The basics of how to write a conclusion for any academic paper
Concluding your essay could be a tricky affair. What else do you need to tell the readers when you have presented a good introduction and excellent body? Do you repeat you have just said in previous sections? You will face this dilemma whenever you are working on writing assignment. Do you want to avoid these mindboggling worries? Then you should have the secrets of how to write a conclusion at your fingertips. This will ensure that piece together a final paragraph that will leave readers wanting more of your stuff.
Look out for the following sections in this guide:
- Writing a good conclusion
- Elements of a good essay conclusion
- Errors to avoid when concluding an essay
We have made these tips flexible because every academic paper requires a unique conclusion. You are free to adjust where necessary to fit your assignment needs. Come on! Put on a big smile as you go through this knowledge enrichment process. Here we go…
The principles of how to write a conclusion that you should know from now
The conclusion is that final part of your academic paper. It is probably the impression that the reader will carry for the rest of their lives. It is true that you probably remember a thrilling movie you watched, a fascinating book you read, or a moving speech you followed because of the concluding remarks of the author. This is a pointer to the important role of this tiny but determining part of an essay.
A good conclusion should clear any doubts and convince the reader that they did not waste their time; the piece was worth reading. Without a proper conclusion, you are likely to devalue all your points in the paper and discourage the reader.
Generally, here are some hints on how to write a conclusion:
Restate your topic – Do not tire going back to your topic. After all, you might be shocked to learn that the reader does not recall your topic by the time he or she is getting to the last paragraph.
State the importance of your topic – Remind the audience the significance of your topic. This convinces them that it was a good idea to spend time going through your essay. No one wants to waste time on something that has no value. Time is money!
Restate your thesis – Go back to your introduction and synthesize your main idea for your readers once more. Do not copy paste, your argument. Reword it to make sense to the person looking at your work. You do not want anyone to know that you are a lazy writer.
Capture the counterargument – Every argument has rebuttals. Address these negative views and emphasize why your audience should agree with your opinion.
Call for action – You want your audience to act. Go ahead and challenge them to do something. In addition, you may make recommendations for future researches to improve on the findings.
Practical strategies of how to write a conclusion without repeating yourself
Mastering how to write a conclusion ought to be an easy task because you already know the main argument of the paper, thesis, evidence and counterarguments. However, the challenge is making it the best part of your essay since it is what the reader remembers at all times even after putting aside your piece.
Here are suggestions that should clear your way and make conclusion writing as easy as putting down your name.
TIP 1: Provide answers to ‘so what question’ – You have not done your homework, if you cannot justify the importance of your paper. As you conclude your essay, show them its significance.
TIP 2: Do not give a summary – Conclusion is not time to repeat everything you can recall or all you have said in your paper. As you put together this paragraph, remember that the person looking at your work has already read your paper. Show them how your points and evidence harmonized to support your thesis throughout the text.
TIP 3: Redirect your audience – Do not end on a flat and boring note. Leave the reader with something to do, perhaps applying the paper in the real world. Since most introductions move from general statements to specifics, your conclusion should be the opposite. Go globally.
TIP 4: Generate new meaning – As you think of how to write a conclusion, focus on bringing out something new for your audience. Use whatever you have to create new meaning. Achieve this by demonstrating how your ideas work together.
How to draft your conclusion and end your essay in style
Renowned writers in the world understand the secret of making impact with a piece of work; have a strong conclusion. Why do you want the reader to remember your work? This is the time to prove that you are worth residing in their memory.
An effective conclusion is beyond summarizing your argument. Instead, it should appreciate your ideas by emphasizing the significance of the work. Do not lose the energy you injected in your introduction, pump it in your concluding remarks and end strong. Ask the following questions as you prepare to do your conclusion
Guiding questions when writing a conclusion
- How does your idea connect with class discussion?
- Have you added any new ideas to your conversation?
- What are the limitations of your research?
- What is the effect of your strongest argument in the paper?
- How do you get back to the situation in the paper?
These questions give a sense of closure to your idea. While you may not have the answers down, keep in mind the responses and use them to fine-tune your concluding paragraph.
Below is a good example that shows you how to a write a conclusion. Examine it before we proceed to other segments of this guide.
Example: A good Conclusion
In this example, We Can Live without Petroleum, the essay discusses the pros and cons of petroleum that can help the reader make a decision on whether or not man can live without petroleum. Here is the conclusion:
There is enough evidence to show that petroleum has a range of advantages and disadvantages. For example, petroleum boosts social, economic and political development all over the world. However, petroleum is a major environmental pollutant threatening human life. From global warming to land degradation, petroleum does not offer a safe haven for human beings. As a result, the world should explore alternative sources of energy like the green energy to overcome man’s overdependence on petroleum…
Synthesis:
In this conclusion, the writer recaps the main issues in the essay, reminding the reader the pillars of his argument. The paragraph also gives recommendation on what the world should do in weighing whether we can do without petroleum or not.
This example captures the fundamental principles of how to write a conclusion. With practice, you too can master the art of warping up an essay just as experts do.
Final thoughts on how to write a memorable conclusion
Among other reasons, remember that a conclusion is your last chance to woo your audience to agree with you. You have your excellent opportunity that you are a scholar, thinker and professional writer. You want them to spread the word and probably recommend you as a top writer on the topic or field. If this is the case, nail that final paragraph as if you have never done before.
Convey a sense of closure by signaling the reader that your discussion is closing. However, remember not close off the discussion. The following thoughts should work in your favor. Apply them and see the magic of having an appealing conclusion:
Return to your introduction- A good research paper is always circular in argument. As you wind up, revisit your first paragraph, by moving from what you already know to the unknown.
Provide a solution to a problem – The purpose of a research paper is to offer an answer to an existing problem. The reader wants to know the solution you have for a problem you captured in the thesis statement. State how your findings can be applied in a larger concern in the real world.
Final points – With your conclusion, tie together all the points in your essay and suggest the way forward. As you do this, refrain from introducing new ideas in your paper. If you have not captured it anywhere in your paper, then you probably do not need it.
Keep it brief. The last rule of how to write a conclusion is keeping it short. A standard conclusion should be 10% of your paper. Do not give a long and unwinding end. Go for what matters.
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CONSULTED WORKS:
https://www.gallaudet.edu/tip/english-center/writing/guide-to-writing-introductions-and-conclusions.html
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/04/
http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
http://writingcommons.org/process/organize/paper-structure/397-how-to-write-a-compelling-conclusion
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Conclusion-for-a-Research-Paper
http://blog.questia.com/2011/11/how-to-write-a-conclusion-for-a-research-paper/
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Conclusions.html
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/conclusions/