It is very important to write an effective conclusion to an essay. It is this brief conclusive paragraph that will make the final impression on your reader. It is also your last chance to convince the reader. Follow the tips below when writing a conclusion to your essay.

Sum up your feelings or argument being made in the essay. You may also very briefly summarize your main points. Do not, however, provide a detailed summary of the entire essay. There is no need to repeat yourself. This should be accomplished in one or two sentences.

Draw a thoughtful conclusion from the points made in the essay. This should be relevant to the argument being made. It may be a suggestion how to overcome a problem, or it may be more of a general comment. Once again, this should only be one or two sentences.

Restate the thesis. This is usually done in the first or second sentence of the conclusion. Make sure it is reworded from the introduction of the essay. It will remind the reader what the main focus of the essay is about.

Make an amusing, light-hearted or insightful observation. Use careful judgment when deciding what to write, however. A light-hearted or amusing comment may not be appropriate for an essay subject such as "AIDS in Africa." Ending on a personal note or using a relevant quote might be a better choice.

Avoid making the conclusion too long. An effective conclusion should be straight and to-the-point. One paragraph is sufficient. It should be no longer than four or five sentences.

Do not begin with "In conclusion" or use the word "conclusion" in any form.