rephrasing the thesis statement major points

Argumentative Essay: Steps and Tips

• The Persuasive Argument
• Problem Identification
• Steps and Tips

Parts of the Essay

Introduction: Attention Grabber / hook, Background Information, Thesis Statement Body: Three body paragraphs (three major arguments) Counterargument: An argument to refute earlier arguments and give weight to the actual position Conclusion: Rephrasing the thesis statement, major points, call to attention, or concluding remarks.

Writing Steps

1. Decide on a topic. The best topic will be one you have a strong interest in or opinion about.Find some articles to read about your topic. Decide what sort of claim you are writing (fact, definition, cause, value, policy).

4. Look at the facts, definition (meaning of the issue or the nature of it), quality (the level of seriousness of the issue), and policy (plan of action for the issue).You should have several reasons or points of discussion that help you to support your argument. You will explain and support these reasons and points of discussion within the body paragraphs of your paper.

5. Write your paper, including adding your author tags, evidence and citations. Allow yourself enough time to brainstorm, write, and edit.

6. Do Peer Editing: Have someone read your paper and respond using the "Draft Editing Questions." Re-vise your draft using the information you got from your reader(s). 

7. Final Proofread. Run a spelling and grammar check, proof-read and read aloud to catch errors. Another tip I often suggest to students is printing out your paper and reading it aloud or having someone read it to you.

• << Previous: Keywords
• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2023 2:05 PM
• URL: https://wiu.libguides.com/c.php?g=295307

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

How to Rephrase a Thesis Statement: An Effective Guide

Table of Contents

A thesis statement defines your argument and provides the reader with an insight into the paper. A restatement in the paper’s conclusion reminds your readers of what you have demonstrated in your body paragraphs. It also helps you bring your piece to a close. How to rephrase a thesis statement? This article is your definitive guide.

Thesis Statement: An Overview

A thesis statement is a vital part of the writing process that should not be overlooked. Thesis statements provide readers with a brief insight into a lengthy argument or research paper . They consist of a claim and evidence or examples to support the claim.

A thesis statement is an essential element of a research paper. Your thesis statement provides the framework of your argument by defining the purpose of your work and the significant points you wish to make. It also provides the reader with an easy-to-read overview of your work.

A thesis statement appears in the introductory paragraph of the research work. A thesis restatement, stated in the paper’s conclusion, reminds the readers of the writer’s point successfully proven in the body paragraphs. It differs from the thesis statement in the sentence structure and the wording.

How to rephrase a thesis statement? 

A thesis restatement reformulates what your original thesis was. It makes the original thesis statement evident to the audience and shows that the argument stated is true. The following tips will guide you through rephrasing the thesis statement effectively.

1. Decide a suitable place for your restatement.

A thesis restatement most commonly comes at the beginning of the conclusion of your paper. However, there’s no rule for positioning a thesis restatement.

You do not have to restate your thesis in the conclusion’s first sentence/paragraph.

It might help if you write a draft of your conclusion and figure out if the position of your restatement is ideal. If not, figure out a suitable place and adjust your work.

2. Take advantage of what you’ve accomplished and make a more profound impact

When the reader reads the thesis restatement, they must have read through the body paragraphs and fully understand the paper’s purpose.

Use your thesis restatement to take a stand on your previously stated information firmly. Provide your reader with more profound meaning with your thesis restatement.

3. Make your reader understand why your argument is significant.

Your introduction has stated your thesis, which might not necessarily give the reader a reason to consider your topic substantial.

When you restate your thesis, in conclusion, use the fact that the reader has gone through the entire work as an advantage. Your thesis restatement should answer the ‘so what’ question with confidence. This would tell your reader why your argument is significant.

4. Avoid clichés.

In rephrasing your thesis statement, avoid using phrases such as “As stated earlier, In conclusion, As seen in this paper.” These overused phrases show a lack of originality.

They portray you as an uncreative individual to your reader. Use unique and creative starts to pass across a strong message to your reader.

5. State it confidently.

Confidently restate your thesis. Making apologetic statements show that you aren’t sure of your argument. This will weaken your conclusion and portray your paper as ‘irrelevant.’

Avoid using words that undermine your arguments like ‘It seems, It is possible that,’ unless your topic of discussion is just a possibility.

Tips for Making your Thesis Restatement Unique

Unlike what you think, a thesis restatement is not a blaring line in your conclusion. It’s more than a conclusion that highlights what your paper has conveyed. Therefore, it’s vital in a thesis restatement to give the reader a better understanding of what you’ve accomplished and why your argument is significant.

The following tips will help you craft a unique thesis restatement, different from the original.

1. Use different wordings and structure

Your thesis restatement must differ in wording and sentence structure from the original statement.

It will help if you replace essential concepts and words in the initial thesis with their synonyms. While changing the sentence structure, ensure that your readers will be able to comprehend it.

2. Change the tense. 

The thesis statement in your introductory paragraph was probably written in the future tense, prompting the reader of what to expect.

When rephrasing your thesis statement, use past tense to demonstrate to readers what you have accomplished with your paper.

3. Split up the points

The original thesis statement in your introductory paragraph was probably concise if not one or two sentences. In your conclusion, try to make it longer.

Spread your points across some sentences or even a paragraph. The thesis statement will read differently and allow you to explicitly explain how you have proven your argument in the body paragraphs.

The thesis statement contains the main idea or point of your paper. Rephrasing your thesis statement reminds your readers of what you have accomplished with your paper.

It also gives them a better understanding of your argument better . This article has provided all the tips you need to rephrase a thesis statement effectively.

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

Explore All Paraphrasing Tool Articles

Advanced & effective paraphrase simplify tool.

The paraphrase simplify tool is designed to paraphrase and simplify your text effectively. This tool can be used for in-depth…

• Paraphrasing Tool

What Is a Paraphrase Citation?

When you paraphrase, many people think you don’t have to give a citation. Understand that because you have used someone’s…

Paraphrasing Vs Summarizing: What’s the Difference?

Paraphrasing and summarizing are two similar activities, but they are not the same. To understand the difference between paraphrasing vs…

The Best Paraphrase Tools: A Review

When it comes to paraphrase tools, there are so many to choose. This is why we decided some paraphrase tool…

The Best Paraphrasing Hacks From Students Themselves

Did you have a tough concept that you had a lot of trouble understanding? Paraphrasing helps with that. But it…

What are the Best Paraphrasing Tool to Download

Paraphrasing is the process of rewriting or rephrase a sentence without changing its meaning. A paraphrasing tool allows you to…

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + Examples

What’s Covered:

What is the purpose of a thesis statement, writing a good thesis statement: 4 steps, common pitfalls to avoid, where to get your essay edited for free.

When you set out to write an essay, there has to be some kind of point to it, right? Otherwise, your essay would just be a big jumble of word salad that makes absolutely no sense. An essay needs a central point that ties into everything else. That main point is called a thesis statement, and it’s the core of any essay or research paper.

You may hear about Master degree candidates writing a thesis, and that is an entire paper–not to be confused with the thesis statement, which is typically one sentence that contains your paper’s focus. 

Read on to learn more about thesis statements and how to write them. We’ve also included some solid examples for you to reference.

Typically the last sentence of your introductory paragraph, the thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your essay. When your reader gets to the thesis statement, they should have a clear outline of your main point, as well as the information you’ll be presenting in order to either prove or support your point. 

