The way you conclude a paper depends on both the purpose of your writing and the needs of your reader. For example, an essay about a memorable experience could end by reflecting on what you learned from the experience. A persuasive essay in which you compare and contrast two items might end by summarizing the ways in which one is superior to the other. An argument could end by reminding the reader of the points you have made in support of your thesis and perhaps by calling for action. The following examples illustrate various conclusions.

REFLECTION

Looking back, I'm surprised I made it through that semester. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it. I worked hard, I worried constantly, and I even began to doubt myself. For all of that, I received a C. Longfellow has a poem that states, "Oh, fear not in a world like this / And thou shalt know ere long, / Know how sublime a thing it is / To suffer and be strong." But in this case, that line might more aptly read, "Oh, fear not in a world like this / And thou shalt know ere long / Know how sublime a thing it is / To suffer and be wrong"

SUMMARY

If you're shopping for a computer, buy a Mac. It's user friendly, it has better graphics than other personal computers do, and it's cheaper. What more could you want?

CALL FOR ACTION

Join ACLU now if you want to retain your Fourth Amendment rights.

QUESTION

Do you want to return to the days of illegal search and seizure? Do you wish to relinquish your rights to personal privacy? Do you really believe the government should tell you how to live?

ADVICE

Son and father, together, had saved the day—he by holding out for something he enjoyed and I by having the sense, finally, to realize that he was right, and to let go of my dream of how things should be. This time, anyway.

And then I remembered something else. When my own father took me to Yankee Stadium, I was 6 years old. not 4.

Maybe in a couple of years. . . .

— Andrew Merton, "When Father Doesn't Know Best"

Narrative or descriptive papers might conclude with a closing story, some dialogue between the main characters, or a wry or witty comment. Most short academic papers conclude in a final paragraph and do not require a separate conclusion section. Longer projects, such as research papers, may need a conclusion section to emphasize and discuss the findings and their implications.

Whatever kind of conclusion you decide on, it should not introduce new topics, apologize lor any real or perceived failings in the paper, or merely stop or trail off. Make sure your paper has a clear sense of closure.

change

I could go on, but I'm running out of time, so I'll just stop here.

to

Of course, there are numerous reasons why the educational system should be changed. However, as I've shown in this paper, the main reasons are clear: we need to meet the needs of all students, we need to engage them in learning, and we need to make sure that what they learn in the classroom can be applied to the world of work.

 

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