A Few Words about Conclusions
The conclusion─ the last paragraph of your essay─ gives your paper a sense of finality. A conclusion has two parts: a reworded thesis statement and a clincher.
The Reworded Thesis Statement
A reworded thesis statement simply does what it says─ rewords the thesis statement. It's intended to be a reminder to your readers, saying, in effect, "You've just been reading my body paragraphs. Once again, let me tell you what those paragraphs were supporting." Then you tell them. This task can be accomplished in two or more sentences.
Clincher
A clincher is simply a finisher, a final sentence or two that leaves no doubt in the reader's mind that the essay has reached its end.
* Source: Bailey, Edward P. and Philip A. Powell. The Practical Writer. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1995.
Why Are Conclusions Important?
Like introductions, conclusions can be difficult to write, and many writers feel that they have nothing left to say after having written the paper. And just as the introduction is your chance to grab the reader’s attention, your conclusion is the last impression you will leave with your reader. The conclusion is what your readers will remember best.
What is the purpose of a conclusion?
A conclusion should
 | stress the importance of the thesis statement, |
| give the essay a sense of completeness |
| leave a final impression on the reader. |
Strategies You Can Use When Writing Conclusions:
1. Return to the theme or themes in the introduction.
This strategy brings the reader full circle. For example, if you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay is helpful in creating a new understanding. You may also refer to the introductory paragraph by using key words or parallel concepts and images that you also used in the introduction.
2. Synthesize, don't summarize.
Include a brief summary of the paper's main points, but don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. They have read it. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used were not random, but ffit together. Pull it all together for them.
3. Include a provocative insight or quotation from the research or reading you did for your paper.
4. Point to broader implications.
For example, if your paper examines hero archetype patterns found in literature and film, you could point out the significance or benefits of novelists and screenwriters including these archetypes in their works.
5. Show your readers why this paper was important. Show them that your paper was meaningful and useful.
6. If your introduction went from general to specific, make your conclusion go from specific to general.
Play the "So What" Game.
If you're stuck and feel like your conclusion isn't saying anything relevant or interesting, ask a friend to read it with you. Whenever you make a statement from your conclusion, ask the friend to say, "So what?" or "Why should anybody care?" Then ponder that question and answer it. Here's how it might go:
You: Basically, I'm just saying that hero archetypes can be found in both classical literature and modern film.
Friend: So what?
You: Well, these patterns are important because they appeal to people from all cultural backgrounds. People from various backgrounds can relate to the struggles of the hero.
Friend: Why should anybody care?
You: Since all human beings, regardless of cultural background, face many of the same issues like dealing with family background, facing personal struggles, and accepting success or defeat when attempting to reach personal goals, writers are able to convey universal truths about how we should live our life and about our individual roles in society through their use of archetypal patterns. The hero archetype provides us with a universal figure with whom we can relate and empathize.
Strategies to Avoid When Writing Conclusions:
1. Do not begin with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as "in conclusion," "in summary," or "in closing." Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing.
2. Do not state the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion.
3. Do not introduce a new idea (main topic) or subtopic in your conclusion.
4. Do not end with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes.
5. Do not make sentimental, emotional appeals (out of character with the rest of an analytical paper).
6. Do not include evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the body of the paper. Remember, the purpose of your body paragraphs is to PROVE your point with evidence. The proof should come BEFORE the conclusion.
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