The Essay Conclusion Make your essay sound finished! Leave a lasting impression on the reader.

The concluding paragraph typically has two parts: The summary statement: one or two sentences which restate the thesis in a fresh way to reinforce the essay's main idea. The clincher: a final thought which should create a lasting impression on the reader.

The Summary Statement The summary statement is an effective way to start your concluding paragraph because it helps to drive home the ideas you've expressed in your essay. Look at your thesis statement again and reword it in a new way. Avoid repeating key words and phrases from the thesis statement because you don't want the summary statement to sound boring or repetitive. Using a thesaurus is a good way to find new, interesting words.

Here are some examples of thesis statements and summary statements: Thesis Statement: Many Americans are buying the Toyota Corolla because of its competitive price, fuel economy, and high resale value. Summary Statement: Reasonable pricing, low miles per gallon, and an attractive resale value have all contributed to the popularity of the Toyota Corolla in today's market. Thesis Statement: San Francisco is a stimulating place to visit because of its magnificent location, its theaters and art galleries, and its many fine restaurants. Summary Statement: If you love beautiful surroundings, world class theater and art, and an exquisite meal, then San Francisco is the place for you.

THE CLINCHER Also referred to as the closer, and is your last opportunity to connect with the reader. One way to make the most of this moment is to return to the technique you used for your hook.

Clinchers Complete the anecdote Make a prediction or recommendation based on facts or statistics. Ask a final rhetorical question (a question that does not require an answer) Use a new quotation referring back to you’re the opening quotation

Example of a conclusion using an anecdote as a clincher. Introduction Conclusion In Lake Wobegone Days, humorist Garrison Keillor tells of a retired dentist in a little Minnesota town.  He sits in a fishing boat much of theday.  "Open wide," Dr. Nute says to the fish.  "This may sting a little bit.  Okay.  Now bite down."  Unfortunately, not all retired persons are so easily able to continue their once interesting professions in some form, as Dr. Nute has.  Retirees have a high death rate within the first six months after retirement, apparently because of boredom, and psychologists suggest three ways to prevent it. Example of a conclusion using an anecdote as a clincher.

Example of a conclusion making a prediction or recommendation Introduction Conclusion Television is so popular that over 128 million sets are now being used in 98 percent of American households.  According to the A.C. Nielsen Company, which takes television surveys, each week the small screen holds the attention of children under five for an average of 23.5 hours and adults for an average of 44 hours.  Indeed, the typical viewer spends more time in front of the television set than he or she spends on any other activity except sleep. But far from being the "idiot box" that it is often called, television offers viewers many benefits.  Television can be educational, as well as entertaining. Example of a conclusion making a prediction or recommendation

Example of a conclusion asking a final rhetorical question Introduction Conclusion What do smoke signals, wax tablets, and the telegraph all have in common?  They were all tools used for communication.  Some of these tools were more sophisticated than others, but all of them served the same purpose.  They allowed people to communicate with each other. Maybe in a few thousand years, our way of communicating will become obsolete.  But there's no denying the importance of the cell phone, the computer, and the postal service in our society today. Example of a conclusion asking a final rhetorical question

Example of a conclusion asking a final rhetorical question Introduction Conclusion "Never do yourself what you can afford to pay someone else to do."  That is a motto my brother lives by.  Had I lived by it, too, I could have saved myself a large expense, much griminess, and a painful injury to my hand the last time I tried to fix a leaking toilet. Example of a conclusion asking a final rhetorical question

Final Tip on Writing Conclusions As you write your conclusion, try to avoid the "so-as-you-can-see" ending and the "in conclusion my thesis statement proves that" or "states that" ending. All of these are overused and worn out. You've already made your thesis and reasoning clear. You don't need to tell us that you've just told us something.