The conclusion

Your conclusion is the last paragraph of your essay and the last thing your reader will read, so it needs to be memorable. A conclusion:

• links back to the introduction
• summarises your key points
• restates your main idea
• should never contain any new information.

Once you've covered these basic elements, think about the ‘So what?' factor – whether your essay stands out from the crowd. Ask yourself:

• Why should anyone care about what I've written in this essay?
• How do my ideas add to what we know about the topic?
• If you can answer these questions, you're on your way to a great essay.