Mastering the art of writing a compelling conclusion is a crucial skill for every writer. In just a few lines, a well-crafted conclusion can leave a lasting impact on readers, summarizing key points while leaving them with a thought-provoking takeaway. In this concise guide, we will explore how to write a conclusion, covering the essential elements and techniques that can elevate your conclusions to new heights.
How to write a conclusion
When writing a conclusion, one of the first things you should consider is your conclusion paragraph outline. A conclusion paragraph outline is crucial as it provides a clear roadmap for finishing your writing, ensuring that your final thoughts are well-organized and impactful, enabling your readers to fully understand your closing message.
Here’s a quick outline of how to write a conclusion:
- Restate your main points: Summarize the key arguments or main points discussed in your writing.
- Highlight your supporting points: Provide a brief reminder of the evidence or supporting details that back up your main points.
- Wrap it up: Offer a final thought or insight that ties back to your thesis statement or main theme.
- Leave something to consider: Leave the reader with something to contemplate or a call to action if applicable.
This is just a basic conclusion outline, and the specific structure of your conclusion can vary depending on the type of writing (essay writing, research paper, article, etc.) and the content of your work. However, this should act as a good guide in the majority of cases.
Just remember, you should always tailor your conclusion to suit the overall tone and purpose of your writing. With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at these points in a bit more detail.
Your conclusion paragraph outline
Here’s a look at each element you should include in your conclusion in a bit more detail:
Restate your main points
Restating your main points or thesis at the start of your conclusion paragraph serves as a concise reminder to your readers of the key ideas presented in your work. This reinforces the core message and ensures that your conclusion is tied directly to the content discussed, providing a sense of structure in your writing.
You can use linking words to connect your ideas and make your points flow together seamlessly. Just make sure to summarize concisely and be ready to highlight your supporting points.
Highlight your supporting points
Once you have reminded the reader of your main points, it’s time to highlight your supporting points for each of them. Do this by briefly summarizing each supporting point and emphasizing their significance in reinforcing your main points and/or argument. By showcasing how these supporting points contribute to the overall thesis, you create a solid and cohesive conclusion that solidifies your main ideas and leaves a strong impression on your readers.
Wrap it up
To wrap up a conclusion effectively, after you have reiterated the main thesis or central idea you can offer a final thought or insight. This should be tied to the content of your writing and delivered in a compelling manner to reinforce its importance. You can even choose to add a quote if it’s relevant and appropriate.
Leave the reader with something to consider
Leaving the reader with something to consider in your conclusion is crucial because it fosters a sense of intellectual engagement and encourages deeper reflection on the subject matter.
By offering a thought-provoking question, a call to action, or a compelling insight, you stimulate the reader’s curiosity and leave a lasting impact on their thoughts and emotions, ensuring that your written work remains memorable and influential long after they have finished reading it. This can inspire further contemplation or engagement with the topic, which can be particularly useful when you’re writing a blog article!
What a conclusion shouldn’t include
In crafting a compelling conclusion, it is also essential to be mindful of what not to include. The last thing you want to do is dilute the impact of your final thoughts.
Try to avoid the following pitfalls:
New information
A conclusion should not introduce any new ideas, arguments, or evidence that have not been discussed in the main body of the writing. It should only summarize and reinforce the points already presented.
Irrelevant details
Steer clear of adding irrelevant or unrelated information in the conclusion. You may have mentioned it in your essay, but if it’s not directly relevant to the conclusion itself, don’t include it. Keep the focus on the main thesis and key supporting points.
Apologies or disclaimers
Do not apologize for the content or structure of your writing in the conclusion. The conclusion is not the place to address any potential shortcomings; it should highlight the strengths of your work.
Sudden endings
Avoid concluding abruptly without a proper sense of closure. The conclusion should provide a clear and satisfying ending to the reader.
Clichés or generalizations
Refrain from using clichés, vague statements, or overly general observations in the conclusion. Instead, aim for specific and impactful language that reinforces the main message.
Common phrases*
This one comes with an asterisk, because common phrases like “in conclusion,” “in summary,” or “to sum up” do have their place in conclusions. This is particularly true for writers of a lower English level or younger audiences. However, they can also make your conclusion sound formulaic or predictable. After all, there are plenty of other ways to say in conclusion.
However, you don’t even need to state that you’re concluding if you have written well because readers should instinctively know that you’re reaching a conclusion.
If you want to create an impactful ending that reinforces your main points explicitly without stating that it is a conclusion, you should opt for stronger, thought-provoking language that leaves a lasting impression on your readers. Remember, it’s always worth leaving the reader with something to consider and this is a great way to mark the end of a piece of writing.
That leads us nicely to the end of this piece of writing too.
A conclusion on how to write a conclusion
By following this guide, you can approach writing conclusions with newfound confidence, ensuring that your work connects with readers by creating powerful conclusions that resonate and inspire.
So, when it comes to writing conclusions, remember; just like a perfect dessert rounds off a delightful meal, a well-crafted conclusion leaves a tantalizing aftertaste in your readers’ minds. Bon appétit!
- 27 Christmas Idioms With Their Meanings & Examples - November 4, 2024
- 25 Fun Christmas Classroom Activities for Your Class - November 4, 2024
- Bear With Me or Bare With Me: Which is Correct? - November 1, 2024