Why? Because they want to end their concert with a high-energy song that everyone knows. They want to play that song—the one everyone waits all night to hear.

By leaving you excited about the final moments of the concert, performers know you’ll be more likely to have positive memories. You’ll also more likely be convinced that your hard-earned dollars were well spent.

The conclusion of your argumentative essay should be like the last song at your favorite concert: memorable and convincing.

Not sure how to make that happen? Read on to learn how to write a winning argumentative essay conclusion.

How to Write a Winning Argumentative Essay Conclusion

If you want to be a rock star of the argumentative essay world, you need to write a rock-star conclusion.

Because the goal of an argumentative essay is to use logical arguments to convince your audience, your conclusion needs to both remind readers of your main arguments and reinforce those arguments.

In order to write a winning argumentative essay conclusion, follow the three steps outlined below.

Step #1: Review the main arguments of your essay

The conclusion is your last chance to convince readers of your arguments. So it’s pretty important that you first identify not only the main arguments but also the strongest arguments you’ve presented.

Here’s how to identify the main arguments of your essay:

• Review your thesis statement. If you’ve written a three-part thesis statement, your key points may already be listed in your thesis.

• Review the topic sentence of each body paragraph. The topic sentence of each paragraph should identify the focus of the paragraph. By reviewing topic sentences, you can note the key points you’ve addressed.

• Create a reverse outline. If you want to be even more detailed about reviewing the main arguments (and the evidence you’ve used to support your arguments), try a reverse outline to get a complete picture of your essay.

Once you’ve identified your main arguments, decide which ones you’ll highlight in your conclusion.

You may wish to highlight some or all of your main arguments. (Keep in mind, though, that you might be required to summarize all of your key points in your conclusion, so check your assignment guidelines before you start writing.)

After you’ve decided which arguments you’ll highlight, begin writing your conclusion.

Step #2: Transition from the body of the essay and begin the conclusion

When readers reach the end of your essay, you want them to know that the essay has ended. You don’t want to leave them staring blankly, wondering if you forgot to include the final paragraph(s).

Thus, after you’ve written the final body paragraph of your essay, you need to clearly signal to the readers that your paper is coming to a close and transition to the conclusion.

I know it’s tempting to write “in conclusion” and just start writing, but “in conclusion” isn’t the most effective way to begin your concluding paragraph. Read Wrap It Up: 15 (Better) Concluding Transitions to learn 15 better ways to make the transition.

Once you’ve selected an appropriate transition word or phrase, use the first few lines of your conclusion to emphasize the key arguments of your essay.

I’m sure that you’ve heard that your conclusion should restate your thesis statement. While you should definitely restate the ideas presented in your thesis, you most certainly should not simply reword your thesis. (In other words, don’t just switch up a word or two and call it good.)

Remember, you’re synthesizing the core arguments of your paper and emphasizing the importance of your arguments. You’re not simply rewriting your thesis.

Example: An effective start

As an example of an effective start to a conclusion, take a look at these opening lines from the conclusion in an argumentative essay from our library:

Ultimately, one of the main problems with the men’s rights movement is their belief that women lie about being raped, sexually assaulted, or abused for attention or because they’re bitter against men. In turn, these men get more violent and lash out.

Notice that this conclusion begins with the transition “ultimately” to signal the beginning of the conclusion. The writer then effectively emphasizes the core arguments of the essay: what he/she believes are the main problems with the men’s rights movement.

By restating the central ideas of the paper, the writer effectively reinforces his/her claims and refocuses on the core arguments.

Step #3: Wrap up the conclusion

As you wrap up your argumentative conclusion, keep in mind the purpose of your essay: to convince your audience.

What better way to convince your readers than to appeal directly to them, right?

This doesn’t mean that you should address your readers by using second-person point of view. Instead, stick with third person.

To connect with your readers, you might urge them to take action or illustrate what might happen if they don’t make a change.

This strategy not only engages readers but also leaves them thinking about the importance of your claims.

Example: An effecting ending

Here’s the ending of the conclusion I included earlier. (I’ve included the ending in bold after the opening lines of the conclusion, so you can read the entire concluding paragraph at once.)

