What a conclusion does
- Restate the thesis in new words. Purdue OWL says a good conclusion does not simply restate the thesis; it readdresses it in light of the evidence you gave.
- Pull the points together. Show how your reasons add up, in a sentence or two, without listing every detail again.
- Answer so what? Why should the reader care? What happens if your idea is adopted or ignored?
- End with a final thought. A likely result, a call to action, or an echo of your opening hook.
Weak vs strong
| Weak | Strong | Why |
|---|---|---|
| In conclusion, that is why schools should start later. | A later start would give students the sleep doctors say they need, and the benefits would show up in their health, their grades and their safety on the road. | The strong one restates the claim in new words and says why it matters. |
| Copying the thesis word for word | Restating the thesis with what the essay proved | A copied thesis tells the reader nothing new. |
| Also, later starts would save the school money on electricity. | No new reasons in the conclusion | A new point that the essay never supported leaves the reader with an unproven claim. |
| This will solve every problem in education. | It will not fix everything, but it is a change our district could make next fall. | Overclaiming weakens trust. Stay as strong as your evidence. |
Worked examples
Example 1: from a weak ending to a strong one
Problem Thesis: Our town should build a public pool because it would keep kids safe, create summer jobs, and bring families together. Weak conclusion: In conclusion, our town should build a public pool because it would keep kids safe, create summer jobs, and bring families together. Thank you for reading.
- Restate the thesis in new words: A public pool would give our town safer summers, new jobs for teens, and a place where neighbors meet.
- Answer so what: Right now, those summers happen at the quarry, twenty miles from the nearest lifeguard.
- End with a final thought, here a call to action: The town council votes on the budget in March, and that is the moment to decide what kind of summers we want.
Answer A public pool would give our town safer summers, new jobs for teens, and a place where neighbors meet. Right now, those summers happen at the quarry, twenty miles from the nearest lifeguard. The town council votes on the budget in March, and that is the moment to decide what kind of summers we want.
Example 2: echo the hook
Problem The essay opened with a student named Maya catching a 6:10 a.m. bus in the dark. How can the conclusion use that?
- Bring the opening image back, changed by your argument.
- Keep it short: one sentence is enough.
Answer With a later start, Maya would still ride the bus, but she would ride it after sunrise.
Common mistakes and fixes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Adding a new argument | Move it into a body paragraph with evidence, or cut it. |
| Repeating the introduction | Restate the thesis in light of what you proved, then go one step further. |
| Ending with Thank you for reading | End with a real final thought about the topic. |
| Apologizing (This is just my opinion) | Stand by your argument. Your evidence already did the work. |
| A conclusion longer than a body paragraph | Three to five sentences is usually enough for a school essay. |
Practice
Five conclusion questions
Which of these belongs in a conclusion?
- Your thesis, restated in new words
- A new argument you did not have room for
- A brand-new statistic
- Your thesis copied word for word
Show answer
Answer: Your thesis, restated in new words
A conclusion readdresses the thesis in light of the evidence. New arguments and new statistics are unsupported at this point, and a copied thesis adds nothing.
Which sentence best answers the question so what? in a conclusion about school start times?
- In conclusion, that is my essay.
- School start times are a topic many people discuss.
- If our district acts this year, thousands of students could start the day rested instead of exhausted.
- Thank you for reading my essay.
Show answer
Answer: If our district acts this year, thousands of students could start the day rested instead of exhausted.
It shows what is at stake if the idea is adopted. The other sentences announce, state a vague fact, or thank the reader, and none says why the argument matters.
Why is it a problem to introduce a new reason in the conclusion?
- It makes the essay too short.
- It raises a point the essay never supported with evidence.
- Conclusions must not mention the thesis.
- New reasons can only go in the title.
Show answer
Answer: It raises a point the essay never supported with evidence.
Purdue OWL advises against bringing in new points at the end, because there is no room left to prove them. The other choices are false: conclusions do restate the thesis.
An essay opens with Maya catching a 6:10 a.m. bus in the dark. Which final sentence links back to that hook?
- In conclusion, schools should start later.
- Buses are an important part of school.
- Many students ride buses every day.
- With a later start, Maya would still ride the bus, but she would ride it after sunrise.
Show answer
Answer: With a later start, Maya would still ride the bus, but she would ride it after sunrise.
It brings back the same person and image from the opening and shows how the argument would change them. The others do not refer to the hook at all.
Thesis: Our town should build a public pool because it would keep kids safe, create summer jobs, and bring families together. Which is the best restatement for the conclusion?
- Our town should build a public pool because it would keep kids safe, create summer jobs, and bring families together.
- A public pool would give our town safer summers, new jobs for teens, and a place where families meet.
- Pools are fun.
- Some people think pools cost too much, and they might be right.
Show answer
Answer: A public pool would give our town safer summers, new jobs for teens, and a place where families meet.
It keeps the same claim and reasons in new words. One choice copies the thesis exactly, Pools are fun drops the argument, and they might be right undercuts the essay's position at the very end.
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay to start with In conclusion?
It is not a grammar error, but many teachers find it flat, because the reader can already see it is the last paragraph. Try starting with your restated thesis instead. If your teacher requires a transition, In the end or a link to your last point also works.
How long should a conclusion be?
Usually three to five sentences in a school essay, about the length of your introduction. Long research papers may need a longer conclusion. If yours is longer than a body paragraph, you are probably repeating evidence or adding new points.
Can I end with a question?
Yes, if it makes the reader think about your argument, like What kind of summers do we want our kids to have? Avoid a question that opens a new topic you did not discuss.
Sources
- Purdue OWL, Conclusions (Argument Papers), accessed October 1, 2026
- Purdue OWL, Argumentative Essays, accessed October 1, 2026
