Strategies for Writing a Conclusion
Conclusions are often the most difficult part of an essay to write, and many writers feel that they have nothing left to say after having written the paper. A writer needs to remember that this is often what a reader remembers best. Your conclusion should be the best part of your paper. It should go beyond the thesis to reach a judgement, express your approval or one side of an issue, discuss your feelings, or offer directions.
The following are purposes of the conclusion:
~ Stress the importance of the thesis statement,
~ Give the essay a sense of completeness, and
~ Leave a final impression on the reader.
Suggestions to help with writing a conclusion
~ Answer the question "So what?"
Show why this paper is important, that your paper is meaningful and useful.
~ Synthesize, don't summarize.
Don't simply repeat things that were in the paper; they have read it. Show how the points made and
the support and examples used were not random, but fit together.
~ Redirect your readers.
Give your readers something to think about, perhaps a way to use your paper in the "real" world. If
your introduction went from general to specific (a funnel), make your conclusion go from specific to
general (an inverted funnel). Think globally.
~ Create a new meaning.
You don't have to give new information to create a new meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas
work together, you can create a new picture. Often the sum of the paper is worth more than its
parts.
Show why this paper is important, that your paper is meaningful and useful.
~ Synthesize, don't summarize.
Don't simply repeat things that were in the paper; they have read it. Show how the points made and
the support and examples used were not random, but fit together.
~ Redirect your readers.
Give your readers something to think about, perhaps a way to use your paper in the "real" world. If
your introduction went from general to specific (a funnel), make your conclusion go from specific to
general (an inverted funnel). Think globally.
~ Create a new meaning.
You don't have to give new information to create a new meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas
work together, you can create a new picture. Often the sum of the paper is worth more than its
parts.