To create effective paragraph content, you need to draw good conclusions. This includes writing a closing (or conclusion) section of 1 to 3 sentences. These sentences serve as the concluding paragraphs in the essay; repeating statements from the main topic and reviewing the points that have been made. To conclude a supporting paragraph effectively, review the content of the paragraph, compose a closing sentence, and avoid common mistakes.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Reviewing Written Paragraphs
Step 1. Reread your writing
Read the paragraphs that have been written carefully and mark the points that have been discussed. You can also refer to the outline that has been prepared, if any. Since the concluding sentence should conclude your writing, it's important to go into those details when writing it.
- Focus on the main point discussed in the topic sentence.
- Take note of the evidence and details you have.
Step 2. Focus on the main idea
The conclusion made should reinforce the main idea. The idea is the writing that is conveyed in the topic sentence. Make sure your paragraph fits the main idea, then draw a conclusion based on that.
- If your topic sentence is "Cats are small, but they are great predators," your main idea is the fact that cats are great hunters.
- The closing sentence should show support for the idea that cats are shrewd predators. For example, the closing sentence could be something like "Based on these statistics, cats are predators that hunt and can reduce bird populations in an area."
Step 3. Summarize your idea
The closing sentence brings to mind the main idea and what you have already conveyed to the reader so that it serves as a small “summary” of the paragraph. Make a short summary of the paragraph you have written, then use it to draft the sentences used in the essay.
For example, the concluding sentence “Based on these statistics, cats are avid predators of hunting and are able to reduce bird populations in an area” may remind readers that the previous paragraph provided statistics on the frequency of cat hunting and its effect on bird populations. The details support the main idea and the author has mentioned both
Method 2 of 3: Compose Closing Sentences
Step 1. Start a sentence with a conjunction, if desired
Show the reader that you want to end the paragraph by inserting a conjunction at the beginning of the sentence to convey the meaning of the sentence. This method will direct the reader to the main topic presented. Some of the conjunctions that can be used are:
- Finally
- Final
- Eventually
- As a result
- As a result
- Overall
Step 2. Repeat the topic sentence
Reread your topic sentence. This is the main idea conveyed so it must be inserted in the closing sentence. However, you shouldn't just repeat the topic sentence. Add the points the reader has learned about the topic of discussion in this paragraph.
- An example of a topic sentence would be “Cats are natural predators because they love to hunt and even hunt just for fun.”
- The closing sentence for this paragraph could be: “As a result of the continued hunting habits of cats even after being pets, they have proven themselves to be natural predators.”
Step 3. Re-emphasize a point in a persuasive essay
The closing sentence should reflect the type of writing made. In persuasive or argumentative writing, you should use a closing sentence to remind the reader of the point that has been conveyed to the reader.
For example, “The data show that cats hunt every day, even when they get regular food, so this fact proves that cats are natural hunters.”
Step 4. Focus on the similarities and differences in the comparative and contrast essays
Your closing sentence should show the reader the results of the comparison or difference of points presented in the paragraph, as well as what actions the reader needs to take based on that information. This will redirect the reader to the purpose of your essay.
For example, “Based on data, feral cats hunt 140% more often than domestic cats.”
Step 5. Show the relationship between one fact and another in a cause-and-effect essay
A cause-and-effect essay should show the relationship between one event and another. In the closing sentence, explain how the details in the paragraph can support the point the essay is trying to prove.
For example, “As a result, the homes of people who keep cats have yards that birds rarely visit.”
Step 6. Summarize all the facts in an informative essay
If you are writing to convey information to the reader, recall the facts presented in the paragraph. You don't need to mention everything. Just summarize the gist of the discussion.
For example, “In the end, cats hunt on instinct.”
Step 7. Relate the details in the paragraph to the topic sentence
Another way to write effectively is to show the reader the connection between the evidence or examples in the text and the topic sentence. Even if you should have done this in the paragraph, the closing sentence should complete the point.
For example, “In conclusion, feral cats are much more dangerous to birds than domestic cats because they hunt more often and are able to kill more birds each year.” This sentence supports the main idea that feral cats hunt more often than domestic cats, and shows the connection between the details in the text and the topic sentence
Step 8. Get ready to compose the next paragraph
Use closing sentences to prepare points for the next paragraph. This does not mean that you will add a new paragraph. However, this means that you have to make smooth transitions before moving on to the next topic sentence.
For example, your closing sentence could be something like "In summary, statistics show that a cat wearing a bell collar is less dangerous to birds because it kills only a few birds even if it gets the same hunting opportunity." This shows the reader that the author has finished presenting an idea and is about to move on to a new paragraph
Method 3 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes
Step 1. Avoid using the word “I” in closing sentences
Many writers are tempted to write a concluding paragraph with a sentence that reads "As stated earlier" or "This shows that my guess is correct." Make sure your essay is written from a third person point of view to make your ideas more convincing.
- You also need to avoid the word "you". For example, don't say "As you can see" in the closing sentence.
- There are exceptions to this, for example when you are writing an opening paragraph or an opinion essay.
Step 2. Don't use minor details
Even if you want to show evidence or examples, don't make closing sentences with small details. However, stay focused on the main idea.
Reread your closing sentence, then compare it with the written paragraph. Are there references that are less detailed? If so, rewrite the sentence to address the main point, not the supporting point
Step 3. Write a sentence that has a clear purpose
Sometimes, closing sentences can sound stiff or repetitive. To prevent this, make sure your main idea is really clear and that the sentences are able to connect the explanation in the paragraph with the main idea.
- A bad closing sentence usually reads "As you can see, the evidence shows that cats enjoy hunting."
- A better closing sentence would be “Based on the data, cats like to hunt for fun so this proves that they are natural predators.”
Tips
- Sometimes, the closing sentences for the opening and closing paragraphs have a slightly different format.
- Remember that your goal is to show the reader the main idea.
- Focus on your main idea.
- Think of the closing sentence as a small conclusion.
Warning
- Don't just repeat your topic sentence. Show how the written details support the main idea.
- Try not to repeat the same sentence.
