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Hedi Najafi earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University. She also has an M.A. and B.A. in English Language and Literature. In addition, she has several certificates and certifications such as Tesol Ontario, Laubach Literacy of Canada Tutor Certificate, and Financial Markets from Yale. In addition to teaching in North America, Dr. Hedi Najafi has taught in many institutions of higher education around the world. She has been teaching ESL, English, General Education, and Educational Leadership courses for the past twenty years.
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Learn how to start a conclusion. Read about concluding sentences, their purpose, and how to write them. Explore conclusion sentence starters and find examples.Updated: 11/21/2023
Table of Contents
- What is a Concluding Sentence?
- How to Write a Concluding Sentence
- Concluding Sentence Examples
- How to Start a Conclusion Paragraph
- Lesson Summary
- FAQs
- Activities
Concluding Sentences—Review and Practice
In this lesson, you learned about concluding sentences. A concluding sentence is how you sum up a paragraph or essay by briefly revisiting the information covered. Concluding sentences may look different for different types of writing, but they all share some characteristics. Practice what you have learned using the exercises below.
Common characteristics
All good concluding sentences, no matter the type of writing, should share some things in common. Fill in the blanks below to review these important common characteristics.
1. Concluding sentences do not introduce new _____ or _____.
2. Concluding sentences are located at the _____ of a paragraph.
3. Concluding sentences restate the _____ sentence.
4. Concluding sentences review the _____ in a paragraph.
Practice time
Using the tips above, practice writing a good concluding sentence for the following paragraph.
King Henry VIII of England is infamous for having had six wives. Many people revile him for his cruel treatment of some of them, which included beheading and divorce. Others recognize that the power of a king in the 16th century was absolute and that a king's wives were chosen for political reasons more than anything else. When one studies the political and social reasons behind Henry VIII's marriages, one enters an intriguing world that has little to do with romance.
Sample concluding sentence:
Whatever your thoughts are about Henry VIII's power, cruelty, and the fates of his six wives, you will find that others who have studied his life are as fascinated and opinionated as you are.
What is an example of a concluding sentence?
The following is an example of a concluding sentence for a paragraph about changes we can make to help reduce greenhouse gases: All in all, by making minor changes in our commuting habits, we can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the air.
How do you start off a conclusion?
A writer can start off a conclusion by writing an effective conclusion starter that helps show the reader the essay is ending soon. The writer can also start by wrapping up the main points of the paragraph. Alternatively, the writer can start the conclusion by restating the topic sentence in other words.
How do you write a good concluding sentence?
A good concluding sentence should wrap up the paragraph and give the reader a sense of closure. Conclusion starters or transitional expressions can help signal the end of the paragraph. A concluding sentence can restate the topic sentence or recap the main points. A good concluding sentence should not introduce any new topics.
What are some concluding words?
There are many different concluding words and phrases to choose from. Some are briefly, in brief, finally, at the end, and all things considered.
What words can I use to start a conclusion?
Some conclusion starters can be used to show a summary will be presented, like "in sum," "to sum up," and "in summary." Other starters can signal that a definite conclusion about the topic will be shared, like "in conclusion" and "to conclude." Other examples of starters are "finally," "ultimately," "thus," "therefore," or "in the end."
Table of Contents
- What is a Concluding Sentence?
- How to Write a Concluding Sentence
- Concluding Sentence Examples
- How to Start a Conclusion Paragraph
- Lesson Summary
A concluding sentence is the last sentence in a stand-alone paragraph or in a paragraph that is part of an essay. The significance of a concluding sentence is that it is the last sentence in the paragraph that the reader will read. Therefore, it has to perform several functions. It should signal to the reader that the paragraph has come to an end. It should also remind the reader about the topic sentence, and it should summarize the main points mentioned in the paragraph.
Conclusion Starters
Conclusion starters are transitional words or phrases that are placed at the beginning of a concluding sentence. Depending on their meaning and the intentions of the writer, their purpose is to inform the readers that this is the end of the paragraph, to give a summary of the important points, or to draw a definite conclusion about the paragraph's topic.
For example, if the writer wants to signal the end of the paragraph, she can use a starter such as all in all. If the writer intends to summarize the important points of the paragraph, a starter such as to sum up would be appropriate. To show that a definite conclusion will be drawn, a writer might choose to use a starter like in conclusion.
