Imagine you just told a great story or explained an idea, and then you simply stopped talking. Your audience would be confused! Every piece of writing – whether it's a story or an essay – needs an ending. In writing, this ending is called a conclusion. A conclusion is the final paragraph (or section) of your writing that wraps up everything. It summarizes the main points and restates the main idea so the reader isn't left hanging. Think of it as the grand finale where you remind readers what your piece was about and why it mattered.
In simple terms, a conclusion means "the end." But a good conclusion is more than just the last sentence – it's a meaningful finish that gives the reader a sense of completion. It's your last chance to leave an impression on the reader.
Conclusions are important for several reasons:
Example: Think about watching a movie. If the movie just stopped randomly, you'd be upset, right? Instead, a good movie ending might show how the hero solved the problem and learned a lesson. Similarly, your conclusion should show how the "problem" or question in your writing was resolved and what was learned from it.
In any essay or literature response, you should have one conclusion paragraph at the end. You do not write multiple conclusions. One well-written concluding paragraph is sufficient to effectively wrap up your ideas. Having more than one conclusion would be repetitive and could confuse the reader. For a standard 5-paragraph essay (which 6th graders often write), the conclusion is usually the fifth paragraph – the last paragraph of the essay.
Take This Quiz:
Typically, a conclusion for a short essay is about 3-5 sentences long. It should be proportional to your overall writing. If your essay is very short, the conclusion might be 2-3 sentences. If it's a longer essay, the conclusion might be a bit longer. The key is that it's concise – it should briefly cover the main points without going on and on.
A strong conclusion paragraph usually contains four key parts (elements). These parts work together to bring your essay to a smooth finish:
These four parts don't have to be strictly separate sentences, but your conclusion should include all of them in some form. Essentially, a conclusion restates what you said, why it was important, and leaves the reader with something to think about.
You can follow these steps in order when drafting your conclusion paragraph:
Step | What to Do | Example |
Step 1: Start with a Transition Signal | Begin with a phrase that signals the end of the essay. Avoid transitions that indicate a beginning. | ✅ In conclusion, / To sum up, / Overall, ❌ To begin with, / Firstly, |
Step 2: Restate the Thesis in New Words | Paraphrase your thesis statement using different wording. Do not copy it word-for-word from the introduction. | Intro Thesis: "School uniforms improve focus and unity." Restated Thesis: "Wearing uniforms helps students concentrate better and feel a stronger sense of community." |
Step 3: Summarize Key Points | Briefly mention the main arguments from the body paragraphs in 1-2 sentences. Do not add new points or details. | "Throughout this essay, we explored how uniforms reduce distractions, lower peer pressure, and create school spirit." |
Step 4: Explain the Importance ("So What?") | Answer the question, "Why does this matter?" Explain the broader significance or impact of the topic. | "These benefits show that school uniforms contribute to a more positive and fair learning environment for students." |
Step 5: End with a Strong Closing Thought | Provide a final, memorable sentence. This could be a call to action, a prediction, a connection to the introduction, or a thought-provoking statement. | "Ultimately, adopting school uniforms could lead to a more focused and united generation of students." |
Take This Quiz:
Here's a quick example of a conclusion using the steps above. Suppose the essay was about the benefits of daily reading for students. The thesis was that reading every day improves academic performance, creativity, and empathy. Here's how a concluding paragraph might look:
In conclusion, reading on a daily basis significantly enriches a student's mind and character. (Transition + restated thesis in fresh words – main idea that daily reading has big benefits.) By regularly diving into books, students can expand their vocabulary and knowledge, stimulate their imagination, and even learn to understand others' feelings better. (Summary of key points: academic performance -> vocabulary/knowledge, creativity -> imagination, empathy -> understand others.) These advantages show why a simple habit like reading is so important beyond just getting good grades. (Reflection on importance – answers "so what?", pointing out broader significance beyond grades.) Ultimately, if more young people pick up a book each day, we might build a more educated, creative, and compassionate future generation. (Closing thought – a hopeful look to the future, which also acts as a mild call to action encouraging the habit of reading.)
We can break that example into its components in a table to see the structure clearly:
Component | Example from the Paragraph | Explanation |
Transition + Restated Thesis | "In conclusion, reading on a daily basis significantly enriches a student's mind and character." | Signals the end (In conclusion) and rephrases the thesis (daily reading has major benefits for mind and character). |
Summary of Main Points | "By regularly diving into books, students can expand their vocabulary and knowledge, stimulate their imagination, and even learn to understand others' feelings better." | Summarizes key points: better vocabulary/knowledge (academic performance), more imagination (creativity), and understanding feelings (empathy). |
"So What" / Importance | "These advantages show why a simple habit like reading is so important beyond just getting good grades." | Explains significance: reading isn't just for grades, it has deeper importance. Answers why the points matter. |
Closing Thought | "Ultimately, if more young people pick up a book each day, we might build a more educated, creative, and compassionate future generation." | Final insight and slight call to action: suggests what could happen if the advice (daily reading) is followed – a forward-looking, concluding idea. |
Here's an easy chart:
Mistake | Why It's Wrong | How to Fix It |
Adding New Information | Introducing new facts or arguments confuses the reader. | Keep your conclusion focused on summarizing existing points. |
Repeating the Thesis Word-for-Word | Sounds repetitive and shows no deeper understanding. | Restate the thesis using different wording and synonyms. |
Being Too Vague or Short | A one-liner conclusion does not provide closure. | Summarize key points and explain why they matter. |
Using Weak or Apologetic Language | Saying "I hope this was okay" weakens your argument. | Be confident in your conclusion. Use assertive language. |
Overusing Transition Words | Using "In conclusion" in every sentence sounds repetitive. | Use one strong concluding phrase at the beginning, then write naturally. |
Changing the Tone Suddenly | Switching from formal to casual (or vice versa) feels inconsistent. | Keep the tone aligned with the rest of your essay. |
Take This Quiz:
Rate this lesson:
Wait!
Here's an interesting quiz for you.