Make sure that your thesis is not vague. For example, don’t just say, “This is a paper about the death penalty. " Instead, try being clear and specific. You might write, “The death penalty costs America millions of dollars per year, and as such, is one of the major expenditures in our penal system. This paper will examine why the justice system in the United States needs significant reforms. " This is also the time to make sure that your essay is organized the way you want and that you’ve supported your thesis with strong evidence and analysis. You can’t write a successful conclusion until you’ve organized your essay in a way that makes sense.
Do not just copy and paste your thesis statement. Put it in different words. For example, maybe your thesis statement is, “The Cold War significantly changed American foreign policy. It caused many policymakers to grow accustomed to having a defined enemy. This made for a somewhat confused foreign policy in the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union. " You will want to rephrase it in the conclusion. Try saying, “As demonstrated by looking at the foreign policy actions of President Bush and Clinton, the post-Cold War foreign policy suffered from a lack of coherent action.
You might consider providing a useful anecdote in your conclusion. For example, if you are writing about the plight of the polar bears, offer a story about the polar bear at the San Diego Zoo.
Try to synthesize. This means taking the analysis further than just simply summarizing your points. Your conclusion is a great place to not only summarize, but to draw connections. Tell your reader how your different points connect. For example, you can point out that the Civil War affected both the economy and politics, and that the two were intertwined.
Make sure that you have clearly stated your argument. Your reader should not be confused about your point. Review your main points. Have you included all of them in your conclusion? Does your conclusion explain why your topic is significant? Remember, it is your last chance to convince your reader that your research is important. Make the importance clear. You can state, “This research is significant because it illustrates connections between 19th century literature and the feminists of today. "
Try connecting the last paragraph to the first. For example, if your introduction talked about a dog named Sam, finish your paper by referring once again to Sam. Linking the first and last paragraphs is a good way of ending your paper. It “bookends” your topic. You can also finish your essay with a quote or fact that you referenced earlier in the essay. This provides a nice sense of closure for your reader.
Maybe you are writing a paper about the obesity epidemic in America. Your conclusion is a great place to offer some solutions. For example, you could say, “Clearly, there is a need for a greater focus on physical activity at a young age. " Or you could say, “More research should be done to help learn to effectively treat the negative side effects of obesity. " You can also use your conclusion to point to broader themes. For example, your paper about the Freedom Rides in 1961 could indicate some broader points about the Civil Rights movement.
Try to avoid using a long sentence to start your conclusion. You want to grab your reader’s attention and keep it. There is no need to say, “And so, as we have effectively demonstrated through the use of complicated evidence. . . " Instead, just say, “It is clear we need change. " Try writing the first sentence of your conclusion using only one syllable words. This will enhance the drama of your paper.
Clearly stating the importance of your argument is a good way to start your conclusion. Your reader will understand exactly what you are trying to say. You can say, “This research is important because it could help save the lives of animals. " That is a direct, declarative statement. Context can help you explain why a topic is important. For example, your conclusion could begin with a statement such as, “As this essay is being written, there are blank amount of youths incarcerated in the United States. "
Avoid saying, “In conclusion”. There are other, more interesting, ways to start your conclusion. Try saying, “As the research has demonstrated. " You can also just introduce your final points by saying, “Finally. . . " You can also indicate that your reader is at the conclusion by saying, “To review. . . " or “We can see. . . " You can also write, “It is clear. . . “. Try a few different options to see what works best for your particular paper.
There are several words you can use to indicate that you are transitioning to the next part of your paper. You want your reader to know when you have reached your conclusion. In addition to saying, “In conclusion. . . . “, there are other choices you can make. For example, you would try, “Finally,. . . " or “As this paper demonstrates. . . “. Make sure to transition between each main point. You can use words such as, “In comparison”, “Next”, or “A different approach” to illustrate your are shifting topics.
Look for spelling and grammatical errors. Use spell check to help you. Edit for content. Read each sentence of your paper to make sure that it makes sense and helps get your point across. Don’t be afraid to make cuts. If you find a paragraph that doesn’t add to your argument, get rid of it. Read out loud. This is an excellent way to catch errors that you didn’t notice while reading. [13] X Research source
Be open to constructive criticism. Don’t take it personally if your friend offers some helpful pointers. Explain the assignment. You can say, “This paper is supposed to be an assessment of the public school system in Indiana. Are my points clear?” Ask your reader to pay careful attention to your conclusion. They might spot holes that you didn’t see.
Format the paper as specified. If it is supposed to be written in 12 point Times New Roman, verify that that is the font you used. Submit the paper as specified. If your teacher asks you to submit both an electronic copy and a hard copy, follow those instructions.
