good clincher examples for essays

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Enchanting Marketing

Writing advice for small business

Clincher Sentences: The #1 Way to Reinforce a Message and Jump-Start Action

by Henneke | 82 enchanting opinions, add yours? :)

A clincher sentence is a concluding sentence reinforcing your key message.

This article discusses how to write a clincher:

How to write clinchers

I’m half skimming, half reading a fairly interesting article—all the way until the last word.

But as soon as I’ve finished, I’ve already forgotten what I’ve read.

Sound familiar?

If you want readers to remember your words, you need to invigorate your message and jump-start your readers into action.

And the easiest way to do that?

Write a clincher sentence.

Eh … what is a clincher sentence?

You’ll find clinchers as the last sentence of a well-written blog post, essay, or book chapter; or at the end of a section in a blog post—before a subhead introduces the next section.

A clincher sentence is a soundbite , communicating a nugget of wisdom. It’s a memorable point that may linger in your reader’s mind long after she’s finished reading your content.

Want to know how to write these powerful sentences?

Examples of clincher sentences

In his memoir My Father, the Pornographer , Chris Offutt ends most chapters with excellent clincher sentences.

For instance, the ending of the 4th chapter gives us insight in the son’s relationship with his father:

(…) I realized the landscape would always hold me tight, that I could never escape, that in fact what I loved and felt most loyal to were the wooded hills, and not my father.

And the 25th chapter ends as follows (note: cons refers to conventions where his father’s fans would gather):

Dad seldom left the house over which he held utter dominion. When he did leave, he went to cons, an environment that assuaged his ego in every way. He grew accustomed to these two extremes and became resentful when his family failed to treat him like fans did. We disappointed him with our need for a father.

Ouch. We disappointed him with our need for a father. A hard truth.

If writing was a boxing match, the clincher sentence would be the knockout blow.

But how do you deliver a killer punch?

How to write a clincher sentence

To write a clincher sentence, you first must know your key message.

So, think about this: If readers would remember one thing from your article or book chapter, what would it be?

If you can’t think of the key message, your idea might still be a little fuzzy. Let it simmer for a while, and then revisit your post. Which question do you want to answer? What problem do you help solve? What is your key tip?

To get unstuck, use one of these sentence starters to help formulate your key point:

• In conclusion (or ultimately ), [add your final say on the topic or sum up your argument]
• Remember, [remind readers of your key idea—sometimes you only need to rephrase an earlier sentence]
• Your action: [tell readers what to do with your advice]
• Your takeaway: [sum up the main point readers should remember]

The two-punch approach to clinchers

In educational or inspirational writing, you can use the two-punch approach. Firstly, remind readers what you’ve explained already. And secondly, nudge them to implement your advice.

For instance, Mark Manson uses this approach in his article about the most important question of your life . His penultimate sentence summarizes his key point:

This is the most simple and basic component of life: our struggles determine our successes.

And his last sentence addresses the reader directly to nudge him to implement his advice:

So choose your struggles wisely, my friend.

At the end of their book Made to Stick , Chip and Dan Heath take the same approach. The penultimate sentence summarizes their key point:

Stories have the amazing dual power to simulate and to inspire.

And their very last sentence encourages readers to implement their advice by telling them it’s not as hard as they might think:

And most of the time we don’t even have to use much creativity to harness these powers—we just need to be ready to spot the good ones that life generates every day.

Remember, your clincher sentence is the killer punch encouraging readers to implement your advice.

So, summarize and inspire.

(See what I just did? That was another two-puncher.)

Make your killer punch reverberate

My favorite type of clincher sentence sketches a vivid image , giving energy to your key idea.

Chris Offutt ends the 5th chapter of his memoir with a vivid story—the clincher sentence is the last sentence (I made it bold):

A week after the memorial service [of my father], I took Mom to a greenhouse built of plastic sheeting. Mom selected a plant with white flowers, then smiled, shook her head, and chose red flowers instead. “Your father was color-blind,” she said. “I only bought white flowers so he could see them.” She took the red ones home. After fifty years Mom planted flowers she liked in her own backyard.

And Mark Manson sketches a vivid image at the end of his post about the real value of money —the clincher sentence is in bold:

The real value of money begins when we look beyond it and see ourselves as better, as more valuable, than it is. When it’s not about the accumulation of stuff but rather the enactment of experiences. When it’s not about the mug but rather the coffee that’s in it.

Vivid images haunt readers, popping up in their minds hours—or even days—after reading your content.

When to use a clincher sentence …

At the end of a book or blog post, you don’t have a choice. To avoid your writing petering out, finish with a clincher sentence.

However, at the end of a book chapter or blog post section, you can choose. You can either look ahead and make readers curious to read on, or you can look back and summarize your key message.

To look ahead, use a cliffhanger to raise a question and make readers lean forward, eager to learn more. For instance, in the gripping book American Kingpin , Nick Bilton uses cliffhangers at the end of each chapter.

Here’s the last sentence of the first chapter:

“You got a minute?” he said as he threw the white envelope on the desk. “I have something important I need to show you.”

