2. A good conclusion should:
Remind the reader of the thesis statement
Answer the question “So what?”
Give the essay a sense of completion and
closure
Leave the reader with a final, lasting impression
Make the reader happy to have read your paper
3. Types of Conclusions
Simple Summary
Frame or Circle Technique
Panning the Horizon
Proposal or Call to Action
Concluding Story
4. Simple Summary
If you choose this common type of conclusion, be sure
to synthesize, rather than merely summarizing. Avoid a
dull restatement of your major points. Don’t
monotonously restate your major ideas; instead, show
your readers how the points you raised fit together and
why your ideas matter. Also, try to avoid the phrase,
“and in conclusion.” This can insult the reader’s
intelligence: After all, if you’ve organized your paper
well, it will be obvious that you have begun your
concluding remarks.
5. Frame or Circle Technique
Here, a writer circles back to the beginning,
returning to the metaphor, image, anecdote,
quotation, or example he or she used in the
introductory paragraph. Echoing the introduction
gives essays a nice sense of unity and
completion.
6. Panning the Horizon
This technique moves the reader from the
specifics of a paper or essay to a larger, perhaps
even universal, point. It redirects the readers,
giving them something meaty to chew over. You
can demonstrate the importance and broad
significance of your topic by using an appropriate
analogy, tying the topic to a larger philosophic or
political issue, posing a challenging question, or
encouraging the reader to look to the future.
7. Proposal or Call to Action
Especially useful in a persuasive or
argumentative essay, in this type of conclusion
the writer makes a proposal and/or asks the
readers to do something, calling them to action.
It is frequently seen in sermons and political
speeches.
8. Concluding Story
Here, the writer sums up the essay by sketching
a scene or by telling a brief anecdote that
illustrates the topic’s significance. Often, this
approach makes an emotional connection with
the reader.
