Crafting a strong conclusion is essential for any college essay. It’s your chance to leave a lasting impression on your reader and drive home your main argument. But writing a conclusion that is both effective and memorable can be challenging. You need to summarize your main points, restate your thesis, and provide a final thought that leaves your reader with something to ponder.
Writing an Effective Conclusion
1. Summarize Your Main Points
The first step in writing a conclusion is to summarize your main points. This will serve as a reminder to your reader of the key arguments you have presented throughout your essay. Be brief and concise, but make sure to hit all of the important points.
2. Restate Your Thesis
Once you have summarized your main points, restate your thesis statement. This will remind your reader of the main argument you have been arguing throughout your essay. Be sure to restate your thesis in a clear and concise way.
3. Provide a Final Thought
The final thought is your opportunity to leave your reader with something to ponder. This could be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, or a personal reflection. Keep it brief, but make sure it is memorable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t introduce new information. Your conclusion should not introduce any new information that you have not already discussed in your essay. This will only confuse your reader.
- Don’t restate your thesis verbatim. Your conclusion should restate your thesis in a new and interesting way. Simply repeating your thesis will not add anything to your essay.
- Don’t apologize for your essay. Don’t end your essay with an apology for any shortcomings. This will only make your essay seem weaker.
FAQs
- How long should my conclusion be? Your conclusion should be about 10% of the length of your essay.
- What is the most important part of my conclusion? The most important part of your conclusion is your final thought. This is your chance to leave your reader with something to ponder.
- Can I use a quote in my conclusion? Yes, you can use a quote in your conclusion, but make sure it is relevant to your essay and that it adds something to your argument.
Conclusion
Writing a conclusion is an essential part of any college essay. By following the tips and advice provided in this article, you will be able to write a conclusion that is both effective and memorable. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students who write strong conclusions are more likely to earn higher grades on their essays. So take the time to craft a conclusion that will leave a lasting impression on your reader.
Additional Tips
* Use strong verbs.
* Vary your sentence structure.
* Proofread your conclusion carefully.
By following these tips, you can write a conclusion that will help your essay stand out from the rest.