contribution to broader social or philosophical movements.
Common Pitfalls: Strategies to Avoid in Your Conclusion
Just as there are effective strategies, there are also common pitfalls to avoid when writing your conclusion:
Avoid Overused Phrases
Starting your conclusion with phrases like “in conclusion,” “in summary,” or “in closing” can sound cliché and uninspired in writing. While they might be acceptable in speeches, they often come across as wooden and unnecessary in essays. Aim for a more subtle and sophisticated transition into your concluding remarks.
Don’t Introduce Your Thesis for the First Time
Your conclusion should not be the place where you finally reveal your main argument. The thesis statement belongs in your introduction, setting the stage for your entire essay. Introducing it in the conclusion will confuse your reader and weaken the overall impact of your argument.
Resist Introducing New Ideas or Subtopics
A conclusion should synthesize and reflect on the ideas you’ve already presented. Introducing entirely new ideas or subtopics in your conclusion can be jarring and detract from your central argument. It suggests that these points are afterthoughts rather than integral parts of your analysis.
Steer Clear of Simply Rephrasing Your Thesis
Ending with a mere rephrased thesis statement, without adding any new insight or depth, can feel repetitive and anticlimactic. Your conclusion should build upon your thesis, not simply restate it. Aim to expand upon your initial argument and leave the reader with something more substantial.
Avoid Sentimental or Overly Emotional Appeals
While passion for your topic is valuable, overly sentimental or emotional appeals can be out of character in an analytical academic paper. Maintain a consistent tone throughout your essay, and let the strength of your argument, rather than emotional manipulation, resonate with your reader.
Don’t Include New Evidence
The conclusion is not the place to introduce new evidence, such as quotations, statistics, or facts. Any evidence that supports your argument should be incorporated into the body paragraphs of your essay. Introducing it in the conclusion can feel like an afterthought and disrupt the logical flow of your paper.
Recognizing Ineffective Conclusions: Four Common Types to Steer Clear Of
Understanding what is a conclusion also means recognizing ineffective types. Here are four common weak conclusion types to avoid:
1. The “That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It” Conclusion
This type of conclusion simply restates the thesis and adds little to no new insight. It’s often brief and underdeveloped, failing to move the ideas forward. Writers often resort to this type when they feel they have nothing more to say.
Example: “In conclusion, Frederick Douglass was, as we have seen, a pioneer in American education, proving that education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.”
This conclusion merely echoes the initial point without exploring its deeper significance or broader implications.
2. The “Sherlock Holmes” Conclusion
The “Sherlock Holmes” conclusion withholds the thesis until the very end, attempting to create a dramatic reveal. However, academic essays are not mystery novels. Readers expect your main argument to be stated upfront and developed throughout the paper. Revealing it only in the conclusion is confusing and undermines the analytical nature of academic writing.
Example: (After an essay detailing incidents from a book without stating their significance): “So, as the evidence above demonstrates, Douglass saw education as a way to undermine the slaveholders’ power and also an important step toward freedom.”
This conclusion presents the thesis as a surprise, rather than the logical outcome of the essay’s analysis.
3. The “America the Beautiful”/”I Am Woman”/”We Shall Overcome” Conclusion
This type relies heavily on emotion and sentimentality to make its point. While heartfelt, such emotional appeals are often out of sync with the analytical tone of an academic paper. A more sophisticated and reasoned commentary is generally a more fitting conclusion.
Example: “Because of the efforts of fine Americans like Frederick Douglass, countless others have seen the shining beacon of light that is education. His example was a torch that lit the way for others. Frederick Douglass was truly an American hero.”
This conclusion uses emotional praise rather than analytical reflection to conclude the essay.
4. The “Grab Bag” Conclusion
The “Grab Bag” conclusion includes random, disconnected information that the writer couldn’t integrate into the main body of the essay. It’s tempting to include interesting details discovered during research, but adding these miscellaneous facts at the end can create confusion and weaken the essay’s focus.
Example: “In addition to being an educational pioneer, Frederick Douglass provides an interesting case study for masculinity in the American South. He also offers historians an interesting glimpse into slave resistance when he confronts Covey, the overseer. His relationships with female relatives reveal the importance of family in the slave community.”
This conclusion throws in disparate points that are not clearly connected to the central argument or to each other, creating a disjointed and unfocused ending.
By understanding what is a conclusion, its purpose, effective strategies, and common pitfalls, you can master the art of writing compelling conclusions that leave a lasting impact on your readers. A strong conclusion not only completes your essay but also elevates it, transforming it from a mere assignment into a thoughtful and engaging piece of writing.
Works Consulted
We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial. We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.
Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. New York: Dover.
Hamilton College. n.d. “Conclusions.” Writing Center. Accessed June 14, 2019. https://www.hamilton.edu//academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/conclusions.
Holewa, Randa. 2004. “Strategies for Writing a Conclusion.” LEO: Literacy Education Online. Last updated February 19, 2004. https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html.
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