How to Write a Strong Concluding Paragraph

You have written a killer essay with a strong argument and good points. But now you are stuck. You are having trouble figuring out how to write a good conclusion.

The concluding paragraph might be challenging to write, but it is crucial. It has a significant influence on the reader’s overall experience of your paper.

That’s because it is your last chance to convince your reader of your point of view.

The Importance of Conclusion Paragraph

The conclusion is vital for the following reasons:

• Provides a chance to have the last word on the subject and points made in the essay. A good conclusion reminds the reader of the main argument and provides a summary of the points supporting that argument.
• Allows you to relate your essay to the readers’ daily lives. A good conclusion answers the question, so what. How is your essay relevant to the modern world?

In the concluding paragraph, make the reader realize it was worthwhile reading your essay. More importantly, give the reader a takeaway – something that will make them see things differently.

The Outline of a Good Conclusion

Consider the following structure for your concluding paragraph.

Step 1: Restate Your Thesis

The best way to begin a conclusion is by restating your thesis with unique words. Remind the reader what your main argument was.

However, do not rewrite the thesis as you did in the introduction. Instead, paraphrase it using different and more compelling words.

Step 2: Summarize the Main Points

After restating your main argument, sum up your main points. Do that by relating your supporting points to your main arguments.

That allows the reader to make the connection between the information in the body and the thesis.

Step 3: Elaborate on the Importance of Your Essay

Close your conclusion by relating your essay to real-world issues. Ask yourself:

• Why was your essay important?
• How is your argument relevant?

Or, provide a call to action. For instance, if your essay was about eating healthy, you could finish by saying:

So, why not ditch those unhealthy meals? You will not only lose weight but also avoid diseases and even live a longer life.

Strategies on How to Write a Conclusion Paragraph

Use the introduction to guide your conclusion. The intro and conclusion have similar elements.

The difference is, the intro moves people from the real world to the topic of discussion, but the concluding paragraph relates the topic to the real world.

1. Link your conclusion to your introduction. You can do that by repeating the quote or fact you used in the introduction. Or, by answering the question you began with.
2. Answer the ‘so what; question. What does your research imply, suggest, and involve?
3. Amplify your argument. Put your main argument from a different perspective or set a broader context. That will make readers understand the purpose of your essay better.
4. Do not introduce a new idea.
5. Do not start your conclusion with redundant phrases like “in conclusion” or “to sum up”.
6. Summarize all your points, not the last or most persuasive one. By focusing on one point, you undermine your whole argument.
7. Tell the reader what would happen if they implemented what your argument suggests.
8. End your conclusion with a call-to-action, recommendation, question, warning, or even quotation. The idea is to make readers reflect on the subject and argument made.

How to Write a Conclusion for an Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay conclusion is quite straightforward. Start by rephrases your main argument.

The write one or two statements that perfectly summarize the points you made to support your argument.

Then, relate your argument and topic to the real world. What are the consequences of subscribing or not subscribing to your point of view?

How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper

The conclusion section of a research paper is similar to that of other essays:

• Restate your thesis
• Summarize your points
• Explain the significance of your research

However, you can make your conclusion better by synthesizing instead of summarizing your points. Logically connect your points to your thesis.

Synthesizing provides coherence so a reader can view your whole paper as one single thought instead of random ideas.

When discussing the significance of your research, provide a recommendation or call to action.

Also, depending on your topic, address the future of the subject of discussion.

How to Write a Conclusion for a Lab Report

Lab reports describe an experiment and analyze the findings. Its structure differs from other academic papers.

But the concept of the conclusion is pretty much the same – providing the summary of the whole paper.

Start the conclusion of the lab report by restating the goals of the experiment. Then briefly state the methods you used to perform the test.

Go further, and briefly explain why you chose those methods.

The main purpose of a lab report is analyzing the findings. So, state the results of the experiment and what they mean.

It is also in the concluding paragraph, where you state whether the experiment was successful.