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The conclusion rounds off your essay. It answers the question, reminds the reader of all your main points and explains the significance of your argument. The conclusion of an essay has 3 major parts:
- Answer – revisit and paraphrase the thesis statement
- Summary – summarise the main points and highlights from the body paragraphs
- Significance – explain the relevance and implications of the essay's findings.
Your conclusion should not just be a list of the points you have made.
Do not introduce any new information that is relevant to the focus of the essay in the conclusion. If you wish to make a new point, it should be in a body paragraph.
The conclusion should be approximately 5% of your essay.
Answer
Answer It is essential to revisit your thesis statement in the conclusion.
Do not simply repeat the thesis statement word for word. Keep the essential keywords and rearrange it. For strategies on rewording, the principles of paraphrasing can help.
Most often, you will revisit the thesis statement near the beginning of your conclusion. Then expand out in the rest of the conclusion, giving the reader an idea of the relevance and implications of your answer.
As with the introduction, this order of elements is not set in stone. Adapt the order to suit the needs of each particular essay.
Summary
Summary Summarise the main points and highlights from the body paragraphs.
The conclusion is the final place to show the connections between all the points made in your essay. Summarise the most important, relevant and useful main points from your body paragraphs. Use the same keywords and ideas as the body paragraphs, but don't just repeat the same sentences.
Significance
Significance Explain the relevance and implications of the essay's findings.
Essays are often described as an attempt to 'sell' your perspective on an issue. A good essay convinces the reader of the correctness of your argument. An excellent essay goes a step further – it demonstrates to the reader why the argument is especially important or relevant.
There are several general statements that you can make in the conclusion to take it beyond merely summarising the essay. These statements address such questions as:
- What are the implications of this argument?
- Why is it important?
- What issues does it raise?
Not every essay can end on this note. Shorter essays, such as those under 1200 words, do not have enough space available to describe the significance in detail. However, if you are looking for a dynamic way to end your essay then a broad statement on the big picture can be highly effective.
Conclusion guidelines
Restate the proposition or thesis statement that explicitly answers the question.
Briefly summarise the main points made in the essay.
Give a final broad statement on the significance of the argument and its implications.
Don't just list the points you have made.
The conclusion should be approximately 5% of your essay.
View our example essays for model introductions, body paragraphs & conclusions.
Related content
Introduction
Learn how to write an introduction paragraph, including context for your essay, your response to the essay question and the structure and organisation of the essay.
Thesis statement
Find out how to outline an argument, contention, or thesis that answers the question in your thesis statement.
Body paragraphs
Learn how to write body paragraphs and discuss each major point in your essay, using the Point Illustration Explanation (PIE) method.