Ultimately, one of the main problems with the men’s rights movement is their belief that women lie about being raped, sexually assaulted, or abused for attention or because they’re bitter against men. In turn, these men get more violent and lash out. If they would listen to facts and reasoning, they’d understand what victims really go through. They may also come to learn that most of their problems of “male oppression” are results of a patriarchal societal structure and the toxic masculinity they refuse to acknowledge. Maybe they will never understand that feminism is the only thing that can liberate us all, but perhaps if it is rebranded as “egalitarianism” or “human rights”, they’ll reconsider.  

Notice that the writer uses third person to discuss the topic but clearly aims the final lines at anyone who refuses to acknowledge toxic masculinity. The writer then offers a suggestion for a change in terminology as a final push to convince readers that change needs to occur.

NOTE: The writer of this essay uses first-person plural (“us”). While it’s sometimes acceptable to use the first-person plural POV in an essay, check with your professor to see whether it’s acceptable in your assignment.

The Final Steps

With your winning argumentative essay conclusion in place, you can now focus on the final touches of your paper.

As you revise and edit your draft, make sure your essay fits all the requirements for a great argumentative essay. If you’re not sure whether your essay is strong, read these posts for additional argumentative essay writing tips:

• The Secrets of a Strong Argumentative Essay
• Writing an Argumentative Essay Made Easy (Infographic)
• What Is a Counterargument in an Argumentative Essay?
• What Is a Rebuttal, and How Do You Write an Effective One?

You can also review tons of example argumentative essays in our database.

Still on the fence as to whether your argumentative essay (or essay conclusion) is convincing? Send your essay our way.

At the end of that final episode, you want everything to come together. You don’t want to be left waiting for something more. You don’t want to be left asking, “That’s it? That’s how it all ends?” And you most certainly do not want to see a cringe-worthy ending so upsetting that it leaves fans talking about it even decades later (like with Seinfeld).

Conclusions are important. And yes, they’re even important in essays. A poor essay conclusion in your history paper may not leave millions of people pondering your final thoughts. But it may leave your teacher questioning your writing style and choice of endings.

Don’t leave your readers asking, “Why on earth did they end the paper this way?” and don’t–please don’t–write “in conclusion.”

Wrap up your paper effectively by using one of these 15 (better) concluding transitions.

Why Concluding Transitions Matter

Have you ever read a classmate’s draft (maybe in a peer editing session in an English class, for instance) only to reach the end of the paper and wonder, “Wait. Did I miss something? Was that the end?”

If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation or if someone has said this about your draft, chances are the essay is missing a clear concluding transition.

Transitions are kinda like road signs. They let you know what to expect ahead.

You wouldn’t want to be humming along at 75 mph without warning of a hairpin turn ahead, would you? Of course not. And you don’t want readers to breeze through your paper only to reach an abrupt stop with no indication that your paper is about to end.

That’s where effective transitions come in.

Concluding transitions help readers prepare and let them know they’re reaching the end of the essay.

What’s Wrong With “In Conclusion”?

When you reach the end of your paper, it can be tempting to slap on “in conclusion” and call it good.

While these words do, in fact, let your audience know they’ve reached the end of your paper, “in conclusion” is basic and boring. It’s pretty much a “Dead End” sign. Readers have come to the end of your paper, but by you using such a bland transition, they’ll likely feel like your paper is a dead end too.

So how exactly do you smoothly transition from the body of your paper to the concluding paragraphs without writing “in conclusion”?

Here are 15 better concluding transitions to try out in your next paper.

15 (Better) Concluding Transitions

Keep in mind that specific transitions often work for any variety of papers and essays. But I’ve organized this list of 15 concluding transitions by four different essay types to help you see how various transitions work for different types of writing.

Concluding transitions for argumentative/persuasive essays

The goal of an argumentative essay or persuasive essay is to convince your readers. Thus, you’ll want to use a concluding transition that emphasizes your arguments and further attempts to sway readers into believing the validity of your claims.

Here are four examples:

On the whole

On the whole, the bookstore offers a suitable selection of used textbooks.

In essence

In essence, it is the lack of resources that has created such a dire situation at the shelter.

