A conclusion in an essay should restate the thesis and summarize the key points.

Ever wonder what a conclusion is really doing in an essay? You’ve probably seen endings that feel like a sigh of relief, or worse, endings that leave you hanging with questions you didn’t ask. Here’s the simple truth: in the English Accuplacer, the conclusion isn’t just the last paragraph. It’s the moment you lock the door behind your argument and show the reader why the whole trip mattered. The correct answer to that classic multiple-choice question — B: To restate the thesis and summarize key points — isn’t just a rule you memorize. It’s a guide to good writing that helps you land your message with clarity and grace.

Let me break down why endings matter, and how to craft one that sticks without sounding preachy or repetitive.

What the end should do (and why it matters)

• Restate the thesis, with a fresh voice

Think of your thesis as the spine of your essay. The conclusion should remind the reader of that spine, but it doesn’t have to mirror the exact words. A rephrasing that reinforces the main claim signals to the reader that you’ve returned to the core idea with a deeper sense of purpose. It’s like seeing a map again after a long hike and realizing you’ve reached the highest peak.

• Sum up the key points, not every detail

A good conclusion pulls together the major threads without rehashing every sentence. You want to give a concise recap of the evidence and reasoning. This isn’t the place for new data or fresh arguments; it’s the moment to show how the pieces fit and why they matter as a whole.

• Provide closure and a sense of significance

Here’s the thing: readers want a satisfying finish. A strong conclusion gives them closure by answering the “so what?” question. Why should anyone care about your argument once they’ve finished? A thoughtful ending elevates the discussion from mere analysis to a meaningful takeaway, a little insight they can carry forward.

• Leave the reader with something memorable

A striking closing line, a vivid image, or a thought-provoking question can linger in the mind. It doesn’t have to be flashy. It just has to feel earned — the final touch that makes the whole essay feel complete.

What a well-crafted conclusion looks like in practice

Let’s sketch a tiny, practical template you can borrow when you’re working on the English section of the Accuplacer.

• Restate the thesis (in a fresh way)

• briefly summarize 2–3 main points

• add a final thought that gives significance or a broader perspective

Here’s a quick example to illustrate the idea. Suppose your essay argues that access to online information enriches learning by offering diverse resources, enabling collaboration, and supporting self-paced study.

• Restated thesis: “Online information expands how we learn by bringing diverse resources into reach.”

• Summaries: “First, it introduces a wealth of perspectives; second, it supports collaboration across time and space; third, it lets learners tailor their pace.”

• Final thought: “When we combine these factors, education becomes more inclusive and personal, not just faster.”

That structure keeps the reader from feeling that you’ve tacked on a closing paragraph, and it shows that you’ve considered the overall arc of your argument.

A tiny template you can use in a pinch

If you’re staring at a blank page and the clock is ticking, here’s a compact, reliable model:

• In conclusion, [restate thesis in new words].

• This essay showed that [brief recap of 2–3 key points].

• Therefore, [closing observation about the wider significance or a forward-looking thought].

Keep it crisp. The goal is to reinforce, not to overwrite.

Common missteps to avoid (so your ending doesn’t stumble)

• Introducing new ideas or evidence

A conclusion is a mirror, not a doorway. If you start presenting new data, you risk shifting the focus away from synthesis and toward stimulation. The reader might feel you’re doubling back instead of driving home the point.

• Simply repeating the thesis

Recycling the exact sentence you started with can feel dull. You want to show you’ve thought about the argument in a different way, not echo it.

• Ending with a vague or hollow line

“That’s it for now” might be honest, but it won’t satisfy a reader who craves resonance. Aim for a thought that resonates with the main claim, a line that lingers for a moment longer.

• Becoming overly grand or didactic

The ending should feel confident, not sermon-like. If the tone shifts to a lecture, the reader might disengage. Subtle persuasion often works better than loud statements.

Where this fits into the bigger writing picture

In a well-balanced essay, the conclusion is the final polish that makes the rest of the work feel connected. It acts as a bridge from the body to a sense of closure. For learners taking the English section of the Accuplacer, a strong conclusion demonstrates that you can manage scope, synthesize evidence, and keep the reader oriented. It’s the quiet moment where all the moving parts lock into place.

A micro-essay that demonstrates the idea (short and sweet)

Let’s imagine a tiny scenario: you’re arguing that reading fiction improves empathy. Your main points touch on exposure to different perspectives, the emotional complexity you practice, and the way stories invite us into lives unlike our own. A solid conclusion would restate the core claim, briefly remind the reader of each point, and end with a reflective line.

• Restate: “Reading fiction broadens our sense of others and deepens empathy.”

• Sum up: “It exposes us to diverse viewpoints, it hones emotional understanding, and it invites us to inhabit lives beyond our own.”

• Final line: “In a world where doors to experience are many, fiction offers a quiet practice ground for understanding one another.”

The ending then feels earned — not flashy, but meaningful.

Why endings often feel tricky

Sometimes students scramble the ending because they worry about being repetitive or too short. Other times, they try to sneak in a bold statement or a new angle to sound clever. The truth is simpler: a good conclusion doesn’t shout. It reframes, it recaps, and it invites the reader to carry the idea forward. If you can do that, you’ve crafted a conclusion that passes the test with a calm, confident voice.

Bringing it home with a little guidance you can use

• Think in two passes: first, jot down the thesis in a fresh sentence. Then list the 2–3 main points you covered. Finally, offer a sentence that ties it to a bigger picture or a practical takeaway.

• Use a transition to signal closure. Phrases like “In closing,” “Ultimately,” or “Thus” work well without feeling forced. They help the reader know you’re wrapping up.

• Keep it concise. Most strong conclusions hover around a quarter to a third of the length of the body. If your essay runs 800–1200 words, aim for a closing paragraph of 4–6 sentences.

• Read it aloud. If you stumble over a phrase, revise. The cadence should feel natural, not labored.

• Check the tone. The ending should match the rest of your essay, whether it’s formal, reflective, or chatty. A mismatch can jar the reader.

A quiet note on sources and reflection

When you’re citing sources in the English section, your conclusion can also remind readers why the cited ideas matter in the larger debate. You don’t need to list new sources here; you can reference the broader conversation and show how your argument fits into it. If you’re feeling uncertain, browsing a trusted resource like the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) can offer clarity on recapping strategies and thesis restatement, without turning the ending into a lecture.

Final thought: the ending is your signature

The conclusion might be the last thing you put on the page, but it’s not an afterthought. It’s the moment you seal the deal with your reader — a compact, confident reminder of what you argued and why it matters. When done well, it doesn’t just end the essay; it gives it a sense of purpose and a little glow of coherence that stays with the reader after the page is turned.

If you’re curious to see more practical examples or want to compare different closing strategies, a few trusted guides in the broader writing community offer clear, practical tips. And if you ever want to test your sense of what a strong ending sounds like, try rewriting the final paragraph of a draft, shifting the focus from restating the thesis to highlighting the significance in a single, memorable line. You’ll feel the shift pretty quickly — the essay turns from a good read to something that resonates.

In the end, the conclusion isn’t merely a formality. It’s the moment you demonstrate mastery of your argument, the clarity to restate your core idea, and the wisdom to leave the reader with a lasting impression. That’s the elegance of a well-crafted ending. And that’s the kind of writing that sticks.