Conclusions

The conclusion of an essay, like the conclusion of a short story, movie, song, or speech, has two major functions: to convey a sense of completion and to get the audience’s focus right where the writer wants it.

The kind of conclusion, of course, depends largely on the type of text. Not every piece of writing needs a formal conclusion. In a very short piece—say one of only a page or two—it may be enough just to stop after the last point is made.

Longer, more complicated pieces of writing need to pull things together at the end. Even when you have created a clear thesis at the beginning and have guided the reader along a carefully developed path of reasoning, readers may have lost the sharp impression of your thesis in going through the mass of details, supporting examples, and data. There are limits to readers’ abilities to comprehend and remember what they read. In closing your text, you may need to let the multitude of details and facts of your analysis recede and to reassert your thesis as the final thought that you want your readers to linger on.

In writing a conclusion, you face the same challenges as in writing an introduction. The best conclusions are straightforward and appropriate and pack a bit of a punch, but they do not strain for an effect they cannot achieve (such as humor, cleverness, or brilliance). If you have not written a good text, your conclusion cannot save it. However, a poor conclusion can damage a good piece of writing by leaving a dreary feeling as the last impression a reader takes away from the paper. A good conclusion confirms the reader’s perception that your text is well written.

Never begin your conclusion with "In conclusion..." Just start with what you would have said before those two words.

1) Explain the significance of your main point

Tell us why you wrote this paper, but imply this. In a narrative, answer how this has affected your life.

2) Recap your paper

Summarize your main points, but only in a couple of sentences. Don't rewrite the paper because if you spend too much time summarizing, it becomes redundant and boring. Just remind us of your main points because the conclusion is what the reader most likely will remember.

3) Restate your thesis for emphasis

Make sure you emphasize it in the conclusion.

Don't repeat it exactly...this becomes repetitious and boring.

The above components are necessary in your conclusion. In a college paper of any real length, you need to incorporate these things to create a base for your conclusion, but you need to do more than this in order to make your conclusion stand out. This is where the suggestions below come into play.

4) Derived Conclusion or theory

While in the process of writing your paper, you come to some sort of realization about

the topic that was not present before. This is the proverbial light bulb going off over

one’s head. Educators love when this occurs.

5) Outcome or Effects

Results or consequences of what was discussed in the essay. Usually this is fairly immediate and sometimes, personal. For example, if we were writing a paper on the destruction of the rainforests in South America, we could research and perhaps suggest that every week that we destroy the rainforests at the going rate, we make extinct 100 species of animals, plant, insects, or bacteria. This really shows the importance of your topic and what is being discussed.

6) Solution

Almost any topic could be looked upon as a problem. The rainforests being destroyed

can be seen in any number of ways as a problem. And if we have a problem, we can pose

a solution to that problem in our conclusion. We as a species are very progressive and we love to solve problems. This can be very appealing to a reader. Perhaps suggesting stronger laws restricting logging or planting 5 trees for every one cut could be viable solutions.

7) Question

A thought provoking question dealing with what you have discussed in your paper often leaves the reader thinking, which is the desired effect you are seeking. This is easier said than done however. A boring, poorly thought out question does nothing for the reader. So if you are writing on some theological topic, you don’t want to ask, “All these things lead me to ask, is there a God?” Something better is “All these things lead me to ponder, was it God who created man, or man who created God, who created man?” Hmmm.

8) Call to Action

Calling the reader to some sort of action makes them feel accountable for what is

happening concerning a topic. You want your reader to feel responsible. That means they are thinking about what you said, which is what you want. The 2010 earthquake in Haiti made the American populace feel responsible for our fellow man by news broadcasts suggesting we send money. Many people gave into this.

9) Future Consequences

This is like outcome or effects, but usually much farther into the future. So keeping with our rainforest topic, if we continue to destroy the rainforests at the current rate, in 50 years, we will have reduced the earth’s oxygen producing capability by 30%.

The three below harken back to introductions. All these are just as effective in conclusions.

10) Clinching Statement

11) Quotation

13) Story

Once again, you may any of these above or a combination of these above, but if you do not leave your reader thinking, you have not done your job as a writer.