When they have finished the body of their essay, some writers believe their work is done — but it isn’t quite finished. Remember that people usually remember best what they see, hear, or read last. Use your concluding paragraph to drive your main point home one final time. Make sure your conclusion has the same energy as the rest of the essay, if not more.

BASICS OF A GOOD ESSAY CONCLUSION

In general, a good conclusion creates a sense of completion. It brings readers back to where they started, but it also shows them how far they have come.

One of the best ways to end an essay is to refer directly to something in the introduction. If you asked a question, re-ask and answer it. If you started a story, finish it. If you used a quote, use another one — maybe a quote by the same person or maybe one by another person on the same topic. Or, use some of the same words you used in your introduction.