english essay conclusion

english essay conclusion

The Power of a Strong Conclusion in an English Essay

1. Importance of a Conclusion

To write a powerful conclusion, students need a “formula” that gives them direction. The conclusion should state the topics combined or taken into consideration in the essay. The conclusion is not the time to introduce new ideas. A strong conclusion also restates the thesis and summarizes the manner in which the student has either shown or disproved his or her position. If the student was summarizing the events of a novel, the student should summarize each main event, usually in chronological order. It is the statement that tells the reader what the essay is about. Some examples of transitions are: “in conclusion,” “to conclude,” “in summary,” “all things considered,” “ultimately.” This shows the reader that the argument has been thoroughly proven, and also gives them a sense of closure on the topic.

The conclusion is an often overlooked piece of an essay. Without a strong, thoughtful conclusion, the reader’s impression of the essay will be weak. A weak conclusion will ensure a weak essay. With this in mind, students cannot just include their thoughts in the conclusion. They should have a sound plan, supported by ample evidence, leading to a strong conclusion.

2. Elements of an Effective Conclusion

It is the closure and wrapping up of the entire essay. If a summary is not requested, don’t include it. In general the conclusion includes: summary of what the paper stated, summary of the primary theme or argument, an overall point to ponder, look to the future (say what the writer would like his next step in research in this area to be), and opinion about the worth and the impact of the paper. The writer may get even more specific than the general directives given above. To do so ask himself: What can I say about these main points of the paper? What do they mean? What are the steps I suggest? What are the implications of what I have said? The conclusion should not be a posed set of statements about the information petitioned but a charged and energized response initiated from the closing of an essay.

The conclusion in an English essay should be a well-reasoned wrapping up of the essay. Some instructions call for a summary of the main points of the essay. In other words, a good conclusion should answer why the content that the writer presented in the essay is important. In order to achieve a meaningful and effective conclusion the writer should adhere to a variety of elements. Balance is one of the most crucial aspects in a good conclusion. If the writer has addressed three points in the essay, he must mention those three points in the conclusion but can’t elaborate on those three points in detail in the conclusion. The conclusion is a summary that highlights what was important and need to be retained from the essay. A conclusion is the same as a summary.

3. Strategies for Writing a Compelling Conclusion

Leave the reader thinking. Use a new phrase in a new way. Introduce an interpretative question. Explain the significance of the preceding words.

A conclusion’s purpose is to remind the reader of evidence and examples that support the thesis of a written document. Effective openings grab readers’ interest, yet the conclusion contains the most convincing support for the thesis. Here are some strategies for writing a compelling conclusion for an expository essay: – Summarize the Introduction. In the conclusion, restate the significance of your topic. Relate the opening sentence to the topic of the composition. Refer back to an interesting quotation, statistic, fact, or an assumed title. Provide a definition for key phrases. Briefly state the main thesis of the composition. Rinse Senescence Closing Comments. Summarize your discoveries. Include the broader context. Refrain from restating your details.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Conclusions

In conclusion, those of you who are already strong writers can continue to build upon the foundation you have created. But because we cannot ignore the years of glaring statistics and real-life battles of our students, the rest of you, whether you acknowledge them or not, must swallow your pride and work to improve your skills. After all, being a strong writer is a nearly universal, legitimate expectation of teachers who educate aspiring, future scholars. If you hope to attend either a two- or four-year college, or even if you hope to secure a position as a professional or gain employment in the lower ranks, your ability to construct logical, analytical arguments is what will ultimately define who you are and determine your opportunities in the next stages of your life. With this in mind, you must continue to develop your writing power as effectively as possible. First, begin by learning about words, grammar, and rhetorical strategies. Second, be open to internalizing background knowledge about your essays’ subjects. Third, develop strong conclusions in your essays.

Here are common mistakes to avoid in your conclusion. They are key in leading to a strong conclusion. First, avoid introducing new ideas. Your conclusion should build upon the points that you made in your body paragraphs. Second, avoid simply restating your thesis; instead, restate it in a way that reflects the weight of your discussion. Your readers should see that the points hand-in-hand with your thesis and have collectively reached a certain conclusion. Third, avoid introducing a new quote in your conclusion. Instead, use a quote from your body paragraphs. Fourth, avoid simply summarizing your body paragraphs. As I previously mentioned, your reader should already know your points, so you need to help them pull it all together in a coherent way. Lastly, avoid other signals that you are not fully engaged in the topic.

5. Final Thoughts on Crafting a Memorable Conclusion

Crafting an equally impressive conclusion, however, is a skill that everyone needs to take the time to master. It is a rare event in life to see something through to its end. Faced with ticking clocks, we rarely take the time to watch our favorite television series or movie to its end credit, due to the responsibility of spoiling a meal that we have yet to prepare or a meeting that we have to attend. Therefore, when a student takes the time to deliver a strong conclusion, it is hard to miss. Teachers notice. Employers often notice. The intended audience at a defense on their graduation day is likely to include at least a handful of people who are watching to see if the completion narrative matches that of the research journey that led the candidate to where he or she stands today. If the defense-as-a-conclusion is offered as compelling as the work that led to it, success is the result. A concluding chapter might be the first chapter that the referees flip to, as the conclusion and oral defense are a package deal. When students are prevented from using their strong concluding section as their introduction to their proposal, it is a crime.

The ability to make impressive introductions is a habit that high-achieving students cultivate. Soon after graduation, their pattern of submitting strong introductions to their supervisors followed by equally strong prose throughout the rest of their composition will result in favorable job and salary offers that the rest of their salaried peers have trouble obtaining. High-achieving students are known as good writers for this reason. A solid introduction to your essay can open doors.