The thesis statement should not be confused for a topic sentence , which is the first sentence of every paragraph in your essay. If you need help writing topic sentences, numerous resources are available. Topic sentences should go along with your thesis statement, though.

Since the thesis statement is the most important sentence of your entire essay or paper, it’s imperative that you get this part right. Otherwise, your paper will not have a good flow and will seem disjointed. That’s why it’s vital not to rush through developing one. It’s a methodical process with steps that you need to follow in order to create the best thesis statement possible.

Step 1: Decide what kind of paper you’re writing

When you’re assigned an essay, there are several different types you may get. Argumentative essays are designed to get the reader to agree with you on a topic. Informative or expository essays present information to the reader. Analytical essays offer up a point and then expand on it by analyzing relevant information. Thesis statements can look and sound different based on the type of paper you’re writing. For example:

• Argumentative: The United States needs a viable third political party to decrease bipartisanship, increase options, and help reduce corruption in government.
• Informative: The Libertarian party has thrown off elections before by gaining enough support in states to get on the ballot and by taking away crucial votes from candidates.
• Analytical: An analysis of past presidential elections shows that while third party votes may have been the minority, they did affect the outcome of the elections in 2020, 2016, and beyond.

Step 2: Figure out what point you want to make

Once you know what type of paper you’re writing, you then need to figure out the point you want to make with your thesis statement, and subsequently, your paper. In other words, you need to decide to answer a question about something, such as:

• What impact did reality TV have on American society?
• How has the musical Hamilton affected perception of American history?
• Why do I want to major in [chosen major here]?

If you have an argumentative essay, then you will be writing about an opinion. To make it easier, you may want to choose an opinion that you feel passionate about so that you’re writing about something that interests you. For example, if you have an interest in preserving the environment, you may want to choose a topic that relates to that. 

If you’re writing your college essay and they ask why you want to attend that school, you may want to have a main point and back it up with information, something along the lines of:

“Attending Harvard University would benefit me both academically and professionally, as it would give me a strong knowledge base upon which to build my career, develop my network, and hopefully give me an advantage in my chosen field.”

Step 3: Determine what information you’ll use to back up your point

Once you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the Hamilton example, you may decide to address any falsehoods that the writer put into the musical, such as:

“The musical Hamilton, while accurate in many ways, leaves out key parts of American history, presents a nationalist view of founding fathers, and downplays the racism of the times.”

Once you’ve written your initial working thesis statement, you’ll then need to get information to back that up. For example, the musical completely leaves out Benjamin Franklin, portrays the founding fathers in a nationalist way that is too complimentary, and shows Hamilton as a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that his family likely did own slaves. 

Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing

Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and that you feel like you can truly write a paper on the topic. Once you’ve done that, you can then begin writing your paper.

When writing a thesis statement, there are some common pitfalls you should avoid so that your paper can be as solid as possible. Make sure you always edit the thesis statement before you do anything else. You also want to ensure that the thesis statement is clear and concise. Don’t make your reader hunt for your point. Finally, put your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and have your introduction flow toward that statement. Your reader will expect to find your statement in its traditional spot.

If you’re having trouble getting started, or need some guidance on your essay, there are tools available that can help you. CollegeVine offers a free peer essay review tool where one of your peers can read through your essay and provide you with valuable feedback. Getting essay feedback from a peer can help you wow your instructor or college admissions officer with an impactful essay that effectively illustrates your point.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Thesis Rephraser: Rewrite a Thesis Statement

Welcome to our thesis rephraser. Follow the steps below to get a rewritten thesis statement in no time:

• Input a thesis statement into the textbox;
• Choose the share of words you want replaced;
• Click the "Rephrase" button;
• Get your reworded thesis.
• ️🤷 Why Using the Tool?
• ️🎓 What Is a Thesis?
• Argumentative
• Literary Analysis
• ️✍️ How to Rewrite a Thesis?
• ️🔗 References

🤷 Thesis Rephraser: Why Using It?

• To rephrase a conclusion or any other section of a paper (yes, it is SO universal);
• To improve a thesis statement that does not wholly meet the requirements;
• To reformulate a thesis statement so that you can include it in your conclusion;
• To reword a thesis statement to see if it makes sense.

🎓 What Is a Thesis Statement?

A thesis statement is usually a sentence (or two as a maximum) at the beginning of your paper.

Most often, you should place it at the close of the introduction , presenting your argument to the reader.

Warning: Don’t mix the thesis statement and the subject of your paper. For example, the subject can be “the late works of Siegmund Freud,” but the thesis explains what you plan to do with this literature. I.e., “This essay argues that the late works of Siegmund Freud focus on mysticism.”

How to Identify a Thesis Statement?

A thesis statement is placed at the end of the introductory paragraph and answers the question of the paper’s topic. As a rule, it consists of only one sentence, which describes the essence of your writing.

What Is the Main Goal of a Thesis Statement?

The main goal is to give the reader a clear idea of the author’s position and how it will be defended. The best way to know what the paper is about is to read this sentence.

How Long Does a Thesis Statement Have to Be?

A thesis statement is usually formulated in a single sentence. Still, two shorter will also do if the sentence you have written is too complex or wordy.

📝 Thesis Statement Types (with Examples)

Below you'll find formulas and examples for 4 thesis statements: argumentative, analytical, expository, and literary analysis.

Argumentative Thesis Statement

An argumentative thesis statement presents the topic of a paper, the author’s opinion on the issue, and the reasons for such an opinion.

Argumentative thesis = Topic + Opinion + Reasons

E.g., Pembroke Welsh Corgis (topic) make perfect pets (opinion) because they are smart, active, and loyal (reasons) .

Analytical Thesis Statement

An analytical thesis statement presents the analyzed subject of your paper, reminds the reader of the general topic, and indicates what was found at the end of the analysis.

Analytical thesis = Subject of Analysis + Topic + Findings

E.g., The behavioral analysis (subject of analysis) of Pembroke Welsh Corgis (topic) demonstrates that they require more human attention than other breeds (findings) .

Expository Thesis Statement

An expository thesis statement specifies the overall topic and enumerates the principal aspects raised in the paper.

Expository thesis = Topic + Aspects

E.g., The criteria of corgi’s physical health (topic) comprise the state of their skin, fur, nose, eyes, teeth, and gums (aspects) .

Literary Analysis Thesis Statement

A literary analysis thesis statement focuses on the literary devices your paper will analyze and the results the author achieved through them.

Literary analysis = Literary Device + Effect

E.g., Arthur Conan Doyle uses the imagery of the moor (literary device) to produce an uncanny and grim impression on the reader (effect) .

✍️ How to Rewrite a Thesis?

Did your professor cross out your draft thesis statement and leave a negative comment in the right margin? Or have you already wracked your brain improvising a new version of the same thesis statement to put it into your conclusion?

Whichever the case, we will analyze why this introductory sentence is not good enough. Then you will get a how-to instruction for its correction.

Rewriting an Argumentative Thesis

Your thesis statement should be solid and convincing . It should also be based on facts and logical reasoning.

Compare the following versions of the same thesis. As you may guess, the second has been improved. The worst drawback of an argumentative thesis statement is when you fail to provide the reasons for your opinion.

Rewriting an Analytical Thesis

An analytical thesis statement should indicate the specific aspect you plan to focus on, what kind of analysis you have done, and its results .

If any of the elements is missing, it is a weak thesis.

The example in the left column provides no information on how you achieved the given conclusion. The variant in the right column is much better.

