Writing a Strong Concluding Statement

Why Do We Need Conclusions?

Have you ever read a great story or article, and then it just… stopped? No ending, no wrap-up—just nothing. That probably felt weird, right? That's because readers expect a conclusion. A concluding statement or section is the final part of a piece of writing. It tells the reader, "Okay, we're done—here's what all of this means."

People have been writing conclusions for a very long time. Let's take a quick look at how the idea of wrapping up your writing has been important throughout history.

So whether you're writing a report about volcanoes or explaining how a bicycle works, your reader needs you to finish strong. A conclusion is like putting the cherry on top of a sundae—it completes the whole thing.

Core Ideas About Conclusions

Before you can write a strong conclusion, you need to understand four important rules. Think of these as your "conclusion toolkit." Every time you write a concluding statement or section, pull out these tools and use them.

The Essay Map: Where the Conclusion Lives

Let's look at a picture that shows the parts of an informational essay. Notice where the conclusion fits in. It comes at the very end, after your introduction and body paragraphs. Its job is to "tie the bow" on everything you've explained.

As you can see, the conclusion sits right at the bottom. It's the last thing your reader sees. Just like the introduction opens the door and invites the reader in, the conclusion closes that door gently and says goodbye. The body paragraphs do the heavy lifting in the middle, sharing all the facts and details. The conclusion doesn't need to repeat every detail—it just needs to remind the reader of the main message.

How to Build a Conclusion: Step by Step

Writing a conclusion doesn't have to be scary. You can follow a simple recipe every time. There are three ingredients in a great concluding statement or section. Let's break them down.

Ingredient 1 — Signal Words

A signal word (also called a transition word) tells your reader, "We're wrapping up now!" Some signal words you can use are: In conclusion, Overall, As you can see, All in all, To sum up, and Clearly. These words act like a turn signal on a car—they let the reader know you're about to turn toward the end.

Ingredient 2 — Restated Big Idea

Next, you remind the reader of the main idea of your whole essay. This is NOT a word-for-word copy of your introduction. Instead, you say the same idea in a fresh way. For example, if your introduction said, "Honeybees are important to our food supply," your conclusion might say, "Without honeybees, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat every day would disappear."

Ingredient 3 — Final Thought

The final thought gives your reader something to think about after they finish reading. You might share a surprising fact, ask a question, or explain why your topic matters. This is the "mic drop" moment of your essay!

When you combine all three ingredients, you get a conclusion that sounds complete and polished. Remember: signal word → restated big idea → final thought. Keep this order in mind every time!

Types of Final Thoughts

The final thought is where you get to be creative. There are several different ways to end your conclusion. Let's look at the most common types so you can pick the one that works best for your writing.

You can mix and match these types! For example, you could use a surprising fact and then follow it with a question. There is no single "right" way to end—just make sure it connects back to your topic.

Worked Example: Writing a Conclusion Step by Step

Let's say you just finished writing an informational essay about how sea turtles survive in the ocean. Your introduction said: "Sea turtles are amazing creatures that have special body features to help them live in the ocean." Now it's time to write the conclusion. Watch how we do it.

Dos and Don'ts of Conclusions

Even great writers sometimes make mistakes in their conclusions. Here's a helpful chart that shows what to do and what to avoid.

Taking Your Conclusions to the Next Level

Right now, you're learning to write concluding statements (a sentence or two) and concluding sections (a whole paragraph). As you move into middle school and beyond, conclusions will get bigger and more complex. Here's a sneak peek at how conclusions grow with you.

The skills you learn now—using signal words, restating ideas, and leaving a strong impression—will be the foundation for everything that comes next. So practice them well! Every essay, report, and research project you write from here on out will need a solid conclusion.

Practice Problems

Time to practice! Try each problem below, then click "Show Answer" to check your work. The problems get a little harder as you go—good luck!

Lesson Summary