Can you end a conclusion with a quote

For example, an essay on the novel Ambiguous Adventure , by the Senegalese writer Cheikh Hamidou Kane, might open with the idea that the protagonist's development suggests Kane's belief in the need to integrate Western materialism and Sufi spirituality in modern Senegal. The conclusion might make the new but related point that the novel on the whole suggests that such an integration is or isn't possible.

Finally, some advice on how not to end an essay: Don't simply summarize your essay. A brief summary of your argument may be useful, especially if your essay is long--more than ten pages or so. But shorter essays tend not to require a restatement of your main ideas.

Avoid phrases like "in conclusion," "to conclude," "in summary," and "to sum up. But readers can see, by the tell-tale compression of the pages, when an essay is about to end. You'll irritate your audience if you belabor the obvious. Resist the urge to apologize. If you've immersed yourself in your subject, you now know a good deal more about it than you can possibly include in a five- or ten- or page essay.

As a result, by the time you've finished writing, you may be having some doubts about what you've produced. And if you haven't immersed yourself in your subject, you may be feeling even more doubtful about your essay as you approach the conclusion.

Repress those doubts. List the main ideas in your essay. Look for any themes you introduced in the first paragraph. You can get a nice sense of closure by returning to the theme you opened with. However, you might expand this theme to include the idea that as human knowledge grows, space is actually becoming smaller.

Consider whether you can link your argument to a different context. This helps your reader understand how they could apply the arguments you made to another topic, giving your essay a bigger sense of purpose. Part 2. Start with a small transition optional. This can be a cue to your reader that you're ending your essay, and that they need to pay attention. Though a lot of essays begin their last paragraph with a transition, you don't need to if you feel like it's clear enough that you are ending your essay.

The transition can be very simple. Briefly summarize some of the main points. Try taking the first sentences of each body paragraph your topic sentences and rewriting their main points in two or three sentences. This will reinforce your essay's argument, reminding the reader what you were talking about, or arguing for. Avoid summarizing your points exactly as you wrote them. Your readers have already read your essay. Keep it short and sweet. Any less, and you probably haven't summarized your points enough; any more, and you're probably rambling on a bit too much.

Be sure to work your thesis statement into the conclusion in one way or another. You should reference it as you end your essay, even if it's only in passing. Remember, your thesis is the main point of your essay, something you're arguing for. If someone who reads your conclusion still doesn't know what your thesis is, you haven't done a good-enough job of telling them. Find a way to rework your thesis in an interesting way, using different language. Write authoritatively on your subject.

Sounding authoritative means using the right words as opposed to just any old words , relying on solid evidence from other sources, and believing in your own ability to write. Saying "I think" sounds like you're hedging and makes you sound less authoritative. Another example: Don't apologize for your views.

They're your ideas, so take ownership of them. Never say something like "I may not be an expert" or "At least this is my opinion," [9] X Research source as this weakens your reliability. End with a flourish. Your last sentence should be elegant, to the point, and provocative. This is easier said than done. But it all starts with illustrating the point of your essay. Ask yourself What is my essay about, and what am I saying?

Be playful with your last sentence and pose an ironic by-product of what you're talking about. Then, the end of your essay becomes especially provocative. Make an appeal to emotions. Much of the time, essays are very rational, forgetting about emotions. That's why appealing to people's emotions can be a really powerful way to conclude an essay. Done in the right way, this will help the article have heart.

Just make sure that your conclusion is in keeping with the tone of the rest of your essay. Include a call to action use sparingly. If your essay is truly about getting people to change, then including a call to action is a useful tool to rouse your base.

But use it sparingly: In the wrong context an expository essay, or an argumentative essay it can be overkill. Part 3. Avoid just restating your thesis. Resist the urge to quote. There is usually no need to clog up the ending of your essay with quotes and analysis — that should have been what you were doing in your main paragraphs.

The conclusion is the place where you tie everything together for your readers, not where you introduce new information. Don't use fluffy language or too many adverbs. Don't use too many high-flying, two-dollar words in your conclusion. You want it to be readable and relatable, not rigid and boring. Make it clear what you're saying and how many points you're making. Keep new material out of the conclusion. Now is not the time to introduce new ideas or content.

That takes the focus off your original argument and could confuse readers. Don't focus on a minor point or issue in the essay. The conclusion is not the time to nitpick with a small theme in your essay. In fact, it's the time to step back and focus on the big picture.

It depends on the style of writing. Think about the style of writing the subject matter uses. Which of the types would best suit your writing and speak to your readers?

For the most part, your writing should naturally lead into the conclusion. However, you could use transition words to cue the reader to the end. This is especially helpful when preparing a speech. Doing this will confuse your reader. Think about the entire essay as a whole as you determine how to craft the perfect tone for your conclusion paragraph.

If your introduction poses a question, then you should be sure to answer that question in your conclusion. So, find a way to wrap up your ideas to leave your reader satisfied and content.

Why should your reader care about your essay? What is the significance of the ideas that you presented? Why did you take the time to write about this particular subject? So, spell it out for your readers. Let them know what they should learn from your writing. One of the biggest faux pas that people make when writing their conclusion paragraph involves restating the thesis statement.

Yes, you should return to your thesis statement. Unfortunately, many people choose to write their thesis statement verbatim from the introduction. Your reader will recognize that the conclusion is a rehash of your thesis statement, which will leave a negative impression. This will undermine you as a writer and reduce your credibility on the subject.

Summarizing your writing in the conclusion is one of the types that we discussed earlier. This type is the desirable way to end a really long essay.