Writing an Effective Conclusion

These techniques are listed in Jean Wyrick's text Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings as effective methods for composing the introductory paragraph of an essay.  Choose the best method that allows you to draw your conclusion to a logical conclusion while redirecting your audience's attention toward the ideas in your thesis statement. 

1.  A restatement of both the thesis and the essay's major points (but do this without simply repeating the thesis from the introduction.  Rephrase it somehow). 

2.  An evaluation of the importance of the essay's subject

3.  A statement of the essay's broader implications

4.  A warning based on the essay's thesis

5.  A statement of hope based on the essay's thesis

6.  A joke or funny story that emphasizes the point of the essay

7.  An anecdote or story that sums up the point of the essay

8.  An image or description that lends finality to the essay

9.  A rhetorical question that makes the reader think about the essay's main point

10.  A return to the subject of the introduction (also known as framing)

Back to the Gateway

Current Office Hours

Apache Access

TJC Home

TJC English

TJC's Vaughn Library

TJC Testing Center

Scholars Home

Search Engine Directory

Writing Tutorials

This page was created by Joan Bruckwicki, English Instructor at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.