As an English 101 instructor, I find many of my students struggle when it comes time to writing their conclusive paragraph. This is understandable. How can you wrap something up?

Most essays follow one of the following forms:

a) Problem-solution

b) Persuasive

c) Personal Essay

To end a problem solution essay is simple. Solve the problem. You can't? No problem. Many scientific papers end with "More research needs to be done.." or "Suggestions for further research are.." List some examples of more research and declare which one you think will be the most beneficial and THE END.

Ending a persuasive essay also involves listing. Listing in general is a useful way to end most papers. If you did a good job up front it will pay off in the end. Go back through your essay and list/summarize your points or topic sentences. End with the one you think is the strongest and THE END.(Of course, you don't actually write THE END, you think it to yourself joyously.)

Personal essays are tricky. One wants to avoid the Wonder Years Ending of "and that is how water-skiing changed my life." The best way to end a personal essay is not to look back so much as to look forward. You are probably in your twenties, there is much life ahead of you, end on that note. Something more along the lines of: "I plan on finding my future wife somewhere out in the surf."

BIGGEST MISTAKE

High school teachers must truly enjoy meaningful endings. However, don't be philosophical. College essays are not meant to solve the problems of the world. They are meant to display your communication and writing skills. This is why it is difficult to wax philosophical about steroid use, or stem cell research, or any topic forced upon you that you find you have no investment in. Most of my students feel as if they need to sum up the universe at the end of their essays when all they need to do is to sum up the essay.

Sometimes you may feel very passionate about your topic. This is a good thing. Traditionally, the only place in an essay where you can inject passion and opinion is at the conclusion. This is known as pathos. Many speeches and writings rely on pathos - an emotional appeal. Go back through your paper and underline all the places where you insert your opinion and your passion. Take those underlined segments out of the body of the paper and join them into a coherent paragraph and -voila- good ending.

Whether you are writing a problem/solution, persuasive or personal essay remember that your conclusion must answer or relate to your thesis.List main points from the body of the essay. Insert your opinions and feeling and most importantly: avoid big sweeping, philosophical endings.