How To Make A Powerful Essay Conclusion: An Effective Strategy

You’ve probably heard that the essay conclusion is seen as the most important part of any writing assignment. The reason behind this view is that the final paragraph is a writer’s last chance to show the reader what has been accomplished in the paper and the last chance to leave a lasting impression so that the reader thinks about the work well after having completed reading it. Here is an effective strategy for making a powerful essay conclusion on any topic:

Restate the thesis and major discussion points

First and foremost the conclusion should tell the reader exactly what you have accomplished with your work. Remind him or her of your thesis statement and major discussion points. Don’t merely copy the words down exactly, rephrase them and condense them in a way that you aren’t simply trying to write more content.

Revisit themes brought up in the introduction

A great strategy for composing a great essay conclusion is to revisit the themes that have been brought up in the beginning. Look at some of the broad statements you made in the introduction, perhaps some of the content you made in providing background information. Bring the reader back to those ideas as a way to signal that you have reached the end of the discussion.

Provide the reader with a sense of closure

Great conclusions give the reader a sense of closure after having read your assignment. Just like you begin to narrow the lens to a specific argument in your introduction, you should widen the lens in your conclusion and bring the reader back to reality. At no point should the reader feel that you haven’t said all there is to say about any given topic.

End with a compelling statement or call to action

A great technique for encouraging your reader to think about your paper well after reading it is to end with a thought provoking statement like a question or a question, or to try including a call to action which compels the reader to change in some way or take direct action in something.

Never bring up any new material or information

Finally, be sure that you don’t bring up any new material or information under any circumstances. Not only will this confuse the reader but it may also be taken as a sign that you have been disorganized in your planning or simply trying to come up with filler content to meet a certain page or word requirement.