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There are some key elements to be considered when writing a concluding sentence.
- Transitional words and phrases such as in conclusion or to conclude are often used.
- The main points in the paragraph can be summarized.
- The topic sentence can be restated in different words.
- A final opinion about the topic can be given.
The following paragraph could end with a few different concluding sentences, depending on the writer's goals.
Alicia Walker's contract should be renewed for the coming academic year for several reasons. First, in the past two years, Dr. Walker has published three articles in three different top-tier journals. As a result of her publications, our department has been able to secure research funding for two academic years. Second, Dr. Walker's student evaluations are evidence of her devotion to excellence in teaching and student retention. Third, Dr. Walker chairs two college level committees, and she is an active member of two department level committees; this shows the extent to which she is willing to serve this university.
- To conclude, Alicia Walker is an asset to our university, and her contract should be renewed.
- All in all, there is no doubt that Dr. Walker is an asset to our department and that her contract must be renewed.
- To sum up, due to her devotion to teaching, research, and service to the university, Dr. Walker has to be offered another contract.
- Therefore, it is beneficial to our department to renew Dr. Walker's contract.
The first and second examples of concluding sentences essentially restate the topic sentence of the paragraph. The third option restates the main idea and recaps the main points of the paragraph, and the fourth possibility gives a final opinion about the topic.
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Below is a list of concluding sentence examples for other types of paragraphs.
- In conclusion, due to its educational facilities, low crime rates, and affordable housing, Phoenix is an ideal city for raising a family.
- In short, by making simple changes to our lifestyles, we can save our planet from global warming.
- To conclude, there are more differences than similarities between College A and College B.
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There are several different approaches that can help a writer start a conclusion paragraph and a concluding sentence. Before writing the conclusion paragraph, it is important to read over the thesis statement, which is usually given in the introduction. Reiterating the thesis statement in other words is an efficient way of starting a conclusion. Also, it is helpful to go over the main points mentioned in the body paragraphs so their gist can be included in the conclusion.
Before writing a conclusion, the writer must first decide what kind of conclusion would be most appropriate for their writing. For example, sometimes it is best to start with a summary of what was written, and sometimes it is more appropriate to draw a definite conclusion.
After making this decision, the proper conclusion starter must be chosen, be it to write a concluding sentence or a conclusion paragraph. A transitional expression that will express what will come in the conclusion is an effective conclusion starter.
An Effective Conclusion Starter
It is very important for the readers to receive a signal that they are getting close to the end of the writing. Therefore, an effective conclusion starter will ensure that the readers are alerted to this point.
Also, an effective conclusion starter will notify the readers that the important points of the writing are being wrapped up or revisited. Alternatively, an effective conclusion starter can inform the readers that a summary of the important points of the writing will be presented. In addition, with an effective conclusion starter, the readers should not anticipate reading any new information.
Conclusion Sentence Starters
Here is a list of suggested conclusion sentence starters. Usually, these phrases are followed by a comma when they are placed at the beginning of a sentence.
- To conclude
- To sum up
- In conclusion
- In sum
- In summary
- Finally
- Ultimately
- Thus
- Therefore
- At the end
- To summarize
- On the whole
- In brief
- Briefly
- Overall
- In any event
- All in all
- With all this in mind
- Considering all that was mentioned
- All things considered
- In short
- In general
- Generally
What to Avoid in a Conclusion
There are key elements that should be avoided in a concluding sentence. The inclusion of the following will weaken the conclusion and render it less effective.
- No new ideas or arguments should be introduced in a conclusion.
- No details or examples should be included in the concluding sentence.
- The topic sentence should not be copied and pasted as the concluding sentence, but it can be restated in a new way.
- The length of the conclusion is relative to the length of the essay. For a five-paragraph essay with half-page paragraphs, a conclusion paragraph that is one fourth of a page might be appropriate. However, if the essay is six pages long, then a one-page conclusion might be better.
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A concluding sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph. There are different functions that a concluding sentence can perform in a paragraph. For example, the end of the paragraph can be signaled to the reader by the concluding sentence. The concluding sentence can also be a reminder of the key points mentioned in the paragraph.
