Essay conclusions

CONCLUSION
Brings closure to your essay and
wraps up the main idea of your
thesis.

 The conclusion of your essay: the closing paragraph,
 It is just as important as your opening, the first paragraph.
 The opening paragraph makes a first impression on your assessor.
 Your final paragraph will be the last impression you make before the assessor grades
your essay.
 It is clear that you must leave your assessor with a favourable impression.
 The paragraph that ends your essay will definitely be an important factor in how it is
assessed.
 It is the final part that summarizes your main points.
 You should not face any difficulties in this part, especially if you have had clear
understanding of your thesis all way through.
 Your conclusion should correspond to your first part-introduction.
 The main idea should be restated again- it should not be repeated or paraphrased in the
same words.

• The function of the closing paragraph is to round off the essay appropriately,
• Pay close attention to the main idea presented in the introduction.
• You may open your summary by reminding your thesis to the reader.
• In the introduction you have acquainted your reader with your idea, you should
restate it, bearing in mind that the reader has already read the main part of the
paper.
• Since the paragraph is conclusive, you should present your thesis in its
conclusive and most compelling form.
• The broadening of your conclusion does not mean that you should present there
some new facts and materials you have not mentioned before.
• Your conclusion is your last say. So, develop a strong conclusion to make a
lasting impression on the reader.

In conclusion, then, I would argue that, unless all the
countries of the world, great and small, developed or
developing, powerful and not- so powerful, make some
sacrifices for the sake of the future of the planet, the
resources we have taken for granted up till now will run out.
The most powerful nations of the world, the members of the
G8, must lead the way, otherwise disaster on an
unimaginable scale might ensue. The time for empty rhetoric
is past, the time for action has arrived. Time has run out for
the procrastinators and the selfish. It is the human race itself
that faces extinction.

 Other appropriate words or phrases that can be used to signal this include:
Finally, …
As I have argued, …
As I have shown, …
Therefore, …
The bulk of the evidence, then, points to …
However, as I have shown, …
Based on this evidence, …
 The concluding paragraph must inevitably include an element of summarizing what you have
written before.
 Try to avoid, however, slavishly repeating exactly the arguments or content you have used earlier.
• When writing a conclusion for your essay, it is helpful to keep these basic considerations in mind:
• Your conclusion is the last paragraph that your reader will encounter, your conclusion should
remind your reader about the most important aspects of your essay,
• In most essays, therefore, your conclusion should creatively restate the main idea of the essay,
• Your conclusion should also leave your reader even more interested in your topic and idea.

• FINAL SENTENCE: A neat, rounding-off sentence that leaves your reader
with something to think about is sound practice in essay-writing.
• In the above paragraph, ‘It is the human race itself that faces extinction’
performs that function.
• It is relevant to the topic, adds a note of finality to the conclusion and
underlines the seriousness of the situation.
• Always try to end your essays with some significant sentence like this.

Planning time frame
Be sure to spend a good deal of time planning and writing your
conclusion.
A strong conclusion can resolve and fulfill your essay as a whole and
make a real impact on your reader.
The conclusion performs a number of very significant functions, which
are as follows:

It can present a brief summary
FM, in short, is prospering in direct ratio as it provides
adults with a refuge from the blaring Children’s Hour of
the AM juke boxes and from the vacuity of most TV.
(The conclusion above summarizes by giving reasons
for the growing popularity of FM radio programs).

The question that cannot be avoided is whether
any nation, even in its own defense, has the
right to destroy half of the rest of the world.
(The conclusion above ends the essay by
describing the dangers of modern chemical,
biological, and radiological warfare).
It can provide a question for future debate

It can present a suggestion
Efforts at industry self-government directed toward higher ethical
standards are, of course, laudable and welcome. But consumers
probably do well to continue to hope, and to urge, that all
existing Governmental agencies which exercise regulatory
powers in the area- including the FTC, the FDA, certain divisions
of the Department of Agriculture, and the Treasury’s alcohol
control agency- will, in the future, act with more vigor and with a
greater awareness of consumer needs.
(The conclusion above ends the essay by discussing the interest
of consumers in deceptive packaging which conceals rises in
prices).

What will help to solve the complicated and disturbing
problem … is a greater public awareness of the role of the
hospital as a community institution and a willingness on the
part of the public to become involved in the management of
its community affairs. Such a force of informed public
opinion can right more wrongs than any laws devised.
(The conclusion above ends the essay by explaining the
problem of American doctors who were barred from
hospitals).
It can provide a solution to a problem

It can call the reader to take an action
Rather than use the AIDS epidemic as an opportunity to redress the under financing of
African health services, USAID would seem to be pursuing its long-desired program
goal of population control. The agency is insisting on the nature of AIDS as an STD,
the heterosexual transmission of AIDS in Africa, and the importance of condom use to
prevent HIV transmission. Of course condoms also prevent conception. Although
USAID projects a 30 to 50 percent increase in child mortality as a result of the
epidemic, it expects the population growth rate to decline by only I percent, because
total fertility is so high in Africa. USAID concludes, "Not only is this not the time to
diminish family planning efforts, but instead such efforts could be redoubled . . . ."
(The conclusion above ends the essay by explaining the problem of AIDS in Africa and
how should the US Aid be effective to solve the problem).

Conclusions should:
• Stress the importance of the thesis
statement.
• Give the essay a sense of completion.
• Leave a final impression on the reader.

FORMAT
 Restate (don’t copy) your thesis.
 Revisit the main points from your body paragraphs.
 Transitional sentences to connect to your final power thought.
 Conclude with a final comment or powerful thought.

(1) RESTATE your thesis
Example:
The tape used to divide the
classroom had symbolic meaning in
Freedom Writers because its physical
characteristics shared a connection
with the characters in the movie.
Thesis

(2)REVISIT the main points
from your body paragraphs.
Example:
The stickiness of the tape represented the loyalty of
Eva’s “family”. The narrow width symbolized the
narrow mindedness of the English Department
Head, Margaret, to the ideas of Mrs. Gruwell. Like
the line of tape used to divide the classroom,
segregation between races at Wilson High School
created unrest and disharmony.

(3) Transitional Sentences to
lead your reader to the final
power thought
Example:
However different the characters
were, the features of this object linked
these dynamic characters and their
experiences.

(4) Conclude with a final comment or
powerful thought.
Example:
This type of symbolic meaning in
objects can be found in anything and
like the line of tape or even a box of
chocolates, it can hold a deeper
significance than what can be seen.

Example
(1) The tape used to divide the classroom had symbolic
meaning in Freedom Writers because its physical
characteristics shared a connection with the characters in the
movie. (2) The stickiness of the tape represented the loyalty of
Eva’s “family”. The narrow width symbolized the narrow
mindedness of the English Department Head, Margaret, to the
ideas of Mrs. Gruwell. Like the line of tape used to divide the
classroom, segregation between races at Wilson High School
created unrest and disharmony. (3) However different the
characters were, the features of this object linked these
dynamic characters and their experiences. (4) This type of
symbolic meaning in objects can be found in anything and like
the line of tape or even a box of chocolates, it can hold a
deeper significance than what can be seen.

AVOID!!!
• Introducing NEW IDEAS!!!
• Overused phrases: In conclusion, In summary, In closing.
• Stating the thesis for the very first time.
• Ending with a rephrased thesis statement.
• Making sentimental, emotional appeals.
• Matter of fact statements (obviously, evident…)

Structure
• Introduction
– outline of essay
• Main section
– Main point A
• details, evidence
– Main point B
• Conclusion
– summary of main points
– personal conclusions

Essay conclusions

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Essay conclusions