How to Conclude an Essay: Tips and Strategies for Crafting an Effective Conclusion
Concluding an essay can be challenging, whether you’re writing a term paper, a research paper, or a personal essay. The conclusion is the final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your reader, summarize your main points, and restate your thesis. In this article, we’ll explore several types of conclusions that you can utilize to make your essay’s conclusion impactful and memorable.
The Classic “Sum It Up” Conclusion
One of the most commonly used types of conclusions is the “sum it up” conclusion. This type of conclusion involves briefly summarizing the main points of your essay and restating your thesis. To effectively utilize this type of conclusion, you should:
- Briefly summarize the main points of your essay
- Restate your thesis in a fresh way that ties together your main points
- Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion
Bring it Full Circle Conclusion
The “bring it full circle” conclusion is another effective way to conclude an essay. This type of conclusion involves referencing the introduction of your essay and tying it together with your conclusion. You can effectively use this type of conclusion by:
- Referencing the introduction in a way that draws a connection with the content of your essay
- Tying together your introduction and conclusion in a way that enhances the overall impact of your essay
- Avoid repeating your introduction word for word
Rhetorical Question Conclusion
The rhetorical question conclusion is a type of conclusion that involves posing a thought-provoking question that encourages reflection. To effectively utilize this type of conclusion, you should:
- Create a rhetorical question that ties together the main points of your essay
- Pose a question that encourages reflection and thought on the topic of your essay
- Avoid using a rhetorical question that is irrelevant or distracting to the content of your essay
Reflect on the Implications Conclusion
The “reflect on the implications” conclusion is a type of conclusion that looks beyond the content of your essay and explores the broader implications of your topic. To effectively employ this type of conclusion, you should:
- Reflect on the broader implications of your essay’s topic
- Demonstrate how your essay’s content extends beyond the boundaries of your essay and holds relevance to a wider audience
- Avoid making broad, sweeping statements without proper context or evidence
End with a Call to Action Conclusion
The “end with a call to action” conclusion is a type of conclusion that encourages readers to take action or pursue further learning on a topic. To effectively use this type of conclusion, you should:
- Create a clear, concise call to action that is relevant to the content of your essay
- Pose a clear, specific action that readers can take after reading your essay or exploring the topic further
- Avoid creating a call to action that is vague or overly broad
End with a Memorable Quote or Anecdote Conclusion
Quotes and anecdotes can be an effective way to summarize your essay’s main points while also leaving a lasting impression on your reader. To effectively use this type of conclusion, you should:
- Select a quote or anecdote that ties together your essay’s main points and themes
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several different ways to conclude an essay effectively, from the classic “sum it up” conclusion to more creative strategies like ending with a call to action or memorable anecdote. Ultimately, the key to crafting an effective essay conclusion is to tie together your main points, restate your thesis, and leave a lasting impression on your reader. By utilizing the tips and strategies provided in this article, you can ensure that your essay’s conclusion is both impactful and memorable.