Conclusions

What is a conclusion? A conclusion is the ending or closing of your writing. It leaves the reader with something to think about. A conclusion ties up all the loose ends and does not leave the reader hanging.

Why bother writing a good conclusion? The conclusion is your final chance to have the last word on the subject. It should make the readers glad they read your paper. It gives you readers something to take away that will help them see things differently or appreciate your topic in personally relevant ways. It is your gift to the reader.

Conclusion Rules Your conclusion is always your last paragraph. It should be at LEAST three sentences long. Indent, Indent, Indent!

Your conclusion should NEVER include… THE END! This is insulting to your reader. They are smart enough to realize the paper has ended without you announcing it. “I have just told you about…” Again, this is insulting. “…and it was all a dream.” This has been overused by countless young writers and will not seem original. Never repeat sentences you have already used in your introduction.

Pay Attention! The following slides contain ideas on how to write an interesting conclusion. Take notes! Put your notes in a safe place for easy reference.

Question: Close with a question that involves the reader Question: Close with a question that involves the reader. You can answer the question, or leave it for the reader to decided based on what you wrote. The question must relate to the main idea. Example It was the worst experience of his life. Andrew decided that it was the last time he would ever go on a roller coaster. Who can blame him?

Strong Statement: Close with a statement that forcefully states your opinion. Example A criminal, no matter his/her age, should be dealt with according to the crime. The legal system is too lenient when it comes to juvenile offenders. Laws need to be rewritten immediately so that no more hard core criminals are set free just because they are juveniles.

Summary: Close with a summary of your main ideas Summary: Close with a summary of your main ideas. However, do not repeat yourself word for word; say it in a different way. Example As you can see, it is not important to know everything, but it is important to know how to find the answer. There will not always be a teacher nearby with the answer. You have to learn how to research, how to dig through sources to find what you need to know. Also, remember not to insult the reader by saying, “I wrote about…” The reader is smart enough to know what he/she just read.

Personal Comment: Close with a personal comment or response to what you have written. It is not the same thing as an opinion. It is more like a personal conclusion you have reached or a lesson you have learned because of the experience you wrote about in your paper. Example Riding a roller coaster with someone who is a “chicken” is something I will certainly never do again. I should have listened when Sheila told me she did not want to ride it. I should have let her take the “chicken exit.” Next time I will know better.

Mystery: Close with a statement that shows some things will never be resolved. However, be sure to do this in a way that the reader does not think you just forgot to end your story or paper. Example We watched Adam walk down the road until he became just a tiny speak and then disappeared altogether into the dust of twilight. Just as he appeared, he was gone. That was the last time any of us ever saw him.

Beginning of a New Story: When writing a story or personal narrative, you can close with a hint of things to come, or the beginning of a new story – a sequel of sorts. Example He was exhausted. It had been a long and difficult week. Nathaniel closed his eyes and thought of the many other adventures that lie ahead.

Quotation: Close with a quotation from a person Quotation: Close with a quotation from a person. It could be a character from the story or someone you know personally. You still must put it in quotation marks and give credit to the person who said it if you write it word for word. Example “You’re going to regret this.” Those were Sheila’s last words as they buckled her into the roller coaster seat. I now know she was not kidding.

Open Conclusion: Close with an ending or statement that lets the reader draw his/her own conclusion. It is like a “fill in the blank” type of conclusion. Remember to give the reader enough information in the body of your paper that he/she can draw a conclusion. Example Some statistics show that drivers under the age of 16 are more dangerous. On the other hand, some statistics show that they are no more dangerous than drivers 16 to 25. Therefore, whether drivers under the age of 16 are more dangerous than those over 16 is still debatable.

Remember… Not every type of conclusion will work for every writer or for every piece of writing. You will have to experiment and find what works best for you. Even though it is THE END, don’t state it!