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| Source: photo taken by the author. |
The
conclusion is a critical paragraph in your paper. That’s because it creates the
final impression that a reader takes away from your essay. Your first nine
paragraphs could be stellar, but if your tenth and final paragraph is tepid or
repetitive or unsatisfactory in some other regard, it ruins the good will
you’ve earned from the reader up to that point.
So if “In
conclusion,” followed by a regurgitation of your introduction is a
horrible conclusion (trust me, it is), then how can you craft a better way to
wrap up your essay? There are a myriad of methods. Here are just a few
examples:
1. End with
a memorable quotation. Find that
perfect quotation that puts a strong punctuation mark on your essay. By the
same token, you could end with a few lines of memorable dialogue.
2. Issue a call for action. Many college papers
identify a problem and perhaps offer a possible solution(s). End with a “call
for action” to solve the problem you’re identified.
3. Make a prediction. Some essays are
speculative. Perhaps your conclusion can look forward into the future.
4. Come full circle. If executed poorly,
this type of ending can come dangerously close to the horrible “restate your
introduction” conclusion. However, if you began with a narrative or anecdotal
introduction, then returning the reader to the scene of that original anecdote
in your conclusion adds power to your writing. “Coming full circle” is just a brief
reminder, however, not a complete restatement of the original anecdote.
There are many
other types of conclusions, but what more can I say? In conclusion, I’m done!
© 2014 Bob Dial. All rights reserved.
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