Ultimately

Ultimately, wind energy is the planet’s best hope for reducing dependency on fossil fuels and reducing climate change.

Thus

Thus, young teens who excessively use social media are at a greater risk of developing a poor self-image.

Notice how each of these transitional sentences signal the end of the essay by summarizing the focus of the paper.

This allows you to restate your thesis statement without merely rewriting the statement or changing a few words of your thesis.

Want to see an argumentative concluding transition in action? Check out The Worst of the Men’s Right Movement and Why We Still Need Feminism.

Concluding transitions for narrative essays

The narrative essay is all about telling a story. Your goal is to include plenty of description and keep readers interested in your tale.

In a narrative, the conclusion often expresses the moral or lesson you learned, so use the concluding transition to signal the end of the narrative and the summary of the lesson(s) learned.

Check out these four examples for inspiration:

Finally

Finally, I realized that my so-called friends were frenemies, rather than true friends.

In the long run

In the long run, having to retake chemistry helped me understand how crucial it is to study for exams.

All things considered

All things considered, the trip to Cancun turned out to be an amazing vacation.

In the end

In the end, it was my dog, Diesel, who helped me through the darkest days.

Again, notice how these concluding transitions both signal the end of the narrative portion of the story and transition to a brief discussion of the moral.

If you want to see an example of how a concluding transition works in a narrative essay, read My Experience of Dining in a Middle Eastern/Persian Restaurant.

Concluding transitions for analytical essays

When you write an analytical essay, you’re analyzing something, often an article or a piece of literature (think literary analysis).

To support your analysis, you’ll include specific evidence (like quotes or paraphrases) from the piece you’re analyzing. (Depending on your assignment, you might also include additional evidence from credible sources.)

The conclusion for an analytical essay generally sums up the key points of analysis. Thus, you’ll use a concluding transition to move from main ideas to the wrap up of the analysis.

Here are three examples:

In the final analysis

In the final analysis, John Proctor perfectly illustrates that appearances can be deceiving.

To summarize

To summarize, Amari’s use of interviews and statistical data creates a solid overview of people’s feelings about the presidential candidates.

In brief

In brief, the core thesis of The Great Gatsby is that the American Dream is actually unattainable for the average American.

Each of these concluding transitions marks the end of the analysis and the beginning of the conclusion, which summarizes the key points of analysis in the paper. (Remember, these types of concluding transitions are an excellent way to restate your thesis statement without repeating the exact words of your thesis.)

Take a look at A Visual Analysis of 12 Years a Slave to see how one writer effectively uses concluding transitions.

Concluding transitions for compare and contrast essays

It’s not hard to figure out that the goal of a compare and contrast essay is to compare and/or contrast people, places, things, and/or ideas.

It only makes sense that at the end of the essay you’ll want to remind readers not only about what it is that you’re comparing and contrasting, but also the conclusions you’ve reached based on your comparisons. (You might also use the concluding transition to emphasize the importance of your conclusions.)

Here are three concluding transition examples:

Given these points

Given these points, it is clear that the sushi at Hello Sushi is superior to the sushi at China Gardens.

In either case

In either case, students would benefit from relief from the burden of student loans.

Undoubtedly

Undoubtedly, though both Ofglen and Offred rebel against their oppressors, it is Ofglen who is the stronger character and ultimately more dedicated to her cause.

In the examples above, the concluding transitions highlight the two subjects being compared while also signaling the end of the paper and emphasizing the conclusions (or focus) of the paper.

Check out A Comparison of the Differences Between the 21st Century Hollywood Musical and the Classical Hollywood Musical to see a concluding transition example in the context of an essay.

To Conclude

I get it. It takes a lot of work (and time) to choose the right words and put the finishing touches on your paper, but trust me, the end result will be worth it.

If you’ve made it to the conclusion and have an awesome concluding transition to start the closing paragraph but are stumped as to what to include next, here are a few resources that can help:

• How to Write a Killer Essay Conclusion
• Loose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority
• 20 Essay Conclusion Examples to Help You Finish Strong

Have a stellar conclusion but still feel like the rest of your paper could be better? Let us help. We’ve edited tens of thousands of papers and are available 24/7 to help you with yours.