Rewriting an Expository Thesis

An expository thesis statement does not convince the reader. Instead, it presents the narrow topic and its features. Do your best to make it informative and concise.

The thesis statement sample in the left column states a fact, but there is no information on what the paper’s main body will dwell upon. Consider the improvement in the right column:

Rewriting a Literary Analysis Thesis

A literary analysis thesis statement links the individual techniques of the author with the effect they have produced in the book. If no such link is established, you’ve failed the task.

The statement in the left column does not mention the literary device. Let us correct it.

Thank you for reading this article! If you are not completely satisfied with the result of paraphrasing, try one of our highly specialized tools for various types of content:

• Essay rephraser
• Paragraph rewriter
• Sentence rewriter
• Phrase rewriter
• Paper rewriter
• Thesis rephraser
• Text reworder
• Poem paraphraser
• Essay reworder

❓ Thesis Rephraser FAQ

How does a thesis rephraser work.

A thesis rephraser allows you to produce an absolutely new thesis statement in a blink of an eye. Copy the last sentence of your introduction into the paraphrasing tool, select the volume of changed words, and press the button to get the result.

How to Rephrase a Thesis Statement?

The only correct way is to analyze its structure first. Then reword each constituent part separately and combine them in a new grammatically correct sentence. Don’t forget to check the result with anti-plagiarism software. If it shows that the sentence is not unique, change some words for their synonyms.

How to Rephrase a Question into a Thesis Statement?

Any thesis statement answers the research question or the question raised in the paper’s topic. That’s why you should not literally rephrase it. Instead, give a straightforward answer, which all your argumentation and evidence will support. But if the question is long, you can change its structure from interrogative to affirmative and replace several words with synonyms.

Where Do You Rephrase Your Thesis Statement in an Essay?

There are several places in an essay where you could include a reference to your thesis statement. These are the topic and concluding sentences of each paragraph. But the full paraphrased version of the thesis statement is necessary only in your conclusion.

🔗 References

• Thesis Statements - UNC Writing Center
• How to Write a Thesis Statement
• Developing a Thesis Statement
• Thesis Statement Examples
• How to Restate a Thesis: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
• Using Thesis Statements - University of Toronto Writing Advice
• Thesis and Purpose Statements

Module 2: Reading

Text: paraphrasing a thesis statement.

We’ve discussed the fact that every piece of writing has a thesis statement , a sentence that captures the main idea of the text. Some are explicit –stated directly in the text itself. Others are implicit –implied by the content but not written in one distinct sentence.

You’ll remember that the “How to Identify a Thesis Statement” video offered advice for locating a text’s thesis statement. Remember when it asks you to write 1 or 2 sentences that summarize the text? When you write that summary, without looking at the text itself, you’ve actually paraphrased the thesis statement.

Review this process by re-watching the video here.

Click here to download a transcript for this video

Paraphrasing is a skill that asks you to capture the idea of a text, without using any of the same words. This is harder to do than it might first appear. Like advanced reading skills, it takes practice to do well.

As you paraphrase, keep the following tips in mind:

• Paraphrases are roughly the same length as the original text . If the thesis sentence is a medium-length sentence, your paraphrase will also be a medium-length sentence (though it doesn’t have to have exactly the same number of words).
• Paraphrases use entirely distinct wording from the original text . Common small words like “the” and “and” are perfectly acceptable, of course, but try to use completely different nouns and verbs. If needed, you can quote short snippets, 1-2 words, if you feel the precise words are necessary.
• Paraphrases keep the same meaning and tone as the original text . Make sure that anyone reading your paraphrase would understand the same thing, as if they had read the original text you paraphrased.

Contribute!

Improve this page Learn More

• Text: Paraphrasing a Thesis Statement. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• How to Identify the Thesis Statement. Authored by : Martha Ann Kennedy. Located at : https://youtu.be/di1cQgc1akg . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

• Mission, Vision, and Inclusive Language Statement
• Locations & Hours
• Undergraduate Employment
• Graduate Employment
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Newsletter Archive
• Support WTS
• Schedule an Appointment
• Online Tutoring
• Before your Appointment
• WTS Policies
• Group Tutoring
• Students Referred by Instructors
• Paid External Editing Services
• Writing Guides
• Scholarly Write-in
• Dissertation Writing Groups
• Journal Article Writing Groups
• Early Career Graduate Student Writing Workshop
• Workshops for Graduate Students
• Teaching Resources
• Syllabus Information
• Course-specific Tutoring
• Nominate a Peer Tutor
• Tutoring Feedback
• Schedule Appointment
• Campus Writing Program

Writing Tutorial Services

Writing conclusions.

Though expectations vary from one discipline to the next, the conclusion of your paper is generally a place to explore the implications of your topic or argument. In other words, the end of your paper is a place to look outward or ahead in order to explain why you made the points you did.

Writing the Conclusion

In the past, you may have been told that your conclusion should summarize what you have already said by restating your thesis and main points. It is often helpful to restate your argument in the conclusion, particularly in a longer paper, but most professors and instructors want students to go beyond simply repeating what they have already said. Restating your thesis is just a short first part of your conclusion. Make sure that you are not simply repeating yourself; your restated thesis should use new and interesting language.

After you have restated your thesis, you should not just summarize the key points of your argument. Your conclusion should offer the reader something new to think about—or, at the very least, it should offer the reader a new way of thinking about what you have said in your paper.

You can employ one of several strategies for taking your conclusion that important step further:

• Answer the question, "So what?"
• Connect to a larger theme from the course
• Complicate your claim with an outside source
• Pose a new research question as a result of your paper's findings
• Address the limitations of your argument

The strategy you employ in writing a conclusion for your paper may depend upon a number of factors:

• The conventions of the discipline in which you are writing
• The tone of your paper (whether your paper is analytical, argumentative, explanatory, etc.)
• Whether your paper is meant to be formal or informal

Choose a strategy that best maintains the flow and tone of your paper while allowing you to adequately tie together all aspects of your paper.

The Final "So what?" Strategy

Part of generating a thesis statement sometimes requires answering the "so what?" question—that is, explaining the significance of your basic assertion. When you use the "so what?" strategy to write your conclusion, you are considering what some of the implications of your argument might be beyond the points already made in your paper. This strategy allows you to leave readers with an understanding of why your argument is important in a broader context or how it can apply to a larger concept.

For example, consider a paper about alcohol abuse in universities. If the paper argues that alcohol abuse among students depends more on psychological factors than simply the availability of alcohol on campus, a "so what?" conclusion might tie together threads from the body of the paper to suggest that universities are not approaching alcohol education from the most effective perspective when they focus exclusively on limiting students' access to alcohol.

To use this strategy, ask yourself, "How does my argument affect how I approach the text or issue?"

The "Connecting to a Course Theme" Strategy

When you use the "connecting to a course theme" strategy to write your conclusion, you are establishing a connection between your paper's thesis and a larger theme or idea from the course for which you are writing your paper.

For example, consider a paper about mothers and daughters in Eudora Welty's Delta Wedding for a class called "The Inescapable South." This paper argues that a strong dependence on the mother is analogous to a strong dependence on the South. A "connecting to a course theme" conclusion for this paper might propose that Welty's daughter characters demonstrate what type of people can and cannot escape the South.

To use this strategy, ask yourself, "What is an overall theme of this course? How does my paper's thesis connect?"

