Writing a Conclusion for an Essay

by Jesse Seldess, Professional Writer

The conclusion is the last paragraph of an essay. Although often brief in comparison with the other paragraphs, the conclusion performs a number of very significant functions.

When writing a conclusion for your essay, it's helpful to keep these basic considerations in mind:

• Your conclusion is the last paragraph that your reader will encounter.

• Your conclusion should remind your reader about the most important aspects of your essay.

• In most essays, therefore, your conclusion should creatively restate the main idea of the essay.

• Your conclusion should also leave your reader even more interested in your topic and idea.

• For some essays, especially for persuasive or argumentative essays, it's particularly effective to end your conclusion by directly addressing your reader with a question or call for action.

Be sure to spend a good deal of time planning and writing your conclusion. A strong conclusion can resolve and fulfill your essay as a whole and make a real impact on your reader.