How to End an Essay with a Bang!

Last Updated: 27 June 2023

Do you want to learn how to write a great conclusion paragraph for your essay or paper? If yes, you are in luck. A lot goes into writing a great essay, and you have probably done that already. We assume you have a welcoming introduction, a body that captures all the points and supports your thesis or proves your argument. Therefore, when you get to the conclusion paragraph, you want to wrap things up and finish writing the essay; after all, who cares about a conclusion?


However, people care. All the people who have the chance to read your essay do!


Learning how to conclude an essay and impress readers does not have to be as challenging as climbing a steep hill. It is possible to write a good conclusion paragraph. You must remember that a conclusion is not just the last paragraph of your essay. It is an opportunity to convince the target audience about your point of view. A conclusion is a chance to impress your readers, give them closure, and clarify the context of your arguments.


This article focuses on what makes an impressive conclusion, show you how to end an essay with a bang, outline the strategies for writing a reasonable conclusion, and points out the dos and don'ts. It will also provide a checklist for a good conclusion and outline the FAQs.


What Makes a Great Conclusion Paragraph


Since an introduction guides readers into the essay, a conclusion gracefully leads them out. This is why a conclusion aims to provide closure to the readers. A conclusion is the final part of your essay. It is where you push the readers to think about your arguments and make the necessary changes. A conclusion ties in your thesis statement and arguments and gives readers a final impression of the essay.


A great conclusion provides readers answers to the "so what" question by clearing up the point of your paper. Additionally, a remarkable conclusion:



This final part of the paper has the following essential parts:



These three parts of a conclusion are a building block that you can use to structure a great ending. In addition, these parts are essential, and how you write them will determine whether the readers will be impressed. Take note that your conclusion is not limited to these parts. They are simply the recommended format for those having difficulty coming up with impressive conclusions.


How Long Should a Conclusion Be?


Unlike an introduction, a conclusion is much shorter. When learning how to conclude an essay, you may wonder how long or shorter your conclusion should be.


A good conclusion paragraph is about 10-15% of your paper. For example, if your essay is 1000 long, the conclusion should be 100 words, which is about a paragraph. However, some academic writing tasks may require 2-3 paragraphs of conclusions. It is essential to stick to the word count.


Going above the word count means that you will start introducing new concepts or repeating what you have already discussed, thus sounding repetitive.


3 Steps to Write a Conclusion


Follow these steps to learn how to end an essay with a bang.


1. Restate Your Thesis


You may be wondering whether there is a need to restate your thesis statement when you've already done that in the body paragraph. Well, the point is to bring the reader back to the purpose of your essay. To be clear, this does not mean you should copy and paste the exact statement. Instead, you should paraphrase it to repeat the essay's main point. Let's assume this is your thesis statement, "Practicing yoga reduces stress and improves body function." Restating your thesis statement, in conclusion, would look like this, "Evidence shows that people who practice yoga from time to time are more likely to have a stress-free and healthy life." The restated thesis has the same point of view as the original statement.


To restate your thesis statement, do the following:



2. Summary of the Main Points


An effective conclusion must always restate the main points to summarize the paper's arguments. This should be about 2 to 3 sentences explaining why they are essential. The aim is to reinforce the argument and remind your readers of the point of your essay. Some academic writings, like research papers, are lengthy, so reiterating all the main points is an excellent way to bring the readers up to speed. Just make sure you avoid repetition by writing your main points in a new and unique way.


After reiterating the main points of your essay, you have to show the connection between them. Shows the significance of these points and why readers should care. For example, after stating the essay's main arguments, you could share what impact the argument has on a specific outcome.


3. Wrap up Your Thoughts


As you conclude your conclusion paragraph, create a call to action (CTA) to get your readers to think. This could be making recommendations for future research.


Consider both the theoretical and practical implications of the results. A CTA also tells the readers how to bring your perspective or ideas into actualization.


This part of the conclusion paragraph is also an opportunity to provide a sense of closure to the readers and connect them back to your introduction.


Strategies for Good Conclusions


Writing a conclusion for an essay can be tricky, but the following strategies have been proven to work.


Echo


Echoing means paraphrasing your introduction to bring your points full circle. For instance, if you begin by describing a particular scenario, end the essay with a similar scenario. It is called an echo because it echoes or mirrors what you expressed in the introduction.


Prediction


To emphasize the importance of your essay, try looking into the future. Some words to ensure this is possible are "if'' and "when." These powerful words will support all your points and bring finality to your essay.