The "Complicating Your Claim" Strategy

When you use the "complicating your claim" strategy to write your conclusion, you are using one or more additional resources to develop a more nuanced final thesis. Such additional resources could include a new outside source or textual evidence that seemingly contradicts your argument.

For example, consider a paper about Ireland's neutrality during World War II. This paper argues that Ireland refused to enter the war because it wanted to assert its sovereignty, not because it had no opinion about the conflict. A "complicating your claim" conclusion for this paper might provide historical evidence that Ireland did aid the Allies, suggesting that the Irish were more influenced by international diplomacy than their formal neutrality might suggest.

To use this strategy, ask yourself, "Is there any evidence against my thesis?" or "What does an outside source have to say about my thesis?"

The "Posing a New Question" Strategy

When you use the "posing a new question" strategy to write your conclusion, you are inviting the reader to consider a new idea or question that has appeared as a result of your argument.

For example, consider a paper about three versions of the folktale "Rapunzel." This paper argues that German, Italian, and Filipino versions of "Rapunzel" all vary in terms of characterization, plot development, and moral, and as a result have different themes. A "posing a new question" conclusion for this paper might ask the historical and cultural reasons for how three separate cultures developed such similar stories with such different themes.

To use this strategy, ask yourself, "What new question has developed out of my argument?"

The "Addressing Limitations" Strategy

When you use the "addressing limitations" strategy to write your conclusion, you are discussing the possible weaknesses of your argument and, thus, the fallibility of your overall conclusion. This strategy is often useful in concluding papers on scientific studies and experiments.

For example, consider a paper about an apparent correlation between religious belief and support for terrorism. An "addressing limitations" conclusion for this paper might suggest that the apparent correlation relies on the paper's definition of "terrorism" and, since the definition is not objective, the apparent correlation might have been wrongly identified.

To use this strategy, ask yourself, "In what aspects is my argument lacking? Are there circumstances in which my conclusions might be wrong?"

Polishing Your Conclusion—and Your Paper

After you've completed your conclusion, look over what you have written and consider making some small changes to promote clarity and originality:

• Unless your discipline requires them, remove obvious transitions like "in conclusion," "in summary," and "in result" from your conclusion; they get in the way of the actual substance of your conclusion.
• Consider taking a strong phrase from your conclusion and using it as the title or subtitle of your paper.

Also, be sure to proofread your conclusion carefully for errors and typos. You should double-check your entire paper for accuracy and correct spelling as well.

Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Writing Tutorial Services social media channels

• U.S. Locations
• UMGC Europe
• Learn Online
• Find Answers
• 855-655-8682
• Current Students

Essay Conclusions

Explore more of umgc.

• Writing Resources

Contact The Effective Writing Center

E-mail:  writingcenter@umgc.edu

Learn about the elements of a successful essay conclusion.

The conclusion is a very important part of your essay. Although it is sometimes treated as a roundup of all of the bits that didn’t fit into the paper earlier, it deserves better treatment than that! It's the last thing the reader will see, so it tends to stick in the reader's memory. It's also a great place to remind the reader exactly why your topic is important. A conclusion is more than just "the last paragraph"—it's a working part of the paper. This is the place to push your reader to think about the consequences of your topic for the wider world or for the reader's own life!

A good conclusion should do a few things:

Restate your thesis

Synthesize or summarize your major points

Make the context of your argument clear

Restating Your Thesis

You've already spent time and energy crafting a solid thesis statement for your introduction, and if you've done your job right, your whole paper focuses on that thesis statement. That's why it's so important to address the thesis in your conclusion! Many writers choose to begin the conclusion by restating the thesis, but you can put your thesis into the conclusion anywhere—the first sentence of the paragraph, the last sentence, or in between. Here are a few tips for rephrasing your thesis:

Remind the reader that you've proven this thesis over the course of your paper. For example, if you're arguing that your readers should get their pets from animal shelters rather than pet stores, you might say, "If you were considering that puppy in the pet-shop window, remember that your purchase will support 'puppy mills' instead of rescuing a needy dog, and consider selecting your new friend at your local animal shelter." This example gives the reader not only the thesis of the paper, but a reminder of the most powerful point in the argument!

Revise the thesis statement so that it reflects the relationship you've developed with the reader during the paper. For example, if you've written a paper that targets parents of young children, you can find a way to phrase your thesis to capitalize on that—maybe by beginning your thesis statement with, "As a parent of a young child…"

Don’t repeat your thesis word for word—make sure that your new statement is an independent, fresh sentence!

Summary or Synthesis

This section of the conclusion might come before the thesis statement or after it. Your conclusion should remind the reader of what your paper actually says! The best conclusion will include a synthesis, not just a summary—instead of a mere list of your major points, the best conclusion will draw those points together and relate them to one another so that your reader can apply the information given in the essay. Here are a couple of ways to do that:

Give a list of the major arguments for your thesis (usually, these are the topic sentences of the parts of your essay).

Explain how these parts are connected. For example, in the animal-shelter essay, you might point out that adopting a shelter dog helps more animals because your adoption fee supports the shelter, which makes your choice more socially responsible.

One of the most important functions of the conclusion is to provide context for your argument. Your reader may finish your essay without a problem and understand your argument without understanding why that argument is important. Your introduction might point out the reason your topic matters, but your conclusion should also tackle this questions. Here are some strategies for making your reader see why the topic is important:

Tell the reader what you want him or her to do. Is your essay a call to action? If so, remind the reader of what he/she should do. If not, remember that asking the reader to think a certain way is an action in itself. (In the above examples, the essay asks the reader to adopt a shelter dog—a specific action.)

Explain why this topic is timely or important. For example, the animal-shelter essay might end with a statistic about the number of pets in shelters waiting for adoption.

Remind the readers of why the topic matters to them personally. For example, it doesn’t matter much if you believe in the mission of animal shelters, if you're not planning to get a dog; however, once you're looking for a dog, it is much more important. The conclusion of this essay might say, "Since you’re in the market for a dog, you have a major decision to make: where to get one." This will remind the reader that the argument is personally important!

Conclusion paragraphs

No cost tutoring services

Online degrees at UMGC

Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center .

Personal Information

Contact information, additional information.

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you intend to sign this form electronically and that your electronic signature is the equivalent of a handwritten signature, with all the same legal and binding effect. You are giving your express written consent without obligation for UMGC to contact you regarding our educational programs and services using e-mail, phone, or text, including automated technology for calls and/or texts to the mobile number(s) provided. For more details, including how to opt out, read our privacy policy or contact an admissions advisor .

Please wait, your form is being submitted.

By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our  Privacy Policy .

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons

Margin Size

• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

3.9: Paraphrasing and Summarizing

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 31441

• Athena Kashyap & Erika Dyquisto
• City College of San Francisco via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

Paraphrasing

The essay assignments for most first-year composition classes call on you to use information from various texts. However, you cannot just copy the exact words out of the text you are writing about. If you do, you are plagiarizing and may put your academic career in jeopardy. If you are not citing direct quotes and citing them, you must put the words from the readings fully into your own words and cite them.

When paraphrasing, there are two basic kinds of changes you can make:

• Change the words so you are using synonyms wherever possible. For example, imagine you are paraphrasing the sentence “After work, Judy rushed back to her house.” Instead of “her house” you can say “her home” or “her place.” Instead of “rushed” you could say “hurried.”
• Change the sentence structure so that it is different. One method is to switch the order of dependent and independent clauses. For example, instead of “After work, Judy rushed back to her house” you might write, “Judy was in a hurry to get back home at the end of the day.”

