Wazzup Pilipinas!
What is a conclusion? Except
for restating a thesis and summarizing the vital points of your writing, a
conclusion is intended to make a good final impression that will stay with your
reader after they have finished reading your essay. Moreover, a well-written
conclusion is your last chance to underline the importance of your writing and
to close the discussion with a definitive statement. No wonder, this part of
the essay is a significant one and, therefore, should be approached with the
utmost seriousness. However, to write a strong conclusion is not that easy, at
least until you learn several simple ways to do it right. Here they are:
1. “So what” strategy
A really good conclusion has
to provide the reader with the clear answer to the “So what” question. Just
like any other academic paper, your essay should be meaningful, and your
writing should make sense, so ensure your last paragraph does provide the
answer to this question.
2. Restated thesis
Almost any essay needs a
restated thesis to be included in the first sentence of the concluding part.
However, it does not mean that you should copy your statement from the
introductory paragraph. Instead, you need to reintroduce it using a different
language.
3. Sense of completeness
A well-written conclusion
should tie all your ideas and points together and present them in a cohesive
manner. In other words, make sure the last paragraph of your essay conveys a
sense of completeness and wholeness.
4. Transition to another topic
One of the great ways to
conclude an essay is to provide a smooth transition to another topic, no less
important than the discussed one. Such an approach will emphasize the
importance of your work and will leave your reader thinking in a new direction.
5. A call to action
What do you want your readers
to do after they have finished your essay? Provide a solution to the discussed
problem or call to action. Show your readers how they can use the information
from your essay and what they should do with it.
6. Power of conciseness
The concluding paragraph
should consist of only 5-6 sentences or even less, so don’t include any new
ideas and irrelevant or unnecessary information in it. Keep it short and
concise.
7. Personal commentary
Some essays, especially those
with a certain personal connection, can be concluded with the author’s
commentary. Therefore, if your assignment requirements allow you to apply such
an approach, end your essay with a relevant anecdote from your life, your
personal position, convictions, etc.
8. Apology
Don’t apology for your
thoughts and ideas. Even if you think that your conclusion is not something
that other people will like or understand, you need to resist the urge to
apologize. After all, it’s your point of view, and it has the right to exist.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
