What Is a Clincher at the End of Your Essay?
26 SEP 2017
CLASS
A clincher at your essay's end is the final statement, summation or impression you give the reader. It's a last chance to make your point again, add a quote or question or brief idea that enhances your essay, or reword your thesis to give a finished feel.
1 Some Examples
Typical clinchers include a summation of the points of an essay, a universal comparison to other situations or a final warning. They might describe a possible result or subsequent problem, or they may add a provocative last question or quotation, one that leaves the reader thinking and wanting to find out more.
2 Go Back to the Beginning
The best clinchers refer back to the essay's introduction: if the essay begins by describing a social problem, the clincher might be a call to action or a recommendation; if it begins with an anecdote, the clincher might refer back to the anecdote's ending to make a further point.
3 Clinchers to Avoid
Avoid the abrupt, clever, cliched or too-colloquial ending: "That's all, folks" or "In conclusion," or "I better wrap up." The clincher is your last word; make it memorable for the reader, since it brings him closure.