Conclusions

Options for Conclusion Paragraphs

You might be able to use one or a combination of these options to make that last paragraph meaningful and satisfying for your reader. Not all of these styles might be suitable for your particular essay, depending on its type, topic, or points already discussed in the body. Choose wisely.

• Call to Action: This style is especially handy for argument papers dealing with a current issue. It urges the audience to be involved, stay aware, contact important people, and so forth, though not necessarily giving exact directions on what to do.
• Recommendation: If your essay’s thesis and body paragraphs have illustrated a problem or a weakness within an event or situation, this style suggests specific solutions or improvements.
• Prediction: If the goal of your essay has been to recommend solutions to a problem, your conclusion can predict either: A) what will likely happen if your recommendations are followed, or B) what will eventually happen if no changes are made.
• Memorable Quote and Reflection: Did someone once say something that speaks to the whole of your subject? This person could have been a well-known figure, an expert on the subject, or even someone dear to you. After your thesis, bring in the quote. Then don’t leave it alone; reflect on it and how it connects with your thesis and the whole importance of the topic.
• Theme-Based (or People-Based) Reflection: This style is often a good choice for essays of literary analysis. Very often, your thesis will be something like, “[Insert story/poem] shows/illustrates that [insert theme] through [insert means].” If your body paragraphs have been showing how the theme is illustrated in the story or poem, then use your conclusion to communicate the theme’s relevance in the larger world, in society, or with people in general.
• Compare/Contrast Evaluation: It is not enough in a compare/contrast essay to show how two things are similar or different. You must also explain why this is important. Depending on your instructor’s directions, the conclusion might also be the place for your evaluation of the two sides of an issue. Which side has the stronger case and why?
• Explanation of the Personal Effect: Given certain topics, it might be appropriate to conclude by explaining how the subject had an emotional effect on you. How did experiencing or researching the topic change your outlook or behavior?

Pitfalls to Avoid

• Sheer Summary and Repetition: Especially in a shorter essay (e.g. five-paragraph essay), a mere summary of the past few paragraphs might seem insulting to the reader’s intelligence. Instead, integrate those points, showing the reader how they all fit together.
• Moving into an Unrelated or Too-Loosely Related Topic: While you do want to give larger importance to the topic, you do not want to veer from your previous topic entirely. This will make the reader confused about what is really the essay’s main idea.
• Accidentally Writing Another Body Paragraph: Don’t make your conclusion into another body paragraph by giving yet another reason for your thesis or giving more supporting details from the text. If it turns out to be another body paragraph, that can be a good thing, but you will still have to write an actual conclusion.
• Self-Reference in the Writing: Don’t refer to your essay (anywhere in your essay) or state that you are concluding it. Avoid writing words like, “In my essay I have written about…” or “This pretty much covers the subject,” or even, “In conclusion…”
• Apologetic Tone: Don’t apologize about what you have written or how you have done it. Don’t undermine your own purpose by writings statements like “This is only my opinion,” or “Although I don’t know much about this subject, I have tried to show you that…”