How to Write a Closing Statement For an Essay

A well-written essay needs an introduction, a explication and a closing statement. Much like the old public-speaking strategy: tell them what you are going to say, say it and tell them you have said it, an essay presents a systematic written expression of an idea or opinion, supported by facts. A closing statement provides you with the opportunity to summarize what you have said. Follow the steps below to create the paragraph that will stand as the closing statement of your essay.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Essay outline
• Essay introduction
• Essay body
• Writing materials

Writing a closing statement for an essay

1. Review your outline, introduction and essay body to make certain of what your closing statement needs to contain. The main point of this exercise is to be sure that you have expressed the idea you want to convey clearly and supported it. While this may seem excessive, experienced writers will tell you that they have sometimes found themselves losing their way when writing an essay. Your review is intended to make certain that you stayed on track.

2. Review your introduction from the point of view of linking it to your closing statement. While you do not want to repeat its language exactly, you may wish to repeat an image or phrase that makes your opinion particularly clear. For example, you might choose to describe nostalgia for the Confederacy as a star still shining in some Southern minds today in your introduction. Referring back to the shining star image and summarizing how you have backed that up in your essay ties beginning and end together: light from that nostalgic star reflects in special holidays, attachment to the Confederate flag and the popularity of Civil War reenactments, all of which you have described in the body of your essay.

3. Make certain that your closing statement is consistent with your opening one, but allow for further exploration of your subject if you wish. You may speculate briefly beyond the scope of the essay: your view is likely to be supported by what Southern schools teach children about the Confederacy. You may pass judgment on your own efforts: further research is needed to support your opinion factually or one avenue of inquiry did not support your beginning premise. Your main point, however, is to reinforce the opening statement of your introduction.

4. As with your introduction, restrict your closing statement to short sentences. Restate your opening premise, review how avenues of inquiry supported it, and state your conclusion. A single sentence for each---two at the most---should suffice for each item. Your closing statement will remind readers of what they have read at length and in detail. As public speakers say, now you've told them that you said it.

Tips & Warnings

• Experienced writers will observe that sometimes they enter an idea in Kansas and come out in Kentucky. The major reason to review your introduction before writing your closing statement is you may need to make changes to the introduction to accommodate unexpected outcomes.
• Avoid verbal tags in your closing statement: thus we see, therefore, in conclusion. Readers can see that they are coming to the end of your essay; that's enough.

References

• how parts of an essay fit together

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