Start Your Essay?
The conclusion is the second most important part of your essay, after the introduction. Just as the introduction had the primary purpose of drawing the reader in, the conclusion’s foremost function should be to leave the reader with a lasting impression. This section will offer guidelines on how to maximize the impact of that impression. These guidelines can be grouped into three categories, each of which encompasses a lesson of what not to do.
Table of Contents:
Synthesize, Don’t Summarize
The chief difference between these two tactics is that the former deals with themes while the latter deals with facts/experiences, though there is some overlap. You do not need to recap the essay paragraph-by-paragraph. You do not need to remind the reader of the experiences you discussed (except as individual experiences might be tied to certain themes you want to synthesize).
You do want to reiterate key themes, but preferably not in a way that merely repeats them. Ideally, the process of synthesizing them will add a fresh perspective. Try to tie themes together and demonstrate how they complement each other. Of course, you should stay away here as always from trite and clichéd generalizations.
If in the process of synthesizing you can invoke your introduction, that will add a strong sense of closure. There are a number of different ways this could be accomplished. You might complete a story you started in the introduction, or you might show how something has changed in your present since the timeframe of the introduction.
Expand on Broader Significance – Within Reason
One way to ensure that your last paragraph has something fresh to say is to tie your ideas to some broader implications, whether about yourself or your field. But don’t get carried away: some applicants think they have to make reference to saving the world or derive some grand philosophical truths from their experiences. Stay grounded and focused on your personal details.
Don’t Add Entirely New Information, Except to Look Ahead
We have used the word “fresh” several times here, and we’re thinking mainly of perspectives and ideas. You should avoid adding entirely new information about your experiences. In shorter essays, you might have to pack details in everywhere, but in general, if it’s an important experience, it should come earlier.
That said, speaking of goals in your conclusion is a strong way to end. Some essays will be chiefly about the writers’ qualifications and intentions, but they won’t touch on specific goals until all of that has been established. The delineation of goals can be like a process of synthesizing, because you are trying to tie your themes together in the context of where you will go next.
You may also want to make reference to the specific schools to which you are applying (some questions will ask why you want to attend). This information can come earlier, but it’s not unacceptable to bring it up in the conclusion.
If the ending paragraph is short, it doesn’t mean that it’s of zero importance. You still must treat it responsibly and do your best to summarize the information mentioned in the main body properly. If you see that your conclusion is far from being the perfect one, our essay editing service online can assist you in improving it.
