Conclusions
The conclusion is the writer’s way of summing up the main purpose of the essay and reviewing the important issues that were discussed in the body of the essay. The conclusion allows the writer to remind the reader of the most important concepts relating to the issue under discussion and to demonstrate how they’re connected.
How to do it
A return to the main idea: Strong conclusions will usually start by restating the thesis of the essay (not repeating) and answering the question “so what?” or “why does it matter?”
Summary of main points: A good way to summarize the relevant points is to provide 1 or 2 strong sentences that assert the facts/details of each of the preceding body paragraphs. Don’t copy what you said exactly.
Connection to the bigger picture: It’s typical to end the conclusion with a larger connection or call to action. This could offer hope for the future or a suggestion for change.
Conclusion DON'TS
DO NOT begin with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as "in conclusion," "in summary" "in closing," or "as shown in the essay."
DO NOT Stating the thesis for the very first time
DO NOT Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion
Examples
Lowering the drinking age to eighteen would just add to the challenges teenagers already face and create more problems for everyone. [Review Main Points] When you consider that teenage minds and bodies are still developing, that it would interfere with education, and that it would make many social problems worse, it’s clear that we should keep it at twenty-one. [Connect to Bigger Picture] Our teens are our future, and our future is just too valuable to risk.
It is clear that the only acceptable way of ensuring the safety of airline passengers is to begin a program to issue Safe Traveler Cards or national ID cards to United States citizens. [Review Main Points] These cards would screen out those who are unlikely to be terrorists and would also eliminate the delays that currently characterize air travel. Most important, they would help prevent terrorists from high jacking American Planes. At the same time, by making racial profiling unnecessary, these cards would help protect personal and civil liberties of Americans. [Leave Reader Thinking] Only by instituting a national ID card system can the U.S. make certain that the terrorists who attacked the United States did not hijack the liberties that are so precious to us.