Did you include enough evidence to support your arguments? Should you write more, or would that just make your essay sound more redundant?

Are you really ready to end your essay? And if so, what are the right words to give it the same impact and energy as the rest of your writing?

It can all get a little overwhelming.

And while every conclusion won’t be a piece of cake after this, once you figure out how to end an essay and practice a bit, it gets easier every time.

So let’s get started talking about how to end an essay.

What Is a Conclusion?

I know what you’re thinking… we learned what conclusions are in elementary school.

You may have learned the definition of a conclusion, but I bet you didn’t learn how to end an essay with confidence. Part of that is because many classrooms don’t go into conclusions in depth. Instead, they just tell you that it’s a summary of your main points.

While this may be true, it’s not just a summary. It’s a way to tie up any loose ends. It’s the final thought that leaves an impact on your reader. It’s what brings the whole essay together and makes it sound polished.

What a conclusion is only gives you half the story—you also have to know what a conclusion is not.

A conclusion is not an opportunity to add new information. It’s not just a restatement of your thesis.

A conclusion also isn’t a chance to phone it in at the last minute.

Now that we have some of the technicalities out of the way, it’s time to get into the finer details on how to end an essay with confidence.

What to Do and How to Do It

Most conclusions aren’t as long or as detailed as your body paragraphs. However, they are necessary because they tie everything together and make your essay sound complete.

For the majority of essays, your conclusion should have three components:

1. A summary of your main points
2. Answers to any potential reader questions
3. An interesting final note

Let’s dive into each of these.

A summary of your main points

The summary of your main points is easier and more pleasant to read if it uses different language than your thesis statement or the topic sentences of your body paragraphs. If you really want to make an impact, use some metaphors or descriptive language.

For example, if I was writing an essay about how important conclusions are, I wouldn’t just say:

 In conclusion, conclusions are important because they make an essay sound complete, they tie up loose ends, and they leave readers with a positive overall impression.

Instead, this part of my conclusion might read:

 Conclusions have the power to transform students’ writing from a hastily finished draft into a complete, polished essay. They give readers closure and make the essay stand out among the rest.

The second example is not over the top, but it sounds much more like an ending than a beginning.

Answers to any potential reader questions

This conclusion component isn’t always necessary. However, if you raise questions in the introduction or body paragraphs, you need to give your readers some relief.

If you have the time, I suggest at this step to take a break from your essay—a few minutes will do—before you come back and read it from the beginning. This lets you see it a little more as the reader instead of the writer.

You’ll see whether there are any loose ends. If there are, the conclusion is the perfect spot to take care of them.

An interesting final note

Start strong, end strong. Your introduction started with a hook, so why shouldn’t your conclusion have an interesting point too?

There are several ways to do this. One is to ask a rhetorical question. This makes readers think about the deeper implications of your essay or how the essay relates to their lives.

Another way to add some interest to your conclusion is to twist the beginning into something new.

For example, say we have an essay about the effects of social media on interpersonal relationships. The introduction would state the ways social media impacts its users, but the conclusion can twist it somewhat and open it up to a larger context:

 While some may argue that social media makes people less capable of face-to-face communications, it opens people up to collaboration, education, and a whole list of ever-expanding possibilities.

What to Avoid and How to Avoid It

There are only two things to avoid when writing a conclusion: ending too abruptly and rambling. This isn’t a too-short vs. too-long scenario.

The length of your conclusion depends on the length and complexity of your essay.

It all boils down to the question of whether your essay feels whole.

Ending too abruptly

To avoid this pitfall, simply follow the steps above. Make sure you have all three parts (if you have any unanswered questions, that is).

Most students who end their conclusions too soon only get to the summary part. Some do an almost word-for-word copy of the thesis statement.

Don’t do that.

Instead, round it out with more detailed language and an interesting closing note. And don’t worry—it gets easier with practice.

Rambling

Rambling happens for two different reasons. Either you don’t know where to end so you just keep writing, or you add new information that should be in the body paragraphs.

If you’re rambling because you don’t know when to stop, make sure you have all the right components of a conclusion, and reread what you have.

