4.9 – Strong Endings: Crafting Effective Conclusions
Learning Objectives
- Mastering Conclusion Writing:
- Recognize the critical role of crafting a compelling conclusion in written communication, emphasizing components like thesis restatement and highlighting topic importance.
- Avoiding Common Mistakes:
- Understand and avoid pitfalls in conclusions, such as introducing new material or shifts in tone, ensuring cohesiveness and impact.
Writing a Conclusion
It is not unusual to want to rush when you approach your conclusion, and even experienced writers may fade. But what good writers remember is that it is vital to put just as much attention into the conclusion as in the rest of the message. After all, a hasty ending can undermine an otherwise strong message.
A conclusion that does not correspond to the rest of your content, has loose ends, or is unorganized can unsettle your readers and raise doubts about the entire message If you have worked hard to write the introduction and body, your conclusion can often be the most logical part to compose.
The Anatomy of a Strong Conclusion
Keep in mind that the ideas in your conclusion must conform to the rest of your content. In order to tie these components together, restate your thesis at the beginning of your conclusion. This helps you assemble, in an orderly fashion, all the information you have explained in the body. Repeating your thesis reminds your readers of the major arguments you have been trying to prove and also indicates that your communication is drawing to a close. A strong conclusion also reviews your main points and emphasizes the importance of the topic.
The construction of the conclusion is similar to the introduction, in which you make general introductory statements and then present your thesis. The difference is that in the conclusion you first paraphrase , or state in different words, your thesis and then follow up with general concluding remarks. These sentences should progressively broaden the focus of your thesis and wrap up your communication.
Many writers like to end their messages with a final emphatic statement. This strong closing statement will cause your readers to continue thinking about the implications of your communication; it will make your conclusion, and thus your entire message, more memorable. Another powerful technique is to challenge your readers to make a change in either their thoughts or their actions. Challenging your readers to see the subject through new eyes is a powerful way to end any communication.
Tip: Don’t be self-conscious.
When closing your message, do not expressly state that you are drawing to a close. Relying on statements such as in conclusion, it is clear that, as you can see, or in summation is unnecessary and can be considered trite.
What to leave out of your Conclusion:
New Material: Resist the urge to bring in fresh ideas. Introducing new material in the conclusion can disrupt the cohesion of your writing.
Contradictions: Stay true to your stance. Avoid contradicting or changing your thesis in the conclusion, as it can undermine the credibility of your argument.
Shifts in Tone: Maintain a consistent tone throughout your piece. Changing your tone in the conclusion can confuse your readers and weaken your overall message.
Apologies or Disclaimers: Skip the apologies. Expressing doubt in your conclusion can dilute the impact of your argument. Stand confidently by your thesis.
Overly Lengthy or Short Conclusions: Strive for balance. Avoid excessively long or short conclusions. Aim to mirror the formula you used in the introduction for a cohesive message.
Repetition of Ideas: While revisiting main points is essential, avoid unnecessary repetition. Keep your conclusion dynamic and engaging.
Generic Closing Statements: Steer clear of generic closing statements. Craft a conclusion that leaves a strong and memorable impression on your readers.
Mariah incorporates some of these pointers into her conclusion. She has paraphrased her thesis statement in the first sentence.
Tip
Make sure your message is balanced by not having an excessively long or short introduction or conclusion. Check that they match each other in length as closely as possible, and try to mirror the formula you used in each. Parallelism strengthens the message.
Writing at Work
Video source: Learn Academic English. (2023, June 1). How to write a conclusion,[Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-sRH2nCH8mg
Talk about it: Discussion Questions
- How important is it for a conclusion to leave a lasting impression on the reader? Can you think of instances where you’ve been particularly influenced by the conclusion of a piece of writing?
- Discuss the balance between summarizing key points and introducing new insights in a conclusion. When does it make sense to introduce something new, and when is it better to stick to summarizing existing content?
- Compare the ways that conclusions are approached in different types of writing.
- Look at an article here: The Conversation: In-depth analysis, research, news and ideas from leading academics and researchers.
- Browse through some of the chapter endings here: Successful students have goals – A Guide for Successful Students (pressbooks.pub)
- Student Essay:
Key Takeaways
- A conclusion that does not connect to the rest of the content can diminish the effect of your paper.
- The conclusion should remain true to your thesis statement. It is best to avoid changing your tone or your main idea and avoid introducing any new material.
- Closing with a final emphatic statement provides closure for your readers and makes your message more memorable.
Attribution & References
Except where otherwise noted, this chapter (text & images) is adapted from “9.4 Writing introductory and concluding paragraphs” In Writing for Success by University of Minnesota licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