However, this is really just a bit simplistic. It still may not give you a full paraphrase. A full paraphrase, which should convey another's idea fully and truly, should be in your own words (except for, perhaps, key words and data measures). One of the best ways to paraphrase another's idea is to put aside the text (don't look at it) and write down the gist (the general idea) of what the author is saying.

One important thing to remember is that you choose which information is important. For a simple example,

Joe drove after hours for Lyft for six months to save up enough money to buy himself a laptop.

You could decide that some of the detail is not necessary for your paper. You could leave the unimportant detail out of your paraphrase, like this:

In order to afford a laptop, Joe worked for a long time.

The author of this sentence decided that the specific job Joe held, the number of years, and the fact that it was his dream stereo wasn’t important. That was his choice.

Here is a video that explains the above with additional examples.

How to Paraphrase in Five Easy St eps. Author ed by: Scribbr. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube license.

Remember: When paraphrasing another's idea, be sure to still provide an in-text citation.

How to avoid plagiarism when paraphrasing a text:

Stop, Thief! Avoid Plagiarism by Paraphrasing . Authored by: Emily Nimsakont. All Rights Reserved. Standard YouTube License.

Exercise 1\(\PageIndex{1}\)

Using the methods discussed above (especially the "don't look at the original method") paraphrase the following passage on your own piece of paper.

Infectious diseases are transmitted from person to person by direct or indirect contact. Certain types of viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi can all cause infectious disease. Malaria, measles, and respiratory illnesses are examples of infectious diseases. (Source: Healthline.com. No author).

Exercise 2\(\PageIndex{1}\)

As the continued spread of COVID-19 puts much of the U.S. economy at a standstill, many are wondering how the economic slowdown will affect the real estate market. While construction is considered an essential business in the majority of states and real estate agents have transitioned to online showings, housing markets nationwide are likely to struggle, and some appear to be far more vulnerable than others. (Source: Evan Comen, May 26, 2020, USA Today)

Summarizing

How to write a summary.

Proficient students understand that summarizing , identifying what is most important and restating the text (or other media) in your own words, is an important tool for college success.

After all, if you really know a subject, you will be able to summarize it. If you cannot summarize a subject, even if you have memorized all the facts about it, you can be absolutely sure that you have not learned it. And, if you truly learn the subject, you will still be able to summarize it months or years from now.

Proficient students may monitor their understanding of a text by summarizing as they read. They understand that if they can write a one- or two-sentence summary of each paragraph after reading it, then that is a good sign that they have correctly understood it. If they can not summarize the main idea of the paragraph, they know that comprehension has broken down and they need to use fix-up strategies to repair understanding.

How to Write a Summary (A Review)

A summary is a brief restatement of someone else’s points in your own words . It needs to be:

• Brief – much shorter than the original, so not the details but just the main points
• Complete – including all the key information
• Accurate – the correct information
• Objective – not your opinion, but what the writer actually communicates

Step A. Annotating the Text for Main Ideas

1. Annotate for engagement and understanding: be sure you stayed awake and actually understood what you read!

2. Find the main ideas of each of the sections and, when appropriate, each of the paragraphs in your section.

3. You may underline the main ideas, or write them in your own words in the margin.

Remember, a main idea is a complete idea or sentence, not just a couple of words.

• Don’t write for your main idea: “youth unemployment”
• Do say: “Youth unemployment has increased.”

Step B. Planning the Summary

Write the main ideas of each paragraph and each section in your own words – and make sure each is a complete sentence. Do not include any judgment about what is in the article.

Step C. Write a Draft Summary

1. Introduce the name of the article and the author in the first sentence along with the main idea of the article.

2. Type up the paraphrased main ideas in complete sentences.

3. Analyze how the ideas connect and relate to each other. (For example, does one idea cause the next? Are some ideas examples of a larger point?) Organize the sentences into a logical order.

4. Include transition words that help the reader understand these connections.

5. Edit out ideas that repeat, and change the order of sentences as necessary.

6. Write the name of the article, the authors, and the controlling idea (main idea of the whole reading) in the first or second sentence.

7. Make sure that important details are included, but not details that are too specific.

8. Do not give your own opinions or say whether the authors do a good or bad job.

9. If the article discusses a study, the summary should briefly describe the purpose of the study and include the results of the study on a high level.

Summary Writing Format

• When writing a summary, remember that it should be in the form of a paragraph.
• A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author and main point of the text as you see it.
• A summary is written in your own words.
• A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Summary Writing Format Example

In the essay Santa Ana , author Joan Didion’s main point is ( state main point ). According to Didion “… passage 1 …” (para.3). Didion also writes “… passage 2 …” (para.8). Finally, she states “… passage 3 …” (para. 12) Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

Summary: Using it Wisely

Knowing how to summarize something you have read, seen, or heard is a valuable skill, one you have probably used in many writing assignments. It is important, though, to recognize when you must go beyond describing, explaining, and restating texts and offer a more complex analysis. This page will help you distinguish between summary and analysis and avoid inappropriate summary in your academic writing.

It is important that your keep your assignment and your audience in mind as you write. If your assignment requires an argument with a thesis statement and supporting evidence—as many academic writing assignments do—then you should limit the amount of summary in your paper. You might use summary to provide background, set the stage, or illustrate supporting evidence, but keep it very brief: a few sentences should do the trick. Most of your paper should focus on your argument.

Writing a summary of what you know about your topic before you start drafting your actual paper can sometimes be helpful. If you are unfamiliar with the material you’re analyzing, you may need to summarize what you’ve read in order to understand your reading and get your thoughts in order. Once you figure out what you know about a subject, it’s easier to decide what you want to argue.

Why is it so tempting to stick with summary and skip analysis?

Many writers rely too heavily on summary because it is what they can most easily write. If you’re stalled by a difficult writing prompt, summarizing may be more appealing than staring at the computer for three hours and wondering what argument to make about the content.

To write a more analytical paper, you may need to carefully consider your writing assignment before reading, viewing, or listening to the material about which you’ll be writing so that your encounter with the material will be more purposeful.

How do I know if I’m writing an argument instead of just summarizing?

If you answer yes to the questions below, it is a sign that your paper may have analysis rather than just summary (which is usually a good thing):

• Am I making an original argument about the text?
• Have I arranged my evidence around my own points, rather than just stating what the author has said?
• Am I explaining why or how an aspect of the text is significant?

Strategies for Writing a Summary

You can use T.I.P.S. to help you write a summary.

I=main idea

P=major supporting points

S=summarize

Read through the selection you are summarizing thoroughly, jotting down the topic, main idea, major supporting points. Then, in a couple of lines, summarize the information you have jotted down in your own words. This is your summary.

How to Write a Summary by Paraphrasing Source Material

When you paraphrase material from a source, you restate the information from an entire sentence or passage in your own words, using your own original sentence structure. A paraphrased source differs from a summarized source in that you focus on restating the ideas, not condensing them.

It is important to check your paraphrase against the source material to make sure it is both accurate and original. Inexperienced writers sometimes use the thesaurus method of paraphrasing—that is, they simply rewrite the source material, replacing most of the words with synonyms. This constitutes a misuse of sources. A true paraphrase restates the gist of the ideas using the writer’s own language and style

Example Paraphrase Writing Format

In the essay Santa Ana , author Joan Didion’s main point is ( state main point ). According to Didion … PARAPHRASE 1 …”. Didion also CLAIMS… PARAPHRASE 2 …”. Finally, she CLAIMS “… PARAPHRASE 3 …” Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Summarizing Circles: A small group/ class activity

Practice summarizing by working with teams.

