Step 1: Return to your thesis

To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall
argument.

Don’t just repeat your thesis statement—instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows
how it has been developed since the introduction.

Example: Returning to the thesis

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the
opportunities available to them.

Step 2: Review your main points

Next, remind the reader of the main points that you used to support your argument.

Avoid simply summarizing each paragraph or repeating each point in order; try to bring your points
together in a way that makes the connections between them clear. The conclusion is your final chance
to show how all the paragraphs of your essay add up to a coherent whole.

Example: Reviewing the main points

Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the
success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other
way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness.

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Step 3: Show why it matters

To wrap up your conclusion, zoom out to a broader view of the topic and consider the implications of
your argument. For example:

Does it contribute a new understanding of your topic?

Does it raise new questions for future study?

Does it lead to practical suggestions or predictions?

Can it be applied to different contexts?

Can it be connected to a broader debate or theme?

Whatever your essay is about, the conclusion should aim to emphasize the significance of your
argument, whether that’s within your academic subject or in the wider world.

Try to end with a strong, decisive sentence, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of interest in your
topic.

Example: Showing why it matters

New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change
the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

What shouldn’t go in the conclusion?

The easiest way to improve your conclusion is to eliminate these common mistakes.

Don’t include new evidence

Any evidence or analysis that is essential to supporting your thesis statement should appear in the main
body of the essay.

The conclusion might include minor pieces of new information—for example, a sentence or two
discussing broader implications, or a quotation that nicely summarizes your central point. But it
shouldn’t introduce any major new sources or ideas that need further explanation to understand.

Don’t use “concluding phrases”

Avoid using obvious stock phrases to tell the reader what you’re doing:
“In conclusion…”

“To sum up…”

These phrases aren’t forbidden, but they can make your writing sound weak. By returning to your main
argument, it will quickly become clear that you are concluding the essay—you shouldn’t have to spell it
out.

Don’t undermine your argument

Avoid using apologetic phrases that sound uncertain or confused:

“This is just one approach among many.”

“There are good arguments on both sides of this issue.”

“There is no clear answer to this problem.”

Even if your essay has explored different points of view, your own position should be clear. There may
be many possible approaches to the topic, but you want to leave the reader convinced that yours is the
best one!

More examples of essay conclusions

Argumentative Expository Literary analysis

This conclusion is taken from an argumentative essay about the internet’s impact on education. It
acknowledges the opposing arguments while taking a clear, decisive position.

Argumentative essay conclusion

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its
value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet
opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows,
students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully
embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented
exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for
good.