Think about this. What happens when one of your professors says, “In conclusion . . . ,” or “Finally,” or “Here is what I really want you to take away from today’s lecture”? Everyone in the class starts tuning in more closely. Why? Because everyone knows the professor is going to state his or her main points. The same is true of the conclusion at the end of your paper. When your readers realize they have arrived at the conclusion, they will start paying closer attention because they know you are going to state your main points.

Five Concluding Moves

Here are five moves that you might make in your paper’s conclusion:

• Move 1: Signal clearly that you are concluding.
• Move 2: Restate your main point or thesis statement with added emphasis.
• Move 3: Stress the importance of your topic again.
• Move 4: Call your audience to action (if needed).
• Move 5: Look to the future.

Your conclusion should be as short as possible, and it should be similar to your introduction in content and tone. In your conclusion, you need to bring readers back around to the beginning of your argument, showing them that you have achieved your purpose. For example, consider the following conclusion:

This conclusion makes all five concluding moves in two brief paragraphs. First, the author signals that he is concluding in the first sentence with the phrase “In the end, . . .” Phrases that signal a conclusion include the following:

Then the author stresses the importance of the topic by returning to the story of Davey Yeoman, which started the introduction. By returning to this story, the author also brings the reader around to the beginning of the argument, making the paper feel complete.

A call to action and the main point can appear in the final paragraph. Pairing the main point (thesis statement) with a call to action gives it more power because the author is stating it directly and telling readers what should be done.

Finally, the conclusion can end with a look to the future in which the author looks beyond the boundaries of the argument to talk about what should happen or will happen in the future.

You don’t have to include all five moves in your conclusion, and they don’t have to appear in any specific order. However, if you find yourself writing a conclusion longer than one or two paragraphs, you should consider moving some of the information into the body of the paper.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

That said, when you are drafting the body, you might find yourself going blank. That’s normal. Writer’s block happens to everyone, including the most experienced writers. Here are some strategies professional writers use to keep the ideas and words flowing:

1. Drafting (almost) every day. The worst thing you can do is start drafting the night before your paper is due. You will often hear people say things like, “I write best under pressure” or “I need to figure out what I’m going to say before I start writing.” They’re fooling themselves. These kinds of statements are warning signals that the writer is procrastinating. Most people don’t really write well under pressure, and the best way to figure out what you have to say is to get started and write something down. The best way to avoid writer’s block is to write for a half-hour to an hour every day. Set aside a regular time in the morning or evening to work on your writing assignments. If you do, you will likely finish all your writing projects with time to spare. Writing is like exercising at the gym. If you exercise for a half-hour to an hour every day, you will improve steadily, get stronger, and look great. If, however, you try to do all your exercising on Sunday afternoon, you’ll just get tired and won’t see the results you want. In the same way, if you say, “I’m setting aside Sunday afternoon to write that paper,” you are not going to do your best work. But if you write for a half-hour to an hour every day, you will write better and faster. Try it, and you’ll see that it makes a big difference.
2. Hack your brain. Sometimes you need to trick your brain into getting past a blank moment as you are writing. Whenever you go blank, finish the sentence “What I really mean is. . . .” You will discover that simply finishing this sentence will help you get past the temporary block. Other brain hacking sentences you can finish are: “There are two ways to look at this . . . ,” “Some people say. . . , but I say . . . ,” and “As a result, . . . ”
3. Lower your standards while drafting. Stop trying to get it right while you are drafting. Instead, put your ideas on the screen or paper and don’t worry about whether they are intelligent or grammatically correct. Then spend extra time during the revision phase turning those ideas into a document that has the high quality you expect.
4. Talk it out. Professional writers often talk to friends about their work or even talk to themselves (journaling out loud). Sometimes it helps to just say out loud what you want to write—to yourself or to someone else who is willing to listen. You can even make an audio recording of your ideas, then play it back while taking notes. Then, after you have rehearsed the text a few times, you’ll find it easier to write your ideas down.
5. Change how and where you write. If you normally draft on a computer, try switching over to pen and paper for a while. If you normally write in your dorm room, try a change of scenery by going over to the library or to a local café. Sometimes changing how you are writing or where you are writing will help you loosen up.
6. Use both sides of your brain. The right side of your brain is more visual than the left. So, use invention techniques like concept mapping, freewriting, and cubing to tap into that visual creativity. These techniques will help you put your ideas on the screen or paper. Then the left side of your brain can organize them into sentences and paragraphs.
7. Write your paper as an e-mail or text. Start writing your document as an e-mail or a text to a friend. E-mail and texting are often more comfortable writing environments than a word processor, which should allow you to relax as you write.
8. Talk to your professors. Your professors probably have some helpful ideas about how to draft your papers. Visit your professors during office hours. They are there to help you.
9. Go to the campus writing center. If your campus has a writing center, you should drop by for some help. You can talk your ideas over with an experienced writer who can offer feedback on your ideas or advice and strategies.
10. Stop procrastinating. Procrastination is the usual culprit behind writer’s block. The pressure of a deadline can cause your brain to freeze. So start each project early, and write a little every day. Your writer’s block will evaporate. Your first year of college is the best time to develop good writing habits. Don’t wait until your advanced courses or your first job to form these habits, because by then it will be too late.