1. Divide the text you are summarizing into small sections.

2. In groups of three or so, ask students to summarize each section. They must use words such as

“In other words,….” “Here the author is saying that….” To summarize,

3. Students should try to write their section down in a single line using these starters. They should not use the words used in the text, but instead come up with their own words to explain the ideas in the text. They should get at the main idea in the section rather than just repeat the details.

4. As a class, determine the main idea of the whole passage. Write up a sample summary on the board based on the summaries from the sections.

Contributors and Attributions

• Adapted from English Composition I: Rhetorical Methods-Based , Provided by Lumen Learning, License: CC BY: Attribution

This page most recently revised on June 6, 2020.

Research Tips and Tricks: Constructing an Essay

• Getting Started with My Research Project
• Searching Effectively
• Constructing an Essay

Writing the Introduction

The introduction is the first paragraph of your essay or the first part of your presentation.  An introduction begins with general information and ends with specifics (your thesis statement). 

How do I write an introduction?

1.  Always start with a Grabber.  Grabbers can be leads, hooks, quotations, wow facts, or a very short story or anecdote.  The Grabber will show your voice and personality.  You want to make your paper or presentation interesting and lively.  You want your reader/audience to be interested in what you have discovered and get excited about what they will learn through reading your essay or listening to your presentation.

2.  Introduce your topic to your reader/audience.

Answer basic Skinny or informational questions like who, what, where, when.  Pretend you you are talking to a younger sibling and you just want to give him brief background or overview about your topic in a couple of sentences. 

Introduction Triangle. Digital image. How to Start an Essay: No Magic Solutions for Your Papers . Custom-Writing.com, 2013. Web. 17 Aug. 2013.

Generating a Thesis Statement

What is a thesis statement?

• It is the answer to your Fat Question
• It presents your opinions or thoughts on a subject with your reasons as to why your thesis is valid (arguments)
• It is the position you intend to prove

What does a thesis statement do?

• ties the whole essay together
• serves as a map for the writer and reader to follow throughout the essay
• provides a reference point for your topic sentences which support your thesis and argument
• keeps the reader focused on and engaged with your argument or reasoning
• offers enough detail for the reader to grasp the reasons for your thinking

Do I have to have a thesis statement?

Yes.  You cannot write an essay without one.

What does a good thesis statement look like?

• It should only be one sentence, regardless of essay length
• It should use clear, strong language
• A good thesis statement is a declarative sentence with no qualifiers (might, maybe, perhaps , etc.):
• A thesis statement should always be written in the third person.
• It states only one main idea with reasons

Position: ____________________________________ because (state three reasons why your thesis is valid)

1. _________________________________ 

2. _________________________________ 

3. _________________________________.

What a thesis statement should NOT look like:

It should never include phrases like: in my opinion, I think, I believe , etc.

However, it may be helpful to write a rough draft of a thesis statement with this phrases to make sure you are expressing your thoughts or arguments clearly.  Be sure to delete these phrases when writing the final draft of your thesis statement.

Where does my thesis statement belong in my essay?

• It is the closing sentence in the first paragraph of your essay
• It should also be re-written in new language as part of your conclusion

Lorcher, Trent. "How to Write a Thesis Statement: High School English Lesson Plan." Bright Hub Education . Bright Hub, Inc., 2012. Web. 17 Aug. 2013.

• How to Write a Strong Thesis

Writing the Conclusion

What is the purpose of a conclusion?

• Shows the reader that you have proved your thesis
• Summarizes the points in your essay
• It demonstrates to the reader that you have accomplished what you set out to do
• Shows your readers why this paper was important, meaningful and useful because it makes a memorable statement about the topic that will convince the reader to think or act differently
•  Includes a call to action in a sentence or two that states the change you have argued for in the essay
• It gives the essay a sense of closure and completeness

Why is a conclusion important?

• Because it is the last thing the reader sees, It is often what a reader remembers best. Your conclusion should be the best part of your paper.
• It gives your reader something to take away that will help them see things differently or appreciate your topic. 
• It allows you to consider broader issues and elaborate on the importance of your findings.

What is the structure of a conclusion?

• The conclusion begins specific and moves to the general
• Your topic sentence of your conclusion should summarize what you said in your thesis statement
• Do not simply restate your thesis statement, as that would be redundant.  Instead, rephrase your thesis statement with deeper understanding.  You can do that now that the reader has read your essay and understands your argument and position.
•  For example, use what you’ve written to help you write your conclusion by rephrasing your thesis.  If you began with, "The colors of autumn make it my favorite season," then you can include a similar sentence in your conclusion. For example, "It is the orange, red, and brown of the leaves that make me love the fall."
• Your topic for each body paragraph should be summarized in the conclusion so wrap up the main points
• Your closing sentence should help the reader feel a sense of closure
• Your closing sentence is your last word on the subject; it is your "clincher"
• Demonstrate the importance of your ideas
• Share with your reader a new view of the subject

What is a good outline for a conclusion?

• Topic sentence
• Fresh rephrasing of thesis statement
• Supporting sentences
• Summarize or wrap up the main points in the body of the essay
• Explain how ideas fit together
• Closing sentence
• Final words
• Connects back to the introduction
• Can include a zinger or a call to action
• Provides a sense of closure

What should NOT happen in the conclusion?

• Do not start with
• "in summary"
• "in closing"
• "as shown in the essay"
• Do not introduce new facts or evidence
• Do not simply repeat word for word what you already wrote in your thesis or in the essay

Conclusion Paragraph Graphic Organizer. "Foolproof Essay Conclusion Tricks." Jimmie's Collage RSS . N.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2013.

"Writing a Conclusion." Time4Writing . VKidz, Inc., 2013. Web. 17 Aug. 2013. <http://www.time4writing.com/learning-how-to-write/writing-a-conclusion>.

What else do I need to know?

Avoid using informal language (texting language, slang, vernacular, contractions). Use specific, descriptive words. Do not use the words “thing” or “stuff.”

   Examples to correct:

• Anne does a lot of stuff that’s hard.
• Bob almost pees his pants when he sees Shane’s gun.
• There are many things that make Ponyboy a good MICDS student.

Use third person in formal writing. Do not use the pronouns “you,” “we,” “I,” “me,” etc.  in your essay.

• I think Francie lives up to the MICDS Mission Statement because she is such a nice person.
• You could tell that Shane was responsible because he gave Bob awesome advice.

Avoid repeating the same words of phrases in the same sentence or in sentences near each other.

• Francie values education, and Francie works hard to go to school.
• Shane is brave when he agrees to help Joe Starrett. Shane is also brave when he takes on the fight with Fletcher.

Writing the Body of the Essay

How do I write the body paragraphs of my essay?

At MICDS we use the TEE format for writing the body paragraphs in essays.  Remember, the topic sentences, explanation and evidence all must relate to and tie back to your thesis statement.  

T = Topic Sentence - A clear sentence that tells the reader the main idea of your paragraph.  It should tie back to one of the points in your thesis.

E = Explanation - Explain its significance or importance and how it supports your thesis

E = Example or Evidence - Several sentences with supporting details that illustrate your point

What do the body paragraphs do in my essay?

• correspond to one of the reasons you stated in your thesis
• start with a topic sentence
• have an explanation of why your reason stated in your thesis is true
• examples or evidence of why your reason stated in your thesis is true
• details to show why your evidence should be believed

What is the structure for my first body paragraph?

