How to Write a Strong Conclusion

Using the legendary red-pen technique is one useful way to edit a conclusion.

Conclusions can make or break a piece of writing. A strong ending to a piece can enthrall a reader and drive home the value and significance of a piece. That's a lot of pressure. Luckily, you can take a few straightforward steps to produce a compelling conclusion for almost any piece of written work. Spend the time and attention, and your conclusion will have readers coming back for more.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Pen
• Paper
• Your mind

1. Summarize your paper in a few lines on a scrap piece of paper. Include the key points and why they are significant. Your notes can be in bullet form or in short sentences. This will help you focus on what's important about your paper while leaving out unnecessary information.

2. Begin the conclusion with a topic sentence that summarizes your paper. The topic sentence should be catchy and brief but should also relate to the reader what the essay has been about. The point of the conclusion is to remind the reader of your topic, and the topic sentence will frame this paragraph.

3. Repeat your main points and their significance. Briefly summarize each of your main points and comment on how they are relevant to your thesis or position. Include a line or two on why they are important. Do not repeat the exact wording that you used in your introduction or in the body of your paper.

4. End with an open question or a statement of overall significance. The last line of your conclusion is sometimes called the "clincher." The job of this sentence is to secure the reader's attention, which you have been building throughout the paper. The line should be direct and should either relate your topic to a larger and unanswered question or should remind the reader why your paper and subject are important.

5. Review the conclusion. After writing, let the conclusion sit for awhile: a few hours or, if you have the time, a few days. Come back and edit it. Ensure that it treats all your main points and that it is both grammatically sound and that the wording is coherent. Pass the paper along to friends or co-workers, if possible, since the more editors you have, the more likely you are to catch any errors or omissions.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful not to end your paper on an open-ended note. The final sentence should be strong, confident, and to the point. If the reader walks away from reading your paper feeling convinced and educated, you have written a successful conclusion.

References

• St. Cloud State University; Literary Education Online; Randa Holewa and Joe Mathison: Strategies for Writing a Conclusion