How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay

You’ll learn the important components to consider as you begin to write a conclusion for an essay—all of which will give your readers a sense of finality, while further cementing your thesis.

Three components of a conclusion

1. Rephrasing your thesis. Restating your thesis is part of retelling your audience what you’ve told them. However, it’s essential that you don’t copy your thesis from the introductory paragraph and paste it into your conclusion. Rephrase your thesis so they continue to be engaged through the end of your essay. A reader might feel like they’ve already read the conclusion to your essay and drop off before you finish your closing arguments if they read the same phrasing of your thesis. Rephrasing your thesis also shows development in your thought process since the opening paragraph.


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2. Restating your arguments. Similar to rephrasing your thesis, you should do the same with your arguments. Show how they all tie together with your thesis by running through them again. One of the reasons you write a conclusion for an essay is to bring everything together. Do more than simply rephrase the points you made in the introductory paragraph. Instead, tie each argument together and create a cohesive narrative that paints a clear picture of the point you’re trying to make.
3. Answering the question “so what.” Regardless of how well you argue it, your point with an essay won’t always be so cut and dry to your readers. Include a “so what” at the end of your essay to spell out why everything you’ve said matters. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of park maintenance in an urban setting, tell your reader why everything you’ve laid out matters. Even an argument as simple as why every kid needs a Teddy bear needs the “so what” at the end to wrap it all up.

What NOT to include in your conclusion.

• Cliches. People get tired of cliches. Many cliches lose meaning over the years as they’re continually used. Your readers will see it as lazy that you’re using a phrase many people have used before. Yes, you can use a quote to bolster your argument, but don’t use a quote that’s been included in every essay or paper about the same topic.
• New ideas. Your conclusion is no place to introduce a new idea. If you find yourself introducing a new idea in your conclusion, go back and write another paragraph. You can always add a new body paragraph if you feel an additional point needs to be addressed. Your essay doesn’t need a sequel, so you need to ensure all loose ends are tied up by the time your conclusion is finished.
• Your intro word for word. Copying and pasting your intro or flipping the sentence format isn’t enough when crafting a strong conclusion. Ensure that you’ve rewritten your conclusion in a way that reads differently than the introductory paragraph. It’s a great way to appeal to different readers as they might not have agreed with your initial premise,but changing your phrasing might help them make sense of it.
• Emotional appeals. Trying to tug at the heartstrings of your readers or making emotional appeals doesn’t always work. What’s more, it can feel like a desperate plea. Saying something like, “Stop the madness of deforestation and plant a tree today!” isn’t going to change anyone’s mind who wasn’t on board with you to start with. A strong conclusion is essential to ensuring that your essay drives home the point of your thesis.

Now that we’ve highlighted some of the do’s and don’ts of how to write a conclusion for an essay, you can tackle any assignment with a new sense of confidence.