Furthermore, it is important for effective conclusions to have effective conclusion starters. Conclusion starters are transitional expressions, like finally or to conclude, that notify the readers that they are getting close to the end.
On the other hand, there are elements to be avoided in conclusions. New ideas, too many examples, or specific details should not be included in the conclusion. The conclusion should not be too short or too long compared to the rest of the paper.
There are different approaches for starting a conclusion paragraph depending on the type of writing. Restating the thesis statement in other words and summarizing the main points are among some of the approaches for starting effective conclusions. Choosing a conclusion starter that represents what to anticipate in the conclusion is another approach in starting a conclusion paragraph.
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Video Transcript
What is a Concluding Sentence?
A concluding sentence indicates that you are bringing closure to a paragraph. Writing a concluding sentence may not come as easily as you may think. Many writers fail to realize that it closes out the final thoughts about the topic on which they are writing. This is why it is important for you to be able to write effective concluding sentences. For each paragraph, the reader should be able to identify what your key points are based on the concluding sentence. Remember, it should not include any information that was not discussed in the paragraph.
When teaching students how to write concluding sentences, you may need to provide a few examples they will be able to use as a guide for their own writing. Examples of concluding sentence starters include:
- In conclusion
- Therefore
- As expressed
- Overall
- As a result
- Thus
- Finally
- Lastly
- For this reason
- In general
Characteristics of Effective Concluding Sentences
It is important for your students to know how to write effective concluding sentences in order to drive home the final point. Some characteristics include:
- Reviewing main points mentioned in a paragraph
- Restating the topic sentence
- Are found at the end of a paragraph
- Do not introduce new ideas or topics
As the writer, you should keep in mind that concluding sentences may look different for various types of writing. Examples of these types of writing include narratives, descriptions, compare and contrast, and argument.
The concluding sentence of a narrative paragraph should emphasize the moral lesson to the audience. With descriptive paragraphs, the concluding sentence helps to tie everything together by emphasizing details from the topic sentence, using different wording and summing up supporting facts. When writing a concluding sentence for the compare and contrast paragraph, you will want to restate both topics by pointing out the various similarities and differences that were discussed. The concluding sentence in an argument paragraph will summarize the argument being made. It may reaffirm why the argument is correct and the consequences that may occur if the argument is not heeded.
Examples of Concluding Sentences
Let's look at an example paragraph, and how a concluding sentence would be written for it:
Early colonists came to the New World in order to gain freedom from the harsh reign of the English monarchy. Not only did the colonists desire freedom from the king's taxation system, but they also wanted to break away from the intolerance that kept them from worshiping freely in England. They saw the new country as a place for new beginnings, and looked forward to beginning their lives anew—even if it meant living in a land of uncertainty.
There are several ways in which the concluding sentence in this example can be written.
Example 1: As a result, the colonists willingly gave up their oppressed lives in England, in order to live freely in a new land that was completely unfamiliar to them.
Example 2: Hence, the colonists' desire to worship freely and escape punitive taxes was much more appealing than continuing to live under the authoritarian system of intolerance that was commonplace in England.
Both examples 1 and 2 summarize the content of the paragraph without adding any new information. Each example restates the key ideas in the paragraph and brings closure at the end.
Let's also look at an example of how NOT to write a concluding sentence for this paragraph:
Example 3: As a matter of fact, colonists from other countries were also considering a move to the New World for various reasons.
Example 3 doesn't work as a concluding sentence because it has started a completely different topic. The original paragraph focused only on the reasons for which the English colonists wanted to settle in the New World. Bringing in colonists from other countries in the final sentence would confuse the reader and take the paragraph in a completely different direction.
Lesson Summary
A concluding sentence indicates that you are bringing closure to a paragraph. For each paragraph, the reader should be able to identify what your key points are, based on the concluding sentence. It should not include any information that was not discussed in the paragraph. Concluding sentences can start out with phrases such as 'In conclusion,' 'Thus,' and 'For this reason.'
Quick Notes
A concluding sentence:
- Should indicate closure for a paragraph
- Should remind the reader of the paragraph's main points
- Should not include any new information
Learning Outcomes
Examine this lesson on concluding sentences so that you can subsequently:
- State the purpose of a concluding sentence
- Identify concluding sentence starters
- List some of the indicators of a concluding sentence
- Assess correct and incorrect concluding sentences
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