Writing the introduction and body of a paper is a big accomplishment,
but you still need to write your conclusion. Writing a conclusion can
feel difficult, but it’s easier if you plan ahead. First, format your
conclusion by revisiting your thesis, summarizing your arguments, and
making a final statement. Then, re-read and revise your conclusion to
make it effective.
Template and Sample Conclusion
Part 1
Part 1
Formatting Your Conclusion
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1Begin a conclusion by revisiting your thesis to show how you proved it.
Explain how you demonstrated your thesis, as well as what the reader
should take from your paper. By reminding your reader of the ideas you
expressed in your thesis, you can more effectively show how your points
and evidence support your thesis.[1]- Let’s say your thesis reads, “Allowing students to visit the library
during lunch improves campus life and supports academic achievement
because it encourages reading, allows students to start assignments
early, and provides a refuge for students who eat alone.” - You might restate it as, “Evidence shows students who have access to
their school’s library during lunch check out more books and are more
likely to complete their homework; additionally, students aren’t forced
to eat alone.”
- Let’s say your thesis reads, “Allowing students to visit the library
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2Summarize your argument in 1-2 sentences. These
sentences should pull together all of your points and evidence for your
reader. Don’t simply list your reasons or the evidence you provided.
Instead, explain how your evidence works together to support your
thesis.[2]- You might write, “According to data, students checked out more books
when they were allowed to visit their library during lunch, used that
time to do research and ask for help with homework, and reported feeling
less alone at lunch time. This shows that opening up the library during
lunch can improve student life and academic performance.” - If you’re writing an argument essay, address the opposing argument,
as well. You might write, “Although administrators worry that students
will walk the halls instead of going to the library, schools that allow
students into the library during lunch reported less behavioral issues
during lunch than schools that don’t allow students in the library. Data
show that students were spending that time checking out more books and
working on homework assignments.”[3]
- You might write, “According to data, students checked out more books
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3End your paper with a statement that makes your reader think.
Consider how you want your reader to feel after they finish reading
your paper. This is the feeling you want to create in your reader when
they read the last sentence of your paper. Here are some techniques you
can use to create this feeling:[4]-
Call your reader to action. For example, “By working with school
administrators, Greenlawn ISD can increase academic achievement by
letting students use the library during lunch.” -
End with a warning. You might write, “If students aren’t allowed
to use the library during lunch, they are missing out on a valuable
learning opportunity they’ll never get back.” - Evoke an image. Write, “Next year, students at Greenlawn could be gathered around a table in the library reading or broadening their minds.”
-
Compare your topic to something universal to help your reader relate.
You might write, “Everyone knows how stressful it is to have a planner
full of assignments, so having extra time to work on them during lunch
would be a great relief to many students.” -
Show why the issue is significant. Write, “Giving students more
time to spend in the library will help them become more comfortable
spending time there, which also helps the library’s mission.” -
Predict what would happen if your ideas are implemented. Say,
“Next year, students at Greenlawn could increase their academic
achievements, but results will only happen if they can use the library
during lunch.” - End with a compelling quote. For instance, “As author Roald Dahl once said, ‘If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books.’”
-
Call your reader to action. For example, “By working with school
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4Talk to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
You might be writing a conclusion for a unique type of paper, such as a
post-experiment report. If this is the case, your instructor or
assignment sheet might provide you with different formatting
instructions. Always follow the instructions provided by your instructor
so you can receive full credit for your work.[5]- You could also ask your instructor if you can see an example of a
well-written conclusion to give you an idea about what they expect you
to write.
- You could also ask your instructor if you can see an example of a
Part 2
Part 2
Drafting an Effective Conclusion
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1Avoid using introductory phrases like “in conclusion.”
It’s tempting to start off your conclusion this way, but it’s a big
turn off to readers when you use cliches like this. You don’t need to
use any special words to begin your conclusion.
- If you want to use an introductory phrase, use a stronger one like
“based on the evidence” or “ultimately.” You might also begin your first
sentence with a word like “although,” “while,” or “since.”[6] - Additionally, avoid “to conclude,” “in summary,” or “in closing.”
- If you want to use an introductory phrase, use a stronger one like
-
2Model your conclusion based on your introduction.
Your conclusion will be different from your introduction, but they will
share certain features. For example, you’ll end your introduction with
your thesis statement and begin your conclusion by revisiting that
thesis. Additionally, your conclusion can refer back to the ideas and
information you presented in your introduction, which brings your paper
full-circle.[7]- For example, you may have opened your introduction with an
anecdote, quote, or image. Bring it back up in your conclusion.
Similarly, if you opened with a rhetorical question, you might offer a
potential answer in your conclusion.
- For example, you may have opened your introduction with an
-
3Include all of your points in your summary, rather than focusing on one.
