Here is an example of a conclusion for an argumentative essay:
If your introduction posed a question, hypothesis, or series of questions, use the conclusion to provide an answer, reflect on the evolution of thought, or address how these questions have been explored and answered in the essay.
While essays are an example of formal writing, they should never come off as being boring or dull. While writing your conclusion sentence, use impactful language that creates a certain feeling in the reader. You want the reader to feel invested in what you have to say and using powerful words can elicit the desired emotional response.
Finally, remember that all writing is persuasive. Whether its trying to make a direct impact or simply being submitted for a grade, any piece of writing needs to persuade someone somewhere in order to be successful. How you accomplish your persuasion is most often captured in the conclusion.
Here is an example of a conclusion for an expository essay:
Writing a concluding paragraph is, in a way, similar to writing an . An introduction tells the readers what you are about to say. Meanwhile, a conclusion retells what you said in the essay.
This conclusion works well for longer, more complex essays, such as argument essays or research papers. Restating the main points reminds readers of the ideas covered in the essay.
To make the most of your conclusion sentence, keep it concise and focused on the central point you are reiterating. This is not the time to let your words drag on. Instead, think of the conclusion sentence as your chance for a mic drop.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of differences, as well. The conclusion is not about introducing new ideas but restating them. The structure below will help you if you are wondering how to write an excellent conclusion for the essay.
Here is an example of a conclusion for an analytical essay:
The length of an essay conclusion should ideally be proportional to the essay's overall length, typically around 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 2000-word essay, a conclusion of 100-200 words would be appropriate. This length allows enough space to summarise and synthesise the key points effectively, providing a sense of closure without being overly lengthy or repetitive.
Here are two polished conclusion paragraph examples:
In-text citations in conclusions are generally not common since this section is meant for summarising and synthesising the arguments presented in the essay, rather than introducing new information or evidence. However, if you are reinforcing a crucial point that has been previously cited in the body of the essay, it might be appropriate to include a citation. The key is to ensure that the conclusion remains a summary of your own synthesis of the topic, rather than an extension of the essay's argumentative body.
Here are three well-written conclusion sentence examples:
Balancing detail and brevity in a conclusion is about summarising the main points without delving into extensive detail. Focus on the essence of your arguments and how they contribute to the overarching thesis. Avoid introducing new information or getting bogged down in specifics that have been thoroughly covered in the body. A good conclusion encapsulates the key points in a succinct manner, providing a clear, comprehensive, yet concise overview that reinforces the central message of your essay.
Do you need conclusions for an essay?
In a conclusion, it isn't necessary to restate every single argument made in the essay. Instead, the focus should be on synthesising the key points that directly contribute to supporting your thesis. This approach ensures that the conclusion remains concise and impactful. It's about drawing together the main threads of your argument to reinforce your central thesis, providing clarity and a sense of finality without delving into every detail discussed in the body of your essay.
Here’s how to write conclusions for each type of writing:
An introduction can do a lot of things, but at the very least, it needs to hook your reader and offer your thesis statement. Even an implied thesis statement is fine--just as long as your reader knows the general point or direction of the essay. Some writing instructors will also tell you to include some forecasting (the main points of your essay), definitions, context, history, and so on--but that usually results in a huge first paragraph that no one wants to read. I recommend you keep it short: grab your readers’ attention, make sure your main point is clear, and move on.