If there are accidental redundancies or confusing language, get rid of it. Your conclusion might be shorter, but it’ll also be clearer.

If you’re adding new information, decide where it should go in the body. The conclusion isn’t the time to bring up new ideas. It’s a time to reflect on what you wrote.

The conclusion isn’t the time to bring up new ideas. It’s a time to reflect on what you wrote.
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Conclusions You Can Learn From

Now that you know how to end an essay theoretically, let’s put some of these rules into practice. Here are a few examples of both bad and good conclusions.

(There are even more examples of good conclusions here.)

Topic #1: Explain how love causes violence in Romeo and Juliet

 In Romeo and Juliet, virtually every instance of violence is caused, at least in part, by extreme love or passion. Tybalt vows to kill Romeo the same night Romeo sees Juliet for the first time. There are also several threats of suicide because the protagonists are so in love with each other that they cannot imagine life without each other. Romeo and Juliet commit suicide because of their impatience (and a lack of communication), which is a side effect of both their youth and their obsessive love.

This conclusion is long-winded, presents new information (the lack of communication part), and just doesn’t seem to flow well. Here’s a better way to write it.

Romeo and Juliet proves that love and violence are not opposites—they are linked. From the time Romeo sees Juliet and makes Tybalt angry to the final death scene, the main characters’ obsessive love leads to their destruction. Even as Juliet stood at death’s doorstep, she muddled the line between love and violence, uttering the famous words, “Thus with a kiss, I die.”

Topic #2: How does the symbolism of the scarlet “A” change throughout The Scarlet Letter?

The scarlet “A” Hester had to wear is first a mark of shame but then transforms into a badge of honor once she embraces her true nature.

This conclusion is far too basic—just a simple restatement of the main point of the essay.

Instead, try something like this:

The rules of Puritan New England branded Hester, making her an outcast. But she never turns her back on her neighbors. The scarlet letter that once made her stand out in the beginning of the novel transforms into a symbol of power and leadership. Hester proves more loving and ethical than those who condemn her as a sinner, showing that what some may consider to be flaws can end up being the biggest assets.

One Last Note

Reading about how to end an essay can only get you so far. Now you just have to jump in and do it. But don’t worry—Kibin editors are here to lend their eyes (and their awesome editing powers).

They’ll help ensure your essay is as well-written as possible, from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion.

And while some people may be able to learn just by reading the theories on how to do something, you learn differently—you need actual examples.

Just like a protester, politician, or superhero, I’m here to lead by example. I’ve put together a list of essay conclusion examples that covers a range of topics and essay formats to serve as a stepping stone for your own writing.

Why Do You Need a Strong Conclusion?

Before I get into the essay conclusion examples, you should know why writing a strong conclusion is so important. Your conclusion isn’t just a summary of what you’ve already written.

True, it’s a little bit about summarizing, but it should take your essay one step further. Your conclusion should answer any unresolved questions and end your essay with a bang!

Your conclusion should answer any unresolved questions and end your essay with a bang!
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In short, an awesome essay conclusion is super important because it rounds out your essay and makes it feel complete.

Now on to the good stuff…

Analytical Essay Conclusion Examples

Topic #1: Analyze the theme of compassion for one character in the Hunger Games series.

The obvious choices for compassion in the Hunger Games may be Katniss or Peeta, but the character who personifies compassion best was Prim. Throughout the series, her compassion is seen when she keeps secrets from her mother for Katniss, when she heals Gale after he gets whipped, and through the last act of her life as she rushes to save children in the Capitol. She truly lives Albert Schweitzer’s words, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”

Topic #2: What caused the Civil War?

The importance of each cause of the American Civil War can be debated, but what is fact is that there were several factors that led the South to secede. Slavery, states’ rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency—even though no state in the South voted for him—all contributed to the war. While it has been nearly 150 years since the Civil War ended, some of the leftover divide between North and South can still be seen in modern America.

Topic #3: Analyze Facebook’s influence on America’s youth.

