Writing an essay is akin to running a race. Winning involves more than starting well; you also need to finish strong. It is important to start on the right note to get your readers hooked until the end. Also, it is even more crucial to ending well so that the essay can make a lasting impression on every reader’s mind. Moreover, the closure is your final chance to persuade and win over your readers.
In your conclusion, your job is to summarize the points you have written and the arguments you have made. Ensure that you emphasize your
thesis statement or the main idea of your essay and that you leave the reader with a compelling last impression. Each sentence in the conclusion must achieve a specific purpose: summarize, restate the main idea of the essay and/or leave a memorable final impression. If your essay is short, there won’t be any need for the restatement of your main ideas. Before you write that summary as part of your conclusion, make sure that it is necessary.
Many essayists make a lot of mistakes in their conclusions. These mistakes are sometimes so grave that they can ruin what would have otherwise been a memorable and effective essay. Here are a few of these common mistakes.
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Mistake #1: Avoid Clichés
Most essayists make the mistake of using cardboard closing phrases such as ‘in conclusion,’ ‘to end,’ ‘to summarize,’ and ‘to round off.’ Although these phrases seem important, essays generally read better without them. Clichés such as those aforementioned phrases tend to reduce the strength of the essay.
Readers can deduce from the arrangement of the paragraphs and the tone that the essay is being concluded. Do not waste the reader’s time on redundant words, or you’ll risk losing their respect and solidarity.
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Mistake #2: Be Polite, Not Apologetic
Once you have done your research and written the best essay you possibly can, don’t beat yourself up about the quality of your essay. If you have doubts, seek a second opinion. Hire a professional editor, if your professor refuses to help. Revise your essay as much as you can until it is the best it can be.
The tone in your conclusion should be polite and confident enough to convince the reader that you immersed yourself in the subject and wrote the best arguments possible. Whatever you do, don’t apologize.
Now that you know what common mistakes to avoid, writing that convincing conclusion should be easy. What strategies can you employ to help you write an effective conclusion? The following tips will help you finish strong.
1. Use A Citation From An Authority Or A Secondary Source
One effective way to end an essay is to quote from the work of a renowned scholar who has conducted extensive research in that field of study. When choosing a citation, ensure it throws more light on your thesis statement or that it looks at your main point from another point of view. It is okay to quote from a secondary source if it will amplify the arguments you have made in your essay. Study successful essays to see how this has previously been done effectively. If you can’t find any in your local library, search for
cheap essays online. You’ll benefit a lot from the sample essays on offer.
2. Define An Important Term
Another effective strategy for concluding an essay is through defining an important expression in your essay. You can pick a term that either feature in the introduction or in the thesis statement. Defining the term will give you an opportunity to have the last word where you can give your own perspective.
3. Consider The Analysis Of Your Argument
Many effective essays close by asking what the argument implies or suggests. Considering the answers to these questions and factoring them into the conclusion of the essay will emphasize an idea that might have remained hidden.
Writing a fantastic conclusion is quite easy. With these aforementioned tips, any essayist can conclude their essays with ease. You can start by experiment with popular topics. This will help you perfect the art of writing great conclusions for your essays.