• The topic sentence should state your first reason as to why you believe your thesis is true
• The next sentences should be your thinking or analysis or explanation of why this is important
• The next sentences should present your examples or evidence for why you believe your thinking or argument is true
• The next sentences should provide details related to this evidence to convince your reader that your argument is true and valid

Then, follow this same formula for all your other body paragraphs.

The Basic Essay Outline

Graphic organizer.

The Research Paper Graphic Organizer . Digital image. Advanced Essay Writing, n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2013. <http://lgimages.s3.amazonaws.com/data/imagemanager/82689/research_organizer.png>.

• Paragraph Organizer

Pursuasive and Convincing Words

How do I persuade someone that my thesis and ideas are valid?

1.  Make sure your opinion is supported by well-researched facts.  Use ideas from experts to validate your opinion. 

2.  Convince your readers that your opinion is valid but, you don't want them to feel lectured at, critcized or insulted if they disagree with your ideas.  Explain your point of view, but allow your reader the freedom to make up their own minds as to whether they agree with you based on the evidence you presented.

3.  Look at the issue from various viewpoints.  Acknowledge the opposing viewpoint and present information to support your viewpoint.  Making a Pro/Con list will help you structure your ideas.

4.  Use signalling words.  These transition words help make your argument clearer, stronger and more interesting.  Here are some examples:

Chronological - words about the order of things

• First, second, third

Cause and Effect - words about things which make other things happen

• Consequently

Using an Example - words to show what a thing is

• For instance
• For example

Addition - words that add more information

• Additionally

Opposition - words that signal a conflict or problem

• But, though, however
• On the other hand
• Nonethe less, nevertheless

Writing Hints

• The title should give the reader some inkling of what the paper is about
• Make the title catchy.

Create Flow

• Make sure your arguments are organized in a logical order.
• Provide proper transitions between paragraphs.  Use "signpost" words like "secondly," "another reason," "furthermore," or "on the other hand."  If these transitions are difficult to write, perhaps you need to work on the order of your paragraphs (and your thoughts).  In other words, revise!
• Use parallel structure , or format each part in a series in the same way.  Instead of writing "she liked to play soccer, drawing, and when she went to watch tennis," write "she liked to play soccer, to draw pictures, and to watch tennis."

Word Choices

• Avoid ambiguous words like "stuff" or "thing" or "whatever"
• Make sure all pronouns (he, she, it, they) have clear antecedents (the word or words replaced  by the pronoun).  In other words, make it clear what "it" is or who "they" are.  
• Words like "this" and "that" should not stand alone, as in "This is good."  Always follow "this" or "that" with a noun, as in "This plan..." "This law..." "That idea...."
• Write in the third person . 
• Do not use "I," "we" or "you."Use formal language .  A void slang or conversational language.  Don't say "the U.S. blew it," "Bill Clinton wimped out," or "I mean, are you kidding??"

Verb Tenses

• Use the simple past tense or simple present tense
• Be consistent with your verb tenses.
• Use active voice , not passive voice.  For example: Better to say "President Clinton signed the bill" (active voice) than "the bill was signed by President Clinton" (passive voice). 
• Introduce the speaker of quotes in your text.
• Examples: Attorney General Janet Reno said, "Mistakes were made," or Newsweek columnist, Joe Klein, said, "The campaign will run down to the wire." 
• Identify all people who might not be known to the average reader such as, "Secretary of State Madeline Albright" or " Newsweek columnist, George Will."

Capitalization

• When using proper names, state the full name of the person the first time you use it:
• For example, "President Bill Clinton" or "Bill Clinton," not just "Clinton" (certainly not "Bill"). 
• After the first mention of someone use their last name only
• print out your essay
• read through your whole text out loud (you may feel silly doing this, but it works so get over it)
• write changes and corrections 
• do not rely on spell checker or grammar checker exclusively·  

Multiple Drafts

Your essay gets better with every draft so work on it may times over the course of many days.  You need to be able to look at it with fresh eyes so you need a new day to do this!

Hint:  If you try to do write your essay all in one night you will get tired and your writing will not be as good.

• << Previous: Searching Effectively
• Last Updated: Jun 1, 2018 5:04 PM
• URL: https://micds.libguides.com/ResearchTipsandTricks

Definition of Conclusion / A Concluding Paragraph in Essay

A conclusion is the last paragraph of an essay . It occurs after the body paragraphs have said what they have to say. It is comprised of three important elements:

• Rephrasing of the thesis statement
• Summary of main ideas
• Concluding Remarks

The first element, the rephrasing of the thesis statement , is to remind readers about the topic discussed in the essay. It usually breaks the thesis statement into three parts, and put it in two or three sentences.

The second element summarizes all of the main points of the essay. It usually contains three or more sentences. It could be that these main points are the same given in the thesis statement before it, repeating them for emphasis. However, mostly these main points are other than the ones given in the thesis statement.

The concluding remarks are the final remarks of the essay. These remarks could be a call to action, a suggestion, a recommendation, or a wakeup call. It could be a final question mark demanding further detailed response, or it could be an ending statement.

Difference Between a Body Paragraph and Conclusion

A body paragraph explains a claim made in its topic sentence . It then gives an example, and supporting details about the claim. However, a conclusion sums up the whole essay on a thoughtful response. Both have different elements and different structures.

Examples of Conclusion in Literature

Example #1:  free-speech follies (by stanley fish).

“Are there then no free-speech issues on campuses? Sure there are; there just aren’t very many. When Toni Smith, a basketball player at Manhattanville College, turned her back to the flag during the playing of the national anthem in protest against her government’s policies, she was truly exercising her First Amendment rights, rights that ensure that she cannot be compelled to an affirmation she does not endorse … And as she stood by her principles in the face of hostility, she truly was (and is) a First Amendment hero , as the college newspaper editors, the members of the Harvard English department, and the head of the Emma Goldman Project are not. The category is a real one, and it would be good if it were occupied only by those who belong in it.”

Stanley Fish has given a beautiful turn to this conclusion in his essay. He has stated what he believes by the end about the “category” but with a leniency with the word “if,” making it conditional. He has also stated major points of his essay in the middle of the conclusion after restatement of the thesis.

Example #2: In Praise of The Word “F” Word (by Mary Sherry)

“Flunking as a regular policy has just as much merit today as it did two generations ago. We must review the threat of flunking and see it as it really is—a positive teaching tool. It is an expression of confidence by both teachers and parents that the students have the ability to learn the material presented to them. However, making it work again would take a dedicated, caring conspiracy between teachers and parents. It would mean facing the tough reality that passing kids who haven’t learned the material—while it might save them grief for the short term—dooms them to long-term illiteracy. It would mean that teachers would have to follow through on their threats, and parents would have to stand behind them, knowing their children’s best interests are indeed at stake. This means no more doing Scott’s assignments for him because he might fail. No more passing Jodi because she’s such a nice kid. This is a policy that worked in the past and can work today. A wise teacher, with the support of his parents, gave our son the opportunity to succeed—or fail. It’s time we return this choice to all students.”

Just check the concluding remarks of this conclusion. After giving a lot of major points, Mary Sherry has given her verdict about how the time has come to let the students choose what they want to do in their lives.

