{"id":6475,"date":"2018-06-04T17:00:37","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T00:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/blog\/?post_type=essay-writing-blog&p=6475"},"modified":"2020-08-02T07:35:57","modified_gmt":"2020-08-02T14:35:57","slug":"how-to-end-an-essay-with-authority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/how-to-end-an-essay-with-authority\/","title":{"rendered":"Loose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve powered through your essay and have a pretty good draft in front of you. But now you\u2019re coming up to the conclusion, and all the usual questions start rattling around in your head.<\/p>\n

Did you include enough evidence<\/a> to support your arguments<\/a>? Should you write more<\/a>, or would that just make your essay sound more redundant?<\/p>\n

Are you really ready to end your essay? And if so, what are the right words<\/a> to give it the same impact and energy as the rest of your writing?<\/p>\n

It can all get a little overwhelming.<\/p>\n

And while every conclusion won\u2019t be a piece of cake after this, once you figure out how to end an essay and practice a bit, it gets easier every time.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s get started talking about how to end an essay.<\/p>\n

What Is a Conclusion?<\/h2>\n

I know what you\u2019re thinking\u2026 w<\/em>e learned what conclusions are in elementary school<\/i>.<\/p>\n

You may have learned the definition <\/i>of a conclusion, but I bet you didn\u2019t learn how to end an essay with confidence. Part of that is because many classrooms don\u2019t go into conclusions in depth. Instead, they just tell you that it\u2019s a summary of your main points.<\/p>\n

While this may be true, it\u2019s not just<\/i> a summary. It\u2019s a way to tie up any loose ends. It\u2019s the final thought that leaves an impact on your reader. It\u2019s what brings the whole essay together and makes it sound polished.<\/p>\n

What a conclusion is<\/i> only gives you half the story\u2014you also have to know what a conclusion is not<\/i>.<\/p>\n

A conclusion is not an opportunity to add new information. It\u2019s not just a restatement of your thesis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A conclusion also isn’t a chance to phone it in at the last minute.<\/p>\n

Now that we have some of the technicalities out of the way, it\u2019s time to get into the finer details on how to end an essay with confidence.<\/p>\n

What to Do and How to Do It<\/h2>\n

Most conclusions<\/a> aren\u2019t as long or as detailed as your body paragraphs. However, they are necessary because they tie everything together and make your essay sound complete.<\/p>\n

For the majority of essays, your conclusion should have three components:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A summary of your main points<\/li>\n
  2. Answers to any potential reader questions<\/li>\n
  3. An interesting final note<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let’s dive into each of these.<\/p>\n

    A summary of your main points<\/h3>\n

    The summary of your main points is easier and more pleasant to read if it uses different language than your thesis statement<\/a> or the topic sentences<\/a> of your body paragraphs<\/a>. If you really<\/i> want to make an impact, use some metaphors<\/a> or descriptive language<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    For example, if I was writing an essay about how important conclusions are, I wouldn\u2019t just say:<\/p>\n

    Instead, this part of my conclusion might read:<\/p>\n

    The second example is not over the top, but it sounds much more like an ending than a beginning.<\/p>\n

    Answers to any potential reader questions<\/h3>\n

    This conclusion component isn\u2019t always necessary. However, if you raise questions in the introduction<\/a> or body paragraphs, you need to give your readers some relief.<\/p>\n

    If you have the time, I suggest at this step to take a break from your essay\u2014a few minutes will do\u2014before you come back and read it from the beginning. This lets you see it a little more as the reader instead of the writer.<\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll see whether there are any loose ends. If there are, the conclusion is the perfect spot to take care of them.<\/p>\n\t

    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    Stuck on Your Essay?<\/div>\n\t\t\t
    Check out thousands of example essays.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\tYes! Show me examples.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

    An interesting final note<\/h3>\n

    Start strong, end strong. Your introduction started with a hook<\/a>, so why shouldn\u2019t your conclusion have an interesting point too?<\/p>\n

    There are several ways to do this. One is to ask a rhetorical question<\/a>. This makes readers think about the deeper implications of your essay or how the essay relates to their lives.<\/p>\n

    Another way to add some interest to your conclusion is to twist the beginning into something new.<\/p>\n

    For example, say we have an essay about the effects of social media on interpersonal relationships<\/a>. The introduction would state the ways social media impacts its users, but the conclusion can twist it somewhat and open it up to a larger context:<\/p>\n

