How to Write an Effective Conclusion Paragraph

Tips to Teach High School Students to Compose an Essay Conclusion

Since the conclusion paragraph is the last part of the essay readers will digest, writers must make a strong summary statement to leave a memorable impression

Composing a conclusion paragraph for a high school essay can seem like an unnecessary chore to students. They have been instructed at some point to restate their thesis statement, but that hardly constitutes a full paragraph. If you are struggling to guide students with overarching suggestions that can enliven most high school essays, you will find these tips helpful.

When to Write the Conclusion

Students should always align their introduction and conclusion paragraphs to create a unified, purposeful essay. With this goal in mind, you can suggest that students compose their introduction and conclusion paragraphs together after they have written the body of their essay. Encourage students to try this new approach of writing the body of the essay first, the introduction paragraph second, and the conclusion paragraph last, and they will quickly reap the reward of a more structured essay.

Point to the Future

The first sentence of the conclusion paragraph should point to the future in a way that relates to the topic. For example, if students are writing an essay about whether Kurt Vonnegut supports or criticizes governmental control in the short story, "Harrison Bergeron," students may write a sentence that summarizes the future of a society with such a government. How do they envision the world if it is run by Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General described in the story? Describing a future scenario that relates to the essay's topic can be an intriguing way to introduce the final paragraph.

Suggest a Future Action

The second sentence of the conclusion paragraph can suggest a future action that needs to be taken by the writer, the reader, or the character mentioned if they are writing a literary analysis essay. For example, a student who criticizes governmental control may suggest that Harrison Bergeron's father, George, defy the government and remove his handicaps in order to be free. This call to action is an especially effective technique if students are writing a persuasive essay because students want to rally their readers to promote change. For expository essays, students can suggest a next step in relation to the topic for the reader or for themselves as the writer.

Relate to the Thesis

The third and fourth sentences can relate to the thesis statement. When students rotely restate their thesis in the conclusion, no new insight is offered and the ending appears bland and uninspired. You can guide students toward using a restatement of the thesis to serve a specific purpose. They can make a deeper observation about life, human nature, community or society. For example, a student who believes that "Harrison Bergeron" depicts a dangerous society of governmental control can use their thesis to warn against mob mentality and advocate human liberty protected by the U.S. constitution. Urge students to delve into the deeper meaning of their thesis and offer insight to readers rather than mere repetition of ideas.

Express Opinions about the Topic

Although it may be inappropriate to express personal opinions in the body of certain types of essays, the last sentence or two of the conclusion can be an effective location for student commentary on the topic. Inform students that they may want to make a more general observation about how the topic applies to society or the world. Ending an essay with a unique thought can leave a lasting impression in the reader's mind.

These tips define the goal of each sentence in the conclusion paragraph. When students realize that a conclusion paragraph needs to be only four or five sentences in length and that it serves a very specific purpose, they feel motivated to follow these simple guidelines. Although the conclusion paragraph is often viewed as an unnecessary rehash of ideas, it is actually a vital essay component with its own purpose. Remind students that in the conclusion paragraph they need to point to the future, suggest a future action, relate to their thesis and express their opinions to empower their essay.