An essay conclusion is the culmination of any well-crafted academic essay, a vital component. Your response to the query should be repeated, and the main arguments briefly outlined. No new points or new knowledge are shared in it. Even seasoned writers sometimes grapple with concluding their thoughts effectively. In this article, you’ll get to understand what an essay conclusion is and what should not be included, as well as expound on how the essay conclusion structure ought to be.
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Essay conclusion in a nutshell
An essay conclusion is like the final wrap-up or summary of your essay. It reminds the reader of your main points and often leaves them with something to think about. Imagine telling a friend quickly what your essay was about and why it matters; that’s your conclusion!
Definition: Essay conclusion
An essay conclusion is the last paragraph of your academic writing. It summarizes your hypothesis and influences, research, and claims. It allows readers to understand why your academic essay should be of importance to them. Furthermore, it closes the article and one more time reaffirms the key points. This is the time to impress and illustrate why the paper matters to readers. In other words, the question “So what?” should be resolved by your academic essay conclusion. An essay conclusion should include the following elements:
- Restate the thesis in a new way
- Summarize the main points of the essay
- Connect the points to show the overall significance
- Offer a final thought or implication
Example
Essay topic: The importance of reading in the digital age
In an era dominated by screens and digital interactions, the age-old practice of reading remains more crucial than ever. Revisiting our primary thesis, it’s evident that reading fosters critical thinking, broadens perspectives, and nurtures empathy, qualities that are essential in today’s rapidly changing world. Despite the numerous advantages of technology, literature serves as a foundation for understanding culture, history, and personal introspection. As we journey further into the digital age, let us not forsake the printed page, but rather, embrace it as a counterbalance, reminding us of the depth of human thought and the timeless value of storytelling. In doing so, we not only preserve the richness of our past, but also ensure a more thoughtful, understanding future.
Structure
The essay conclusion is a message to the reader that your writing has been completed. The reader then has a strong sense that your essay aims have been accomplished. An essay conclusion’s underlying framework depicts three key fields: a thesis, a description of key theories, and final thoughts, like a debate on a future emphasis (recommendation, prediction, solution). Structuring academic essays is not easy, so here-below, we look at the main components of a conclusion.
Step 1: Restate the thesis
This step revisits the central argument or claim of the essay. However, it’s essential to avoid simply copying the thesis verbatim from the introduction. Instead, rephrase it in a way that reaffirms its importance and the evidence you’ve provided to support it throughout the essay.
To transition in an essay conclusion, avoid using commonly used transition words like “in summary” or “in conclusion”. Instead, opt for variations like “in essence”, “all in all”, “altogether”, “briefly”, “finally”, and “in short”.
Step 2: Summarize main points
Here, the major arguments, evidence, or findings presented in the essay body are briefly recapped. This synthesis serves as a reminder of the logical progression of the essay and reinforces the support for the thesis.
The study results show how essential findings for strategy, implementation, concept, and future research can be. Your findings are relevant for strategy, experience, or philosophy, and are the research consequences.
Step 3: Final thoughts
This is the concluding remark that ties everything together, offering broader implications, future predictions, or a call to action. It’s where you can leave the reader with a thought-provoking idea or a sense of the essay’s broader relevance. The end of a research paper should have an effect on the reader, as does the introduction.
The thesis closing statement intends to display your new knowledge and clearly state the answer to the main investigative question. It must be a brief and appealing conclusion. You want the reader to understand exactly how your research has progressed or what your significant discovery has been.
What not to include
Fundamentally, the essay conclusion should restate the solid thesis statement you wrote and emphasize the main points of your study. This would help demonstrate to the reading audience why your work is important and how it helps in this area. However, you should avoid the following when writing a conclusion:
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New information or arguments
Do not introduce new points or evidence. -
Apologies
Avoid phrases like “I may not be an expert” or “This is just my opinion”. You should be confident in the points you’ve made. -
Overused phrases
Try not to use clichés such as “In conclusion,” “In summary,” or “As previously stated”. -
Repeating the thesis verbatim
Restate your thesis, but don’t copy and paste it. Rephrase it to give a sense of closure. -
Being vague
Your conclusion should be clear and concise, reinforcing the main points of your essay. -
Off-topic tangents
Everything in your conclusion should directly relate to your thesis and main points. -
Overwhelming emotion
While passion about a topic is great, avoid excessive emotional appeals that might detract from your main points or make your conclusion seem unbalanced.
Note: An essay conclusion should leave your reader with a clear understanding of your argument and a sense of closure. It’s your final opportunity to emphasize the importance of your topic and your stance.
Good examples
First, let’s consider a persuasive essay with the topic: “The benefits of adopting a pet from a shelter”.
Example
In the grand tapestry of life, our choices often define our legacy. Choosing to adopt a pet from a shelter not only bestows a second chance upon a deserving animal but also takes a stand against unethical breeding practices. As we’ve seen, shelter pets are loving, adaptable, and often come with enriching backstories that enhance our lives. By opening our homes and hearts to them, we become champions of compassion and agents of change. So, the next time you consider adding a furry member to your family, remember: adoption is not just a choice—it’s a commitment to kindness.
The second essay example will be about the topic “The impact of technology on personal interactions”.
Example
The digital age has undeniably reshaped the fabric of our social interactions. While technology has bridged distances and brought convenience, it has also inadvertently erected walls of virtual detachment in personal relationships. As illustrated, the convenience of texts regularly overshadows the warmth of voice calls, and virtual reactions sometimes replace genuine emotional responses. As we navigate this ever-evolving landscape, it’s imperative to strike a balance: leveraging technology to enhance, not replace, the profound human connections that define our existence. After all, the essence of humanity isn’t in the devices we hold, but in the genuine moments we share.
FAQs
An essay conclusion should:
- Restate the thesis in a rephrased manner.
- Summarize the main points of the essay.
- Offer final thoughts or implications based on the discussion.
Paraphrasing the thesis is probably the most straightforward way to start a conclusion. The easiest way to begin a conclusion is to clearly reaffirm the argument of the study. Moreover, check your work or repeat critical points. The next move is to look at the paper’s key arguments. You can also explain the value of your work, as well as offer a message to the reader that they can take home with them.
To write a conclusion for a persuasive essay, you should follow the next three steps.
- Restate your main argument or thesis.
- Summarize key points made in the essay.
- End with a strong statement or call to action that reinforces your position.
The purpose of the academic essay conclusion of your paper is to reaffirm the main argument. It prompts the reader of your argument’s qualities and repeats the most relevant facts supporting this claim(s).
In a piece of literature, the closing paragraphs are quite significant. Both fiction or non-fiction, the central premise, and relevant facts are summed up in a conclusion. Ending a question is an outstanding way to keep the reader curious to know, well after the reading is finished.