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This is it! This is your last chance to convince your audience that your ideas are valid. The conclusion is not simply the end of the essay; it is the point of the essay, which reiterates your thesis and your supports. Now you must convince your reader that you have wisely reasoned your point of view and have dealt with all pertinent information on your topic. You have worked hard to get to this point so don't blow it by throwing a few meaningless comments together. Take your time and word your sentences carefully so that your reader can again experience the validity with which you write. However, do not repeat yourself word for word. Think of your conclusion as the closing argument of a trial – remind the judge why you should win the case.

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• Begin by restating your thesis - notice I did not say "copying" your thesis. Re-word it! What idea were you trying to prove? Start with this idea. 

• Make sure that you use a transitional element to link this paragraph to your essay. You still need to following all of the rules for constructing paragraphs. However, you will no have any evidence in this paragraph. 

• AVOID saying "In this essay I have proven..." or "To summarize,..." Summarize your major points/ supports without announcing you are doing it.

• Go from specific (your thesis) to a general idea. Extend the ideas you have presented to incorporate some larger significance. You may end with a broad thematic statement or a call to action. You may end with ideas for further exploration. 

For Example:

• An essay consisting of character analysis may end with observations on how the traits you noticed reflect the theme of the work. What do the traits illustrate?

• An essay concerning poetry may conclude with a statement of how the poet's use of imagery affected the work as a whole.

• A persuasive essay could conclude with a recommendation for action.

• You may choose to end with an evaluation of the author's purpose in writing the work. Who is the audience? Or is there a timeless message conveyed through the author or one of the characters?

Now you are ready to REVISE YOUR ESSAY! Good writers are good because they don't settle with the first thing that popped in to their heads. Look back at your choices and improve your sentence structure and word choice. Your first draft is simply a starting point --- a way to see what you think about a topic. Writing happens in the second, third, and even fourth draft of an essay.