You might make the common mistake of only discussing your most
persuasive point or the last point you made. However, this can undermine
your argument as a whole. It’s better to provide an overview of how
your points come together to support your ideas than to give your reader
a thorough review of your strongest point.[8]- For example, you wouldn’t want to end your essay about allowing
students to use the library during lunch by stating, “As the evidence
shows, using the library at lunch is a great way to improve student
performance because they are more likely to do their homework. On a
survey, students reported using the library to do research, ask homework
questions, and finish their assignments early.” This leaves out your
points about students reading more and having a place to spend their
lunch period if they don’t like eating in the cafeteria.
- For example, you wouldn’t want to end your essay about allowing
-
4Make sure you don’t introduce any new information.
Conclusions are tricky because you don’t want to simply repeat yourself,
but you also shouldn’t say anything new. Read over what you’ve written
to check that you haven’t introduced a new point, added new evidence, or
tacked on extra information. Everything in your conclusion must be
discussed in the introduction or body of your paper.[9]- If you have introduced something you think is really important
for your paper, go back through the body paragraphs and look for
somewhere to add it. It’s better to leave it out of the paper than to
include it in the conclusion.
- If you have introduced something you think is really important
-
5Proofread and revise your conclusion before turning in your paper.
Set aside your paper for at least a few hours. Then, re-read what
you’ve written. Look for typos, misspelled words, incorrectly used
words, and other errors. Additionally, check that what you’ve written
makes sense and accurately reflects your paper.[10]- If something doesn’t make sense or your conclusion seems incomplete, revise your conclusion so that your ideas are clear.
- It’s helpful to read your entire paper as a whole to make sure it all comes together.
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I conclude an argumentative essay?wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can use the same format
discussed in this article. After you restate your thesis, make sure you
include your concession and counterargument, then summarize your
remaining arguments. Finally, write the final statement of your paper.
See the example in this article. -
QuestionHow do I write a conclusion at the end of a science experiment?wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can follow the same formatting
as you use for a paper for English class. Just make sure you use concise
language that gets directly to the point in summarizing your
hypothesis, results, and conclusions. It’s a good idea to talk to your
instructor to check if they have specific formatting requirements. They
may even provide you with a sample of a successful conclusion. -
QuestionHow do I write a conclusion about a famous person?Community AnswerIt depends on whether you’re
writing about that person in general or a specific period in their life.
If you’re writing about their life, you could give a very brief
overview from their humble beginnings to their biggest accomplishments.
If you’re writing about a specific period or event, focus on why that
event was important. Remember, a conclusion is just meant to be a short
but strong summation. -
QuestionHow do I write a four to six sentence conclusion on a five paragraph essay?Community AnswerRepeat your three main points and say something to leave the reader thinking.
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QuestionHow do I write an essay’s conclusion?Community AnswerSum up your paper. Restate the
thesis and the topic. Find a way to bring your hook back into play. Try
to answer your hook. Bring back your major points. Make it short. -
QuestionHow do I write a conclusion for a short essay?Community AnswerAvoid repeating things you already stated in the essay, and instead use the conclusion as a space to make your final argument.
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QuestionHow can I write a conclusion on a clean and green city?Community AnswerRead over what you have written in your essay and summarize the point you are trying to make in a short and snappy paragraph.
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QuestionDo I have to write a conclusion at the end of an essay?Community AnswerYes, you need a conclusion because it wraps up your essay.
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QuestionHow do I write the introduction of a conclusion?Community AnswerMake a subtle change of topic! For
example: Let’s say you are writing a report about how drugs affect you,
and you just finished a section about how it makes you look. You can
subtly change the topic by saying, “Drugs don’t make your body look
healthy, nor are they good for you.” Just like that you have an
introduction to your conclusion. Once that sentence is done, you can
just summarize the rest! -
QuestionHow do I write a conclusion in a report?Community AnswerSum up all of your main points. Be
sure to include everything, and try not to sound too repetitive. For
example, don’t just copy down your main points word for word- try using
different syntax to put emphasis on your writing.
Unanswered Questions
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How do I write a conclusion to a digital ethics essay?
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How do I write a conclusion for a history paper?
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What are five important guidelines for justifying a conclusion?
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How long should a conclusion report for a 5 month scientific internship typically be?
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How can I conclude a business plan?
Ask a Question
Tips
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Make sure you aren’t simply repeating what you’ve written
earlier. While you want to restate your ideas, present them in a new way
for the reader. -
Don’t write your conclusion until you’ve written the entire
paper. It’ll be much easier to come up with your concluding thoughts
after the body of the paper is written. -
Don’t put any evidence or statistics in your conclusion. This information belongs in the body of your paper.[11]
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Proofread your paper by reading it aloud. This can help you find grammatical errors, as well as awkward passages or repetition.
Warnings
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Never copy someone else’s words or ideas without giving them
credit, as this is plagiarism. If you are caught plagiarizing part of
your paper, even just the conclusion, you’ll likely face severe academic
penalties. -
Don’t express any doubts you may have about your ideas or arguments. Whenever you share your ideas, assume the role of expert.[12]
References
- ↑ http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conclude.html
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/argument_papers/conclusions.html
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
- ↑ http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conclude.html
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
- ↑ http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conclude.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/argument_papers/conclusions.html
This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD. Christopher
Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community
College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval
Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
Co-authors: 27