Isn't it a good feeling to almost be done? Your hard work is about to pay off! Compared to mixing the ingredients and watching the batter rise, a baker may spend just as much time—or more—decorating a cake. Likewise, you should not expect to rush through the last part of your essay-writing process.
Writing a concluding paragraph is often a forgotten step. Just imagine, though, how it would look to serve a birthday or wedding cake without any frosting, glaze, or decorations! If you forget to include a conclusion, your readers will feel as though something is missing and are likely to be unconvinced by your argument. However, if you take the time to write a final paragraph that reflects on the topic in meaningful way and restates your claim, your readers will be able to put together all
Take a closer look at the model essay's conclusion paragraph.
Of course, teenagers have confided in their diaries for centuries. Anne's "Dear Kitty" diary is more poignant than most because we know the difficulty of her life and the terrible tragedy of its end. However, Anne's honesty and insight—and perhaps all the time she had to write and study herself—also make her published diary an unusually open portrayal of what it's like to grow up, and to grow into oneself. For all of these reasons, The Diary of Young Girl provides a triumphant tale of emotional survival and personal growth in a situation that might have completely broken anyone else.
This final paragraph has many admirable features. The author starts by making a connection to modern times, reminding readers that Anne's use of a diary is not unusual for teenagers with access to the materials. Next, the author proposes that Anne's diary is more important than most teenagers' diaries. The conclusion ends with a sentence that restates the essay's claim but also reminds readers of the value of the diary for human society—not just for Anne and her family.
See if you can match the parts of the model conclusion with the purpose that each section serves.
Return to the file that contains a rough draft of your essay, and construct a strong concluding paragraph. Refer to the example on this page to remind you what a good concluding paragraph should do. When you are done with your conclusion, save your work and continue with this lesson.
