How to Draft a Conclusion

The conclusion is one of the most important parts of your essay. It gives a thoughtful and logical end to your writing; it's not just a summary of what you've talked about in the paper. Before writing your conclusion, it is a good idea to consult your professor or teacher whether he or she has any specific guidelines or instructions about it.

When it comes to writing the conclusion, you should be very clear to avoid using the word 'conclusion' in any part of it. You should also refrain from ending with a rephrased thesis statement - this means there is nothing substantial in your conclusion. Don't make the mistake of introducing a new idea or a new subtopic - don't apologize for your point of view by saying "I am not an expert, but I feel this way" - instead, make your conclusion as strong as possible, talk about the previous points you have discussed, and bring up what you have learnt or concluded from it.

You should draft your conclusion in such a way that it covers the main points of the paper, that it evokes some idea or image; you could even have your conclusion include some results or consequences of your findings. Sometimes, many students like to include quotes by famous experts or even end with a warning in their conclusion (this is especially true for those writing term paper on environmental issues); you could end with a question, or even suggest some plan of action or some steps to be taken.

Your conclusion is the final impression your reader is left with - do sum up properly, but don't make the mistake of giving any detailed summaries as this makes for boring and repetitive reading. Draw a logical, thoughtful conclusion, which is relevant to your thesis statement. Keep the focus to the main idea or the central theme of the paper.

Many students like bring some amount of humor into the conclusion. This is sometimes a good idea, and sometimes not - so you need to have the common sense to figure out at which times some light hearted humor is acceptable. You could end on a personal note, or even include a relevant quote.

Finally, don't make your conclusion too long as that way, people would get bored. Keep it simple, effective, and to the point. Ideally, just one or two paragraphs are sufficient.