Though social media allows young users to connect with people across the world and get instantaneous news about the world around them, it also has come with many complications. From access to inaccurate information to the rise of cyberbullying, the bad can sometimes outweigh the good among younger users. With 73% of young Americans ages 12-17 years old using Facebook, it may be time to devise better rules for promoting responsible use.

Topic #4: Analyze the theme of disguise in The Taming of the Shrew.

The theme of disguise in The Taming of the Shrew is evident from the very beginning. The play within a play lets the reader know that every character is an actor. The main characters—Kate, Bianca, and Petruchio—all disguise their true identities and intentions for the same reason: to get what they want.

(Learn how to write an analytical essay outline.)

Expository Essay Conclusion Examples

Topic #5: Explain how to write an essay conclusion.

Essay conclusions are pretty simple once you know the framework. It all boils down to three main parts: a transition from the last body paragraph, a summary of the thesis statement and main points of the essay, and a closing statement that wraps everything up. If all students knew this simple formula, maybe essay writing would be easier for everyone.

Want extra guidance with the conclusion framework? Read How to Write a Killer Essay Conclusion.

Topic #6: What is the scientific method?

The scientific method is common sense. First, a person must have a research question he or she wants answered and a little background knowledge on the subject. Then the person forms a hypothesis, or what he or she thinks the answer to the research question is, which the person tests with an experiment. Finally, the person should analyze the data and draw a conclusion. This method can be used both in and out of the scientific realm, testing everything from history to social issues.

Topic #7: What are the causes of homelessness?

Passing by a homeless person is not uncommon, especially in urban settings. Homelessness can be caused by many factors, including job loss, lack of family support, and the diminishing availability of affordable housing. Although it is easy for some to think that homelessness is caused by mental problems or general laziness, there are other factors to consider. Only when the whole scope of the problem is known can society begin to come up with a comprehensive solution.

Topic #8: What is the main cause of global warming?

Most scientists agree that global warming is due to the rapid rise of greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. While some may argue that factory farms are the main cause of global warming and others may say it is modern society’s transportation methods, the main cause is clear: mankind.

(Learn more about writing expository essays.)

Narrative Essay Conclusion Examples

Topic #9: Write about what it would be like to be put into the pages of Romeo and Juliet.

Being catapulted into the pages of Romeo and Juliet would definitely come with some culture shock. Men would be carrying swords and fighting each other in the street. Girls would be getting married at 13 years old. Had I the knowledge of what would become of the star-crossed lovers, I would have warned Romeo that Juliet’s death was a hoax and to wait until she woke up. This, of course, would make the play quite different, but I would feel that it was my duty after having spent so much time with the characters.

Topic #10: A time machine has taken you back to meet your favorite author (Edgar Allan Poe in this case). Write about that meeting.

As Edgar and I were discussing the common themes and dark imagery of his works, the waiter interrupted us. I reached for the wine decanter, poured myself a glass, and asked if he would like some.

“No thanks,” he said, laughing grimly. “After all, it might be poisoned.”

Topic #11: Tell about your proudest moment.

Standing up for my little brother made me feel like the character who everyone likes in those after-school sitcoms. I was able to confront the kid who was bullying my little brother without using threats or physical force. In the end, encouraging the two to have an open dialogue brought them closer, and while they may never be best friends, at least they can respect each other.

Topic #12: Write about an event that made you who you are today.

My abuse did not and does not define me, but I would not be the same person had I not gone through it. It took a while and there were setbacks, but I’m a stronger, more compassionate person because of the traumatic events that happened. I hope others never have to go through the same thing I did, but if they do, I hope they can learn from my example and find the help they need to change their situation for the better.

(Learn more about writing narrative essays.)

Persuasive Essay Conclusion Examples

Topic #13: Should Hermione have ended up with Harry instead of Ron in the Harry Potter series?

Harry may be the main character of the Harry Potter series and J.K. Rowling may have stated recently that even she thinks Hermione and Harry should have ended up together, but the characters are much too similar. They are both natural leaders, which would create a lot of relationship tension. Ron, on the other hand, is the Type B to balance Hermione’s Type A personality. Since Harry ended up with Ron’s sister, Ginny, all three main characters are married into the same family. That certainly would make holiday get-togethers much more entertaining.

Topic #14: Should college education be free?

