The Conclusion
Making Your Last Paragraph Count
© 2001 by Ruth Luman
References
A Conclusion
Definition and Purpose
The conclusion is the last paragraph in your
essay. A conclusion completes the essay and
reemphasizes your thesis statement or main
ideas. Look at the example thesis statement
and conclusion below.
A Conclusion
Thesis Statement
When I first found out that I was diagnosed with cancer, I took
two important steps to fight the disease.
First sentence in conclusion reemphasizes ideas in thesis statement.
First Sentence of Conclusion
Ultimately, because of the steps I took, I was successful in
fighting the disease…
A Conclusion
So What?
In addition to referring back to your main idea, your
conclusion needs to show your reader the significance of
your thesis. When discussing the importance of your
thesis, try to address questions such as…

How and why is this topic important?

How might this topic affect me or other people?

What can be learned from this topic?
Example #1
So What?
Look at the example below of a
conclusion that shows the reader the
importance of the main idea of the
essay.
Example #1
Conclusion Paragraph Draft
Ultimately, because of the steps I took, I was successful in fighting the disease. I
was able to become healthy enough to attend my daughter’s wedding, and I no longer
worried about dying. Others suffering with cancer can learn an important lesson from
my experience: Don’t give up no matter how hopeless things may seem and always
get a second opinion from another doctor!
The writer
points out how
the steps she
took to fight
cancer affected
her and other
people.
The writer
discusses the
importance of her
topic by writing
about the lessons
that can be
learned.
Example #2
Conclusion
Look at the example below of a
conclusion that refers back to the
thesis statement and shows the reader
the importance of the main idea of the
essay.
Example #2
Thesis Statement
There were several factors that caused my family to make the difficult decision
to immigrate to the United States.
Conclusion Paragraph
The decision to move to the United States was a difficult one for my parents to
make. Though I was angry with their decision at the time, I understand now that the
poor economy and political instability of my country forced them to immigrate.
Through this experience I learned that one simply cannot control all of life’s
circumstances. One must learn to deal with tough situations as they come and work
to be successful regardless of one’s location.
The first two
sentences
reemphasize the
thesis statement.
The writer concludes
by discussing the
lessons learned from
his experience.
Concluding an Essay
Techniques
Some ways to enhance a conclusion are to
include a…

Prediction

Recommendation

Quotation
Concluding an Essay
A Prediction
A prediction talks about what might
happen in the future. A prediction can be a
good way to finish your essay. It can make
your reader think about the possible results
of your thesis statement.
Thesis
Statement
Prediction
Example
A program to reforest parts of Haiti is urgently needed.
Finally, the importance of beginning a program to re
forest parts of Haiti will be an important step in making this
country more economically self-sufficient. Without such a
program in place, the people of this country will continue to
destroy their natural resources for fuel in order to salvage their
present state of survival.
A prediction is used to make the
reader think about possible
results of the thesis.
Concluding an Essay
A Recommendation
A recommendation is often used by a
writer after he/she has discussed a problem
in an essay. A recommendation can be used
to suggest a solution or call the readers to do
something about the problem in the essay.
Recommendation
Example
As we have seen, international students face a number
of difficulties when coming to a new country to study.
However, problems such as culture-shock and the language
barrier can be lessened before a student comes to the new
country through preparation. If you are considering going to
school in another country, you should begin learning about the
culture, customs, and history of your host nation. Also, you
should be sure that you are proficient in the national language
or be sure to sign up for language classes once you are there.
A recommendation is used to
suggest a solution to a problem.
Concluding an Essay
“A Quotation”
A relevant quotation can bring good
closure to your essay, especially if the
quotation is from an expert on the topic in
your composition.
Quotation
Example
David Werner, author of, Where There Is No Doctor,
notes that, “Only when the people themselves become actively
responsible for their own and their community’s health, can
important changes take place.” This should be the mantra of
every public health agency when looking at making
improvements in common health problems. Unless a
community understands the importance of the intervention and
takes responsibility for transformation, no long-lasting changes
will be made.
A quotation from an expert can
be used to add credibility to a
writer’s position.
A Conclusion
Useful Transitions
It is sometimes helpful to have a transition at the
beginning of your conclusion to signal the end of your
essay. Some common transitions used in conclusions
are listed below. Remember to use a comma after your
transitions.

Thus,

Therefore,

In short,
A Conclusion
Example of Transition Use
Thus, despite the advances in computer
technology, the kind of computers that take on
human characteristics often found in sciencefiction movies are still a long way off.
The transition, thus, is
used at the beginning of
the conclusion to signal
the end of the essay.
References


PowerPoint Presentation by Ruth Luman:
Modesto Junior College.
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