How to Write A
Good Conclusion
Cuyamaca Writing Center
Estelle Wang
References:
How to Write a Conclusion: Full Writing Guide with Examples. EssayPro. (2020, July 6).
https://essaypro.com/blog/how-to-write-a-conclusion.
Indeed Editorial Team. (2021, February 21). How to Write a Conclusion (With Tips and Examples). Indeed
Career Guide. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-conclusion.
MasterClass, the M. C. staff. (2021, March 25). How to Write a Conclusion for Your Next Writing Project - 2021.
MasterClass. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-conclusion#what-is-a-conclusion.
Writing a Good Conclusion Paragraph. Time4Writing. (n.d.). https://www.time4writing.com/writing-
resources/writing-a-good-conclusion-paragraph/.
Content List
Definition
Benefits
Conclusion for different types of essays
Structure & tips
Review & check for success
Definition
A conclusion is the final piece of writing in a research
paper, essay, or article that summarizes the entire work.
A good conclusion will wrap up your final thoughts and
main points, combining all pertinent information with an
emotional appeal for an ending statement that resonates
with your readers.
Definition – How long should a conclusion be?
keep it clear, concise, and straight to the point.
There is an unspoken rule that the introduction and
conclusion of an academic paper should both be ± 10% of
the overall paper’s volume.
E.g. if you were assigned a 1500 word essay, both the introductory
and final clauses should be approximately 150 words long (300
together).
Benefits
A conclusion is your final chance to impact your audience.
It “wraps up” your essay, complete the essay’s structure.
It demonstrates to the readers that you accomplished what you
set out to do.
It shows how you have proved your thesis.
It provides the readers with a sense of closure on the topic.
Conclusion for different types of essays
-Types of conclusion 1
Summarization: often used when writing about technical subjects
with a more clinical tone, such as surveys, definitions and reports.
Because it paraphrases the major ideas of the essay, it is most often used
in longer pieces where readers will need a reminder of the essay's main
points.
As such, it should avoid reflexive references or subjective ideas (like "in
my opinion" or "I feel").
Conclusion for different types of essays
-Types of conclusion 2
Editorialization: primarily used in essays where there is a
controversial topic, a personal connection or an appeal to
persuade the reader.
This type of conclusion will use an anecdote and a
conversational tone to draw attention to concerns,
interpretations, personal beliefs, politics or feelings.
Conclusion for different types of essays
-Types of conclusion 3
Externalization: frequently used in essays that approach a
particular issue that is a part of a much more complex subject, an
externalized conclusion provides a transition into a related but
separate topic that leads readers to further develop the discussion.
It makes your readers think about the future; allowing for
development into another potential essay.
Conclusion for different types of essays
- argumentative essay
Persuasive or argumentative essays always have the single goal
of convincing readers of something (an idea, stance, or
viewpoint) by appealing to arguments, facts, logic, and even
emotions.
The conclusion for such an essay has to be persuasive as well.
Conclusion for different types of essays
- argumentative essay’s conclusion
You can illustrate a real-life scenario that proves your
stance or encourages readers to take action.
Re-emphasize your ideas.
Discuss possible implications.
Don’t be afraid to appeal to the reader’s emotions.
Conclusion for different types of essays
- compare & contrast essay
The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to emphasize
the differences or similarities between two or more objects,
people, phenomena, etc.
Therefore, a logical conclusion should highlight how the
reviewed objects are different or similar.
Conclusion for different types of essays
- compare & contrast essay’s conclusion
For compare & contrast essay’s conclusion, your conclusion
should recall all of the key common and distinctive features
discussed in the body of your essay and also give readers
some ideas for thought after they finish reading it.
Conclusion for different types of essays
- research paper
A research paper is a much longer piece of work that
requires a deeper investigation of the problem. Therefore, a
conclusion for such a paper should be even more
sophisticated and powerful.
Conclusion for different types of essays
- regarding research paper’s conclusion
Consider the following questions:
What is the goal of a research paper?
What are the possible solutions to the research question(s)?
How can your results be implemented in real life? (Is your
research paper helpful to the community?)
Why is this study important and relevant?
Conclusion for different types of essays
- research paper’s conclusion
1. Restate the topic.
a quick reminder of what the topic of the piece is about. Keep it one sentence long.
2. Revisit the thesis.
do not just copy and paste it from the introductory clause: paraphrase your thesis so that you deliver the same idea
but with different words. Keep your paraphrased thesis narrow, specific, and topic-oriented.
3. Summarize your key ideas.
include a short summary of all of the key points stated in the body sections.
4. Showcase the significance of your work.
highlight the significance of your research problem and state how your solution could be helpful.
5. Make suggestions for future studies.
define how your findings will contribute to the development of its particular field of science. Outline
the perspectives of further research and, if necessary, explain what is yet to be discovered on the topic.
Structure
&
tips
Topic sentence
restating the thesis, in your own words that are different from the
introduction paragraph, to remind your readers of the main
argument.
Summary of the main points
paraphrase the major points and arguments that you made
throughout the paper. Explain the significance of the ideas and
how they all connect.
Appeal to the readers’ emotions (optional)
use emotional or sensory language to create a powerful, lasting
image in the reader’s mind.
Closing sentence
end your paragraph with a last, powerful sentence that leaves a
lasting impression, gives a sense of logical completeness, and
connects readers back to the introduction of the paper.
Concluding
strategies that
don't work
× Repeating the thesis word for word.
× Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion.
× Stating the opposite point of view.
× Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should
be in the body of the paper.
× Including extra information thought of or found but couldn’t
integrate into the main body.
× One sentence conclusion (decide your conclusion’s length
base on the length of your paper).
Review & check for success
If your introduction asked a question, your conclusion
should answer it.
Don’t use more than one quote in the final clause of
your paper.
Be authoritative when writing a conclusion, be
confident.
Sentences like “I’m not an expert, but…” will most likely make you
seem less knowledgeable and/or credible.
Keep your conclusion fresh, original, and creative.
Introduction and conclusion of an academic paper
should both be ± 10% of the overall paper’s volume.
Make sure your conclusion provide the readers with a
sense of closure.
Rephrase your thesis and main points but don’t copy
and paste.
Check if your conclusion meet your instructor’s
requirements.
A story really isn't
truly a story until it
reaches its conclusion.
Cuyamaca Writing Center
Estelle Wang