The amount of student loan debt is an indication that something is definitely wrong with the system. Although universities need an income to survive, getting a college education should still come at no direct cost to the student. Free education would allow for a more educated nation as a whole, it would leave some students with more time to work more on their studies than their jobs, and it could encourage universities to get more creative. If more universities embraced the Pay It Forward model, the United States might become one of the most educated countries in the world.

Topic #15: What is the most important thing high school students should be learning but aren’t?

There are many areas where public high school education could improve, but the most important is financial planning. While some may argue for better nutrition or fitness programs, that information is easily available online and even in commercials—and should actually be taught starting in elementary school. Stronger financial planning curricula would teach high schoolers how to establish credit, how to save for retirement, and how to budget. All of these are important for life in the real world but can be filled with confusing jargon and advertising schemes. With Americans having more than $11 trillion in debt, it is time the younger generation be taught how not to be another statistic.

Topic #16: Should kids get participation trophies?

Many Baby Boomers believe that participation trophies serve as a symbol of millennials’ sense of entitlement. In reality, the participation trophy does not diminish any sense of competition or drive for improvement. When there are performance-based awards in addition to participation awards, it mirrors the real world where average-performing employees still get paid and well-performing people get bonuses, raises, and promotions.

(Learn more about writing persuasive essays.)

Argumentative Essay Conclusion Examples

Topic #17: Should nuclear weapons be banned in all countries?

Because of the political tensions between different countries, it is not likely that a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons would be followed by every world leader. It is important that other countries be able to protect themselves from potential attacks with equally strong weapons. However, more limitations on testing and launch authorizations should be enforced to ensure hot-headed leaders do not use or even advertise these dangerous weapons simply as a show of force.

Topic #18: Are pre-employment drug tests an invasion of privacy?

Although companies need to hire capable, dependable employees, they should not be able to dictate what their employees do in the comfort of their own homes. There are better ways of determining whether someone is right for a position, including education, past employment, personal and professional references, and trial periods.

Topic #19: Should prisoners have the right to vote?

Although some people fear that granting prisoners the right to vote may lead to more relaxed laws surrounding specific crimes, prisoners are part of the American population. A truly democratic process includes everyone’s voices, even those who have made mistakes.

Topic #20: Should parents be allowed to spank their children?

Spanking has become an outdated and lazy way of punishing children. It teaches them that meeting other people’s bad behavior with violence is acceptable. If children are old enough to understand why they are being spanked, they are old enough to think about their bad behavior logically and understand why it was wrong.

(Learn more about writing argumentative essays.)

A Final Word on Final Paragraphs

As you probably noticed given the variety of essay conclusion examples above, there are a lot of ways to end an essay. Generally, there will be a summary, but narrative essays might carry an exception.

These types of essays allow you to be more creative with your conclusion. You should still try to end the essay with a sense of closure even if, as in the case of Topic #8, this means ending on a somewhat ominous note.

No matter how you learn, it’s pretty helpful to have practical examples. And now that you do, you can get to finishing your own essay.

Once your essay is drafted, have one of Kibin’s talented editors take a look at it for you.

Good luck!

Wrapping up your essay can sometimes feel like wrapping a present without tape—it can be difficult at times, and you may feel that it’s just too much work. But don’t worry; I’ll give you some advice that’ll really stick with you and make writing conclusions a cinch.

Follow my guidelines and your essay conclusion will not only bind your writing together, but it’ll leave the reader with a sense of closure—the bow on top of the box, so to speak.

What (Almost) All Essay Conclusions Should Do:

There are a lot of different kinds of essays, so your conclusion is going to vary between each category. However, there are a few common elements that almost every essay conclusion should include.

Why almost every one?

Well, in a few circumstances, it’ll be okay to break the rules a little bit. But just like anything else, you should get to know the rules first before you break them.

Summary of Your Thesis Statement and Main Points

Okay, by now you should have a strong introduction complete with a hook and a thesis statement. You should also have the body of your essay written, or at least outlined.

If you don’t have these things written down, stop what you’re doing and get to writing.

Okay, are you done with your intro and body paragraphs now? Good, let’s talk about summarizing what you said.