Step Up


A conclusion is a good place to state why your essay is essential and provide the key findings and implications. You could state how these findings contribute to the current knowledge in your field.


Clincher


A clincher is referred to as the final sentence of your essay that strengthens your arguments and gives closure to the readers. Clincher is a good closing sentence for an essay as it leaves the reader thinking. Now since you know this, you may be asking, how do you end an essay to leave the reader thinking? Well, first of all, you must know that a good clincher is intriguing and straightforward.


Dos and Don'ts for an Impressive Conclusion


The following are the dos and don'ts of writing an effective conclusion paragraph for your essay.


Dos



Don'ts


As you write your conclusion, be sure to avoid the following things.



Checklist for a Good Conclusion


The following checklist will help ensure you include all the necessary information in your conclusion.



How to Start a Conclusion


Conclusion starters are words and phrases used in the last paragraph's opening sentence. These words inform the readers that they have reached the essay's final part. Conclusion starters include:



 


Take note conclusion starter should:



How to Conclude Various Types of Essays


The style, tone, and length of your conclusion paragraph will vary depending on the type of essay you are working on. The following are ways of ending different types of essays.


How to Conclude an Argumentative Essay


An argumentative essay requires evidence and facts to support its arguments. Because of this, the conclusion must be persuasive to convince the reader of the claims. One of the best ways of doing this is to provide a real-life scenario that readers can relate to.


How to Write an Opinion Essay Conclusion


An opinion essay is where you share your opinions backed by concrete research. The aim is to present your opinion in response to the question raised clearly. Therefore, how to conclude an opinion piece will depend on how well you understand the topic. You must link the body paragraphs together and point them to your opinion.


How to Conclude a Descriptive Essay


A descriptive essay is creative writing that asks you to paint a vivid picture of something- an object, place, situation, person, etc. The aim is to "show" a story rather than tell it. For this reason, its conclusion should also use descriptive language to leave the reader with a lingering image in mind. Some words to conclude the essay shows what drove you to write the paper. Then show how the research influenced you.


How to End a Compare and Contrast Essay


Compare and contrast essays identify the similarities and differences between a subject. Therefore, in conclusion, for this essay, you must recall all the essential facts and distinctive features of each subject. Then conclude by stating which subject you prefer and the decisions that brought you to that conclusion. Additionally, it would help if you gave the readers something to ponder about.


How to End a Cause and Effect Essay


Cause and effect essay is an expository paper that explains the events that led to specific results. Therefore, your conclusion should remind the readers why you support a particular subject. Your summary should synthesize ideas and show how they relate to each other.


How to Conclude an Essay about Emerging Issues


An emerging issues essay is precisely how it sounds. It is a paper that critically evaluates emerging issues. So when writing a conclusion, you must summarize the various aspects of these issues and then show where you stand.


How to Conclude a Research Paper


A research paper surveys a particular body of knowledge to locate the best possible findings in that field. Writing a conclusion for a research paper is probably one of the hardest things you will encounter. This is because, unlike other types of academic writing, a research paper requires an in-depth investigation of the issue. It is also much longer than others are. 


Related Reading: How to Write an excellent research paper.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


What Should the Conclusion of an Essay Include?


A conclusion has three critical parts:



How Do I Start a Conclusion?


A conclusion paragraph should start with restating a thesis statement to remind the readers of the purpose of your paper. As you do this, keep in mind that the wording of the thesis statement changes, but the meaning stays the same.


How Can You Use Your Conclusion to Create a Positive Impression on Your Reader?


Start with restating your thesis statement using new words, clearly and concisely summarizing the main points for your essay, and leaving the reader with a message that will get them to think. Additionally, provide a compelling call to action.


What is a Good Ending Sentence for a Conclusion


An excellent ending sentence has linked the final paragraph to the initial one. This could be by reiterating a phrase used in the beginning. This sentence should be composed of simple language that readers can easily comprehend.


What is the 5-Cs Method of a Conclusion?


The 5cs represent a guideline for writing a conclusion. This guideline is as follows:



Before you go and Try it yourself …


Writing an impressive conclusion is challenging but not impossible. You must treat this conclusion paragraph as a delicate part that completes your essay. It is a perfect opportunity to impress the readers.


Remember that a conclusion is not just an overview of your essay but a way to remind readers of its relevance. For this reason, you must write an impressive conclusion. An impressive conclusion must begin by restating the thesis statement, followed by a brief description of the main arguments and final word to leave the readers with something to ponder.


As you write, do not just repeat what you have written in the essay's body. Uniquely rephrase them. We hope the above strategies will help if you struggle to end your essay with a bang.