Want to write an inspirational and remarkable final paragraph? It is easier than you might think!
Your conclusion is your opportunity to wrap up your writing piece in a tidy package and bring it home for your reader. It is the last chance to stress the main point of your work and leave a great final impression. With a few simple strategies in mind, you’ll be able to write a great concluding paragraph even if you feel that there is nothing to say after you’ve written the whole paper.
Restate the Main Point
The conclusion is no place to introduce new ideas. That’s why a proven way to finish your work is just to wrap the things up. Simply restate what you’ve said in your thesis statement from a slightly different perspective. It may not be very creative but it really works. Make sure to use the strong words while focusing on the main point and be as concise as possible.
Answer the “So What?” Question
This is the central question your last paragraph should answer. Why should your reader care about your message? Where should they go after reading the document? What is the outcome of your post or article? Make sure that your readers won’t ask themselves “And? So?” when they get to the end of the text. Instead, provide them with a clear answer.
Send Your Reader in a New Direction
This technique works well for blog posts but you may try to apply it to your essay or article. If you feel that your text is complete and you don’t need to answer the “So what?” question, send your reader in a new direction. Present an interesting fact or ask a compelling question to make them think of other issues.
Insert a Quote
A great way to finish any writing piece is to support it with a quote. Choose the one that relates to your topic and include it naturally in your final paragraph. A good and meaningful quotation will have a strong influence on the reader’s experience and add value to your document.
Present a Solution
If your document focuses on a problem, use your final paragraph to present an amazing solution. It will be really useful and interesting for your readers. This strategy is perfect for political, sociological or similar topics, so make sure to use it accordingly.
Point to the Future
Looking to the future can stress the importance of your topic or redirect the readers’ thought process. It may help them apply the information to their own lives or see particular things more globally. This technique mentally places your reader in the future with your text in mind, making it more possible that he’ll use this information or come back to your publication.
Use Transition Words
To make sure that your conclusion goes smoothly from the body paragraphs, use transition words. Their role is to signal your reader that you’re going to wrap up your article. Different transition words have different effects, so choose a phrase that perfectly suits your intentions. Some common examples of transition words and phrases include:
• Finally,
• To sum up,
• In conclusion,
• To summarize,
• In the long run,
• All things considered.
What to Avoid
Your task is to make your concluding paragraph simple and strong at the same time. That’s why be sure to avoid the common mistakes:
• Lots of details. When you finish your writing piece, don’t include many details. Their place is in your body paragraphs and there is no need to overload your conclusion with additional facts and points.
• Personal opinion. You shouldn’t insert your opinion into the conclusion unless you’re writing an opinion essay. A sudden “I think…” or “I feel…” can negatively affect your document.
• New information. Don’t introduce anything new, simply restate and summarize the main idea of your post or article.
Next time your brain runs out of fresh ideas, turn to the tips mentioned above and prepare the most effective conclusion ever!