When I say summarize your thesis statement and the main points of your body paragraphs, I don’t just mean restate them in the same or nearly the same words. You have to use different language in your essay conclusion that will make it engaging.

Still going with the gift idea for this example:

If your thesis statement is, “Wrapping gifts is important because it builds anticipation in the recipient, it makes the gift look nice, and it shows the person you really care.”

Your essay conclusion shouldn’t just say the exact same thing over again. Instead, try using more vivid language.

For example, “One of the most important aspects of gift-giving is the element of surprise, and a great way build up the surprise is to take care in wrapping your gift. Using bright colors and decorations such as ribbons and bows can make quite an impression. Your dedication to detail will let your loved one know you cared to take the time.”

Tie Up Loose Ends

You might notice that my essay conclusion example is a little more drawn out than the thesis statement. This is because I wanted to include enough details to tie up any loose ends.

If I had just simply restated the thesis statement, the reader might wonder how wrapping a gift shows that you care about someone, or how gift wrapping makes a present look nice.

Before writing your conclusion, read over the rest of your paper with new eyes. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes and try to imagine any questions you might have left unanswered. Consider any ideas you may have skirted around but didn’t make a direct statement about.

Then, answer those questions in a clear and concise manner in your conclusion.

End with Interest

Remember your hook in the introduction? Most likely it’s something like a statistic, short anecdote, quote, or surprising fact.

Well, your essay conclusion should have a kind of ending hook as well, a statement of interest. There are a couple ways to go about writing this statement.

1. Use a parallel structure. If you used a statistic in the introduction, use another statistic in the conclusion; if you used a quote, use another similar quote. However, just as you shouldn’t simply restate the thesis, you should also not use the same hook for the ending.
2. Ask a rhetorical question. This can give the reader something to think about, and it can put your topic in the context of some greater problem.

These two options are merely suggestions, and you can end your conclusion however you feel is best. The point is to make sure that the reader stays hooked until the very end.

Essay Conclusions That Are Exceptions to the Rules

The tips I’ve given above are for a general essay conclusion and will hold true for most types of essays. However, there are times when you’ll need to add some details or deviate from the formula a little bit.

An Argumentative Essay Conclusion

The guidelines I have listed will cover most of what you’ll write for an argumentative essay conclusion, but there are more details you should add.

An argumentative essay presents an argument for a specific point. This argument is probably important in some way, and in your body paragraphs, you should address opposing viewpoints.

Thus, a conclusion for an argumentative essay should let the reader know why the topic you’re writing about is important, and why you think your point of view is the right one. This means quickly readdressing and dispelling the opposition.

For your point of interest at the end of your essay conclusion, it is often a good idea to give an idea of what would happen if the reader, or the world as a whole, chose the opposing point of view.

Be descriptive; paint a picture.

A Narrative Essay Conclusion

Narrative essays are just a whole other ball game. You’re not analyzing, arguing, or explaining. You are telling a story, and you probably have not come across many books that fully summarize the main points of the story at the end.

This does not mean that you can’t restate the purpose of your narrative. It just means that you have to do it in a different way.

Often this takes the form of reflection. You’ve taken the reader through a journey, and reflection in a narrative essay conclusion “takes the reader home.” It tells what you learned as a result of that journey.

The conclusion could also be a piece of dialogue that has some statement that ties everything up nicely. Think about it as an ending line in a movie.

And Now For My Conclusion

Though you may need to add more details as in the case of the argumentative essay, or change the rules completely as with the narrative essay, most conclusions follow a pretty straightforward set of rules.

It is important to use descriptive, detailed language no matter the type of essay, as this will tie up your loose ends and make the summary of your thesis and main points more interesting to the reader.

And speaking of interesting, don’t forget to keep that reader interested until the very last word. Use shocking statements, or put your topic in the context of a larger issue.

Any way you choose to end your writing, it’s important to spend time developing your essay conclusion. As novelist Colm Toibin said, “Ending a novel is almost like putting a child to sleep – it can’t be done abruptly.”

If you’re still unsure about your conclusion or any other part of your essay, the Kibin editors are here to point you in the right direction.