    What to Avoid and How to Avoid It<\/h2>\n

    There are only two things to avoid when writing a conclusion: ending too abruptly and rambling. This isn\u2019t a too-short vs. too-long scenario.<\/p>\n

    The length of your conclusion depends on the length and complexity of your essay.<\/p>\n

    It all boils down to the question of whether your essay feels whole.<\/p>\n

    Ending too abruptly<\/h3>\n

    To avoid this pitfall, simply follow the steps above. Make sure you have all three parts (if you have any unanswered questions, that is).<\/p>\n

    Most students who end their conclusions too soon only get to the summary part. Some do an almost word-for-word copy of the thesis statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t do that<\/i>.<\/p>\n

    Instead, round it out with more detailed language and an interesting closing note. And don\u2019t worry\u2014it gets easier with practice.<\/p>\n

    Rambling<\/h3>\n

    Rambling happens for two different reasons. Either you don\u2019t know where to end so you just keep writing, or you add new information that should be in the body paragraphs.<\/p>\n

    If you’re rambling because you don\u2019t know when to stop, make sure you have all the right components of a conclusion, and reread what you have.<\/p>\n

    If there are accidental redundancies<\/a> or confusing language, get rid of it. Your conclusion might be shorter, but it\u2019ll also be clearer.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re adding new information, decide where it should go in the body. The conclusion isn’t the time to bring up new ideas. It\u2019s a time to reflect on what you wrote.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n
    \n
    The conclusion isn’t the time to bring up new ideas. It\u2019s a time to reflect on what you wrote.<\/a><\/div>\n

    Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Conclusions You Can Learn From<\/h2>\n

    Now that you know how to end an essay theoretically, let\u2019s put some of these rules into practice. Here are a few examples of both bad and good conclusions.<\/p>\n

    (There are even more examples of good conclusions here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

    Topic #1: Explain how love causes violence in Romeo and Juliet<\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n

    This conclusion is long-winded, presents new information (the lack of communication part), and just doesn\u2019t seem to flow well. Here\u2019s a better way to write it.<\/p>\n

    Topic #2: How does the symbolism of the scarlet \u201cA\u201d<\/a> change throughout The Scarlet Letter<\/i>?<\/h3>\n

    This conclusion is far too basic\u2014just a simple restatement of the main point of the essay.<\/p>\n

    Instead, try something like this:<\/p>\n

    One Last Note<\/h2>\n

    Reading about how to end an essay can only get you so far. Now you just have to jump in and do it. But don\u2019t worry\u2014Kibin editors<\/a> are here to lend their eyes (and their awesome editing powers).<\/p>\n

    They’ll help ensure your essay is as well-written as possible, from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    You\u2019ve powered through your essay and have a pretty good draft in front of you. But now you\u2019re coming up to the conclusion, and all the usual questions start rattling around in your head. Did you include enough evidence to support your arguments? Should you write more, or would that just make your essay sound more … <\/p>\n

    Read more<\/b> “Loose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority”<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":6587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[62,136],"yoast_head":"\nLoose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority \u2013 Kibin Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While every conclusion won\u2019t be a piece of cake after this advice, once you figure out how to end an essay and practice a bit, it gets easier every time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/how-to-end-an-essay-with-authority\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Loose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority \u2013 Kibin Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While every conclusion won\u2019t be a piece of cake after this advice, once you figure out how to end an essay and practice a bit, it gets easier every time.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/how-to-end-an-essay-with-authority\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kibin Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-06-05T00:00:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-08-02T14:35:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/howtoendanessay.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"355\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eden Meirow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eden Meirow\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/how-to-end-an-essay-with-authority\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/how-to-end-an-essay-with-authority\/\",\"name\":\"Loose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority \u2013 Kibin Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-06-05T00:00:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-08-02T14:35:57+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/16816b6513faf75da88f2ae8c61e82d8\"},\"description\":\"While every conclusion won\u2019t be a piece of cake after this advice, once you figure out how to end an essay and practice a bit, it gets easier every time.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/how-to-end-an-essay-with-authority\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/\",\"name\":\"Kibin Blog\",\"description\":\"Creating Better Writers\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/16816b6513faf75da88f2ae8c61e82d8\",\"name\":\"Eden Meirow\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/EdenM-e1551551091459-100x100.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/EdenM-e1551551091459-100x100.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Eden Meirow\"},\"description\":\"is a full-time copywriter and part-time freelance writer. 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