How to Write a Conclusion for an Argumentative Essay
The conclusion is the last item in an argumentative essay writing process. It is the last paragraph in your paper, and it is generally more of a summary than a discourse on any particular point. The conclusion should always be short and to the point. You should let your reader know the main point of your essay and remind them about the paper’s thesis. The argumentative thesis is usually focused on proving a point, so you should try to make a strong conclusion that summarizes the entire work.
To achieve a solid conclusion, you should include three separate components:
- Restatement of your thesis statement.
- Reminder about why this is an important issue.
- Closure.
Restate your thesis to state it once again but differently (try not to repeat yourself). This is also where you tie together any loose ends in your paper. You can also use this portion to introduce a new point that you did not include earlier in the paper.
Remind your readers about why this topic is important, and explain how it relates to the introduction and body paragraphs. This should give them an idea of how they can apply these principles or ideas to their own lives or society in general.
Address the opposing arguments and show why your argument is more effective or accurate. You can do this by directly quoting the opposing arguments and then refuting them with evidence and reasoning.
Give your reader a sense of closure by summing up what you have just written. Tell them why they should care about this topic and even leave them with a final thought to chew on before moving onto other projects.
Include these components, and you will have an effective conclusion that provides closure for your readers, reminds them why your argument is correct, and restates the thesis.
What to do While Writing an Argumentative Essay Conclusion?
When you write an argumentative essay, the primary purpose is to support your thesis and prove it. But apart from that, you have to convey a message. Your essay should also be interesting to read for school students and professionals. Whether your readers agree with this or not, we can assure you that they would like to read about some new information.
So, what should you keep in mind while writing a conclusion of your argumentative paper?
There are several key points that influence the writing of a conclusion for an argumentative essay. They include:
Make sure that the closing paragraph is not too long. Otherwise, it won’t look professional and exciting. It may have around three or four sentences that are easy to memorize and understand.
Be precise and clear. The last paragraph is a place where you can share some personal thoughts about your topic. However, do not go over the board and don’t insist too much upon your idea. Share it briefly to make sure that your message has been appropriately conveyed.
Restate the main argument one more time as it may be beneficial for readers who didn’t get it right on the first try.
Summarize all the important points.
What Not to include in Conclusion?
When writing an argumentative essay, there are several things that shouldn’t be included in its conclusion:
Don’t introduce new information in conclusion. It is not appropriate since it is a time when you summarize your course material.
Don’t make your conclusion too short or too long. If it’s over five sentences, it will look unprofessional, and the message won’t be properly conveyed if it’s shorter than that.
Don’t leave readers with unanswered questions. They may lose interest or get confused.
Don’t go off-topic. Make sure that your conclusion is about the same subject as your essay was.
Be unique and interesting. Your readers will love it if you can surprise them with something new or unusual. Don’t forget about that.
Steps for Writing a Conclusion for an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Read your essay and ensure that all the important points are included in your paper. Usually, an introduction and a conclusion are used to cover all the aspects of your course material.
Step 2: Now, it’s time for you to pick up several sentences which summarize what you’ve read before (usually, it is about three sentences). Don’t forget to include a strong statement that proves your thesis.
Step 3: Finally, write a short paragraph that will leave your readers with some thoughts and a final impression of your paper. It should be interesting and engaging for them to read it.
Conclusion Starters
Conclusion starters are words that introduce your conclusion paragraph. These words or phrases tell your readers that you are about to finish your argumentative essay. The most common conclusion starters are:
- In summary
- To conclude
- All in all
- As a final thought
- As you can see
- Thus
- In other words
- In conclusion
- To sum up
- Conclusively
- Basically
- Ultimately
- So, in conclusion
- All told
- For all these reasons
Good Transitions for Sentences in a Concluding Paragraph
Argumentative essays often have counterarguments that need to be addressed. Such essays require good transition sentences in their conclusion paragraphs that can help the writer avoid confusing the readers with unnecessary information. Also, these transitions can be used to develop some points better than others. The following list of words and phrases will surely aid you in writing a conclusion for an argumentative essay.
- Although
- Nevertheless
- However
- Meanwhile
- At the same time
- In spite of this
- Meanwhile
- Conversely
- On the contrary
Good Examples of Conclusion Paragraphs for Argumentative Essays
It can be hard to write a good conclusion paragraph for an argumentative essay, especially since it requires so much from the writer. You have to summarize what you wrote before; you need to make concluding remarks in order to leave your reader with some thoughts. All of these are challenging tasks that should be accomplished perfectly if possible. That’s why we’ve prepared 5+ examples of conclusion paragraphs for you to read and learn from.
Example 1:
“In conclusion, while we can’t change the past, we can certainly learn from it. Understanding history and the mistakes that were made can help us avoid making similar errors in the future. By learning to recognize our past mistakes, we become better equipped to make positive changes for ourselves and our world.”
Example 2:
“To conclude, I believe that whether or not one should learn a second language depends on how much time and effort they are willing to invest. While it is true that many people commute for several hours each day, their means of transportation can also be used for language learning. On the other hand, for those who live in less metropolitan countries, it might be more difficult to find opportunities to practice speaking a second language.”
Example 3:
“All in all, I believe that our school should provide students with more extracurricular activities to participate in. Our world is becoming more competitive every day that passes, and students must develop their skills outside of the classroom. Having more clubs will also provide students with a way to express themselves in ways they might not be able to in the traditional school structure.”
Example 4:
“Ultimately, the main point I wish to make is that love is something that should not be taken for granted. What we do today affects tomorrow, and if we take the time to care about each other, a better world will emerge. Love has immense power, and even one act of kindness can help us all in some way. With that being said, I hope that you will consider love as we go on with our lives.”
Example 5:
“In conclusion, while there are many benefits to Smart Watch 2.0, the primary issue would be how easy it is to use. Apple seems to have considered this for upcoming updates, and so we should look forward to an enhanced feature set that makes the product more user-friendly.”
Example 6:
“Furthermore, while I understand the need for education reform on some level, I also believe that education should be left up to individual states or groups of people. The more communities are involved in such a decision, the less likely it is that they will be able to agree with one another and come up with the best possible solution.”
Example 7:
“In light of this, I believe that our school should allow the students to have more free time during lunch. By not requiring them to report back until later in the afternoon, they will be able to do whatever they want with their free time. Whether it is sleeping or doing homework, students are going to find a way to make use of this time, so why not allow them to choose what it will be spent on?”
Example 8:
“In conclusion, academic writing is a valuable skill that everyone should learn, regardless of major or future plans. While it is true that some people will write better than others, not having the ability to complete research papers and essays can mean problems down the line. In the workplace, employees are often required to write reports about their accomplishments or new ideas for processes. This requires them to complete professional writing tasks, and learning how to do so will only help them in the future.”
Summary
The conclusion should always be short and to the point. You should let your reader know the main point of your essay and remind them about the paper’s thesis. The argumentative thesis is usually focused on proving a point, so you should try to make a strong conclusion that summarizes the entire work. Improving your conclusions will add positive improvements to your writing skills.
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