Example #3: Common Decency (by Susan Jacoby)

“Fortunately for everyone, neither the character of men nor the general quality of relations between the sexes is that crude. By censuring the minority of men who use ordinary socializing as an excuse for rape, feminists insist on sex as a source of pure pleasure rather than as a means of social control. Real men want an eager sexual partner—not a woman who is quaking with fear or even one who is ambivalent. Real men don’t rape.”

This conclusion comprises a very short rephrase of the thesis statement, main points, and a very short concluding remark.

Function of Conclusion

A conclusion means an end. The conclusion intends to end an idea in a meaningful way, in that the readers should feel that they have reached some decision. It helps readers to decide what they want to do next. They either implement suggestions, make recommendations, or urge the reader to think about it more to find out a resolution of the problem.

Post navigation

Essay Rephraser: Free Paraphrasing Tool

Add the essay to rephrase:

Share of words to replace:

Rephrased essay:

Replaced words

Suggestions

If you are looking for a free essay rephraser, consider using our paraphrasing tool. This online instrument will easily change the wording in any writing piece. All you need to do is:

• 🔠 When to Use the Tool?

📝 Rephrase, Summarize, or Quote?

• 🆚 Plagiarism vs. Rephrasing
• ✅ Bad & Better Examples

🔗 References

🔠 essay rephraser: when to use.

Rephrasing is a vital academic skill that allows students and researchers to use external evidence without plagiarizing. Thus, you might often need to process many texts and render the information contained in them with content and structure tweaks.

You may need a paraphrasing tool when you are required to:

• Cite a source and explain what it’s about in your own words.
• Overview original source’s content in a more detailed way than a summary would allow.
• Combine several sources into a single text without direct quotes, giving your commentary on the content.
• Rephrase your own text for a concluding part.

Try our free tool for an effective paraphrase online. It’s the best way to complete the rephrasing task quickly and without errors.

What Is Rephrasing or Restating?

This activity presupposes delivering all important content of your original source in a substantially changed form . You should not alter the main idea or arguments of the author but render them in your words without copy-pasting any part of the text. A rephrased text contains all important messages and arguments without condensing the original content.

How to Rephrase a Sentence?

To rephrase a sentence, you need to read it closely and identify its main idea . Think of the idea by distancing yourself from the words in which it is expressed. Try to figure out a different form (other words and structure) to deliver the same idea without changing its core meaning.

How to Rephrase a Thesis?

The thesis statement contains the main idea and arguments in support of that idea, condensed into a single sentence. When you need to restate the thesis at the end of your paper, focus on the key subject and your research aim pursued throughout the paper. Reword the same idea and write it down; check whether it's coherent with the original and the paper's body content.

How to Rephrase a Paragraph?

Effective paragraph rephrasing is impossible without leaving all parts in the right places. For instance, you cannot change the topic sentence and supporting sentences' places, as each of them plays an important role in the text's coherence. Reword the topic sentence , then restructure and rephrase the supporting evidence, and repeat the conclusion in your own words. Combine it all in a reworded paragraph.

The question of how to reword the original materials you study during homework preparation is always topical. Citing sources and reporting other researchers’ findings is part and parcel of scholarship work, essay writing, and academic article production. In most cases, you will need to choose among three options:

• Summarizing
• Direct quoting

The choice depends on several factors and the requirements for the text you need to produce. Here’s how you may tell what works best in specific cases:

🆚 Plagiarism vs. Appropriate Rephrasing

The rephrasing work comes in many forms and involves a varying degree of rewriter's input. Some students (and even professional researchers) neglect the depth of material processing required by academic standards. So, they simply cut a couple of relevant sentences from the source, do some slight rewording, and insert those fragments into their papers, which is deeply wrong.

Such paraphrasing conceals several risks for the authors:

• First, they can't achieve the required flow and consistency in their academic texts, as parts they tear from other texts just don't fit their content well enough.
• Second, they risk being accused of plagiarism because such superficial work doesn't meet the expectations of authentic academic texts.

Why Is Rephrasing Sometimes Considered Plagiarism?

Students may sometimes do some rephrasing, but their texts are still graded as plagiarized . Why does this happen?

• A slightly rephrased text remains another person's intellectual product if it is not reworked in-depth. In other words, changing a couple of words and tweaking sentences a bit is too little personal input that doesn't allow calling the text your own.
• You may forget to cite the rephrased text , which always equals plagiarism.
• You insert other people’s words into your work without tying the content coherently , thus causing the reader’s confusion and exposing your plagiarism.

How to Rephrase Correctly?

Ideally, you should focus on making appropriate paraphrases and including them in your academic texts. Here's how you can reword the source material ethically and correctly:

• Read the assigned materials carefully to elicit their meaning in full and ensure that you understand the content well.
• Write down your own interpretation of the studied material without consulting the source.
• Single out the author’s keywords that render the main ideas and points.
• Compare your version with the original and underline everything you copied word by word. Remove those parts or enclose them into quotation marks as direct quotes.
• Cite the source in-text and on the references page to give credit to the source text.

✅ Rephrasing: Bad & Better Examples

Now that we’ve dealt with the theory, it’s time to see how it all works in practice. Here are the examples of good and bad rephrasing of an excerpt taken from Carl Jung’s book Man and His Symbols .

Original Passage

Whoever denies the existence of the unconscious is in fact assuming that our present knowledge of the psyche is total. And this belief is clearly just as false as the assumption that we know all there is to be known about the natural universe. Our psyche is part of nature, and its enigma is as limitless. Thus we cannot define either the psyche or nature. We can merely state what we believe them to be and describe, as best we can, how they function. Quite apart, therefore, from the evidence that medical research has accumulated, there are strong grounds of logic for rejecting statements like “There is no unconscious.” Those who say such things merely express an age-old “misoneism” — a fear of the new and the unknown.

A Bad Example

Whoever refuses the existence of the unconscious presupposes that our current understanding of the psyche is complete . And this assumption is just as wrong as the idea that we know everything about the natural universe. Our psyche is inseparable from nature, and its mysteries are limitless. Thus we cannot explain the psyche or nature. We can only state what we believe them to be and describe their functions . Quite apart, therefore, from the medical studies’ evidence , there is logical evidence for rejecting claim s like “There is no unconscious.” Those who say so merely support an age-old “misoneism” — prejudice against the unknown.

So, what makes this example remarkably bad?

• First, it's no attention to the paragraph's structure and syntax, which should also be altered in a good, effective paraphrase.
• Second, it's only sporadic changing of the key terminology that doesn't make any visible difference and leaves the text plagiarized.

Below is a better variant to convey the same information from Carl Jung's book.

A Better Example

Denial of the unconscious equals a claim that people have reached their limit in understanding the human psyche. This position is as wrongful as an assumption about the finite knowledge of the natural universe. It's a sphere of unlimited discovery, a part of which is the psyche, so none of them can be clearly defined to date. All people can do is offer their personal interpretations of these concepts and lay out their functions. Thus, leaving the medical research evidence of the opposite apart, one's logic should deny statements about the non-existence of the unconscious, which are nothing more than fear of the unknown.

We hope that this essay rephraser will be useful for you. Please try other free tools we offer: summarizer , main idea finder , paragraph reworder , and thesis finder .

• Avoiding Plagiarism - Paraphrasing - Academic Integrity at MIT
• Proper vs. Improper Paraphrasing - How to Avoid Plagiarism
• Examples of Paraphrasing Without Plagiarizing
• Patterns of Plagiarism: How to Recognize Plagiarism
• What is an example of paraphrasing plagiarism? - Quora