The Big Wrap Up

The final part of the essay is, of course, the conclusion. By definition, this is the end of the writing process. All of the various bits of evidence and arguments that were presented in the body can be (and often are) reiterated here for added clarity or for the purposes of review.

In addition, the conclusion features a final summation of the thesis statement and, occasionally, a provocative quote or final thought that will keep the reader interested in the topic even after he or she has finished reading. This section presents some useful hints for crafting a fine finishing act. Writers should follow these suggestions.

Avoid creating doubt in the arguments presented or in the thesis.

Avoid ending with a weak or ambiguous sentence or phrase.

Avoid phrases like "in conclusion" or "to sum it up."

Avoid repeating the thesis again in exactly the same words.

Avoid the introduction of new topics.

Try a conclusion that somehow links back to the beginning of the essay, forming a closed "loop."

Try concluding with a sentence of shorter words to add emphasis and create a more dramatic effect.

Try finishing with a relevant and interesting quotation.

Try including some implications of the thesis for the reader to consider.

The most common way of ending an essay is, of course, to summarize the points made in the body. This should be avoided if possible, unless the writer is expected to do so as part of an assignment or if the essay is particularly lengthy and some review would be helpful for the reader. The final words should be succinct, to-the-point, and unambiguous. (Eggenschweiler and Biggs, 2001)

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