And the end of the second chapter:

And yet, as he hopped into the car next to his sister, he also didn’t know that in just five years he would be making that amount of money in a single day.

And the end of the 3rd chapter:

But what wasn’t clear to either of them, as they rolled around on his dinky bed in the basement, was that the relationship they were about to embark on would be the most tumultuous romance of Ross’s and Julia’s adult lives. And, for Ross, it would be his last.

Before I started reading the book American Kingpin , I already knew the outcome. I knew Ross Ulbricht gets jailed. Yet, the narrative is so gripping and the cliffhangers so compelling, that I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to know exactly how the story unfolded.

How to use a cliffhanger + a clincher sentence

You don’t have to choose between a clincher and a cliffhanger.

You can use them both.

For instance, in their book Decisive , Chip and Dan Heath explain how to make better choices in life and work. The closing paragraph of the introduction starts like this:

We may make only a handful of conscious, considered choices every day. But while these decisions don’t occupy much of our time, they have a disproportionate influence on our lives.

Then comes the clincher sentence with a vivid image:

The psychologist Roy Baumeister draws an analogy to driving—in our cars, we may spend 95% of our time going straight, but it’s the turns that determine where we end up.

And they end their introduction with a cliffhanger, making us curious to read on (what’s the four-part process?):

This is a book about those turns. In the chapters to come, we’ll show you how a four-part process can boost your chances of getting where you want to go.

So, at the end of a section or book chapter, you have 3 options:

• Write a cliffhanger to encourage readers to read on.
• Compose a clincher to summarize your key point with a punch.

Each sentence helps communicate your ideas

And, of course, each sentence can keep a reader engaged or turn him off.

Yet, your clincher sentence is more important than other sentences.

Because it’s the clincher that reinforces your message.

So, write a strong sentence.

The Enchanting Blog Writing course (rated 4.9 out of 5.0) teaches you how to captivate, educate, and inspire your readers.

Learn more >>

Recommended reading on writing strong sentences:

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Reader Interactions

Leave a comment and join the conversation cancel reply.

December 18, 2023 at 6:11 am

I love this! And you didn’t just talk about the power of clincher sentences; you demonstrated it in this blog post. Each ending makes me look forward to the next and understand the key message better.

December 18, 2023 at 12:36 pm

Thank you, Lux. That’s a lovely compliment. I always try to talk the talk *and* walk the walk!

November 2, 2023 at 3:18 pm

Super helpful post. Thank you.

November 2, 2023 at 3:37 pm

Thank you, Sheila. Happy writing!

February 11, 2023 at 3:30 pm

I really appreciated this article because it’s sometimes difficult to put the right kind of bow on a post, chapter, article or whatever I’m writing to hammer home the point trying to be made. Great tips and suggestions! Thank you!

February 12, 2023 at 2:40 pm

I’m glad you found it useful, Dave. Happy writing!

May 17, 2022 at 3:44 pm

Great post – thank you, Henneke. And I do agree about clinchers. I often find myself wanting to see them at the end of blog posts or articles, as they really tie it all beautifully. I love the red poppy metaphor :-).

May 17, 2022 at 6:35 pm

I am glad you enjoyed this, Daniela. It’s such a pity that many blog posts just fizzle out without any clincher, isn’t it?

I often write a clincher after letting a draft rest for a day (or more). This way I get a better idea of how I want to finish and can write the last few sentences with more energy.

Thank you for stopping by!

November 19, 2021 at 7:14 am

Hello Henneke, This is great. I’ve been applying these styles unknowingly. Now I’m well informed. Greeting from Kenya!!

November 19, 2021 at 12:35 pm

So good that you’re doing this already! Thank you for stopping by, Michael.

February 25, 2021 at 4:59 pm

There are so many writing blogs I visit briefly, but yours is the one I read to the end each time. You make things so alive and interesting. I am planning a non-fiction on self-healing and I want it to have this feeling you generate so easily. I am a planner, and I love that you teach structure, strategy and purpose. You have a follower in me. Thank you so much for being so giving.

February 25, 2021 at 10:26 pm

Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, Raj. I much appreciate it.

March 4, 2020 at 6:01 pm

Henneke, thank you for your response it was very helpful. I love your website it has really improved my writing, thank you again. Sincerely Kenzie,

March 1, 2020 at 9:23 pm

I know this is a question not a comment but I really need an answer. Should I make my clincher sentence humorous. Can I make my clincher sentence humorous?

March 2, 2020 at 4:54 pm

Yes, clincher sentences can be humorous.

November 30, 2019 at 2:34 pm

Henneke, this really resonates as I embark on my next book. I can see using this in marketing as well as memoir and other genres.thanks for sharing. I’m learning a lot from you.

December 2, 2019 at 6:05 pm

Thank you for stopping by again, Alicia. I’m glad you liked this! Happy writing 🙂

September 6, 2019 at 2:36 pm

Oh my god! This is so helpful! Thanks so much , Henneke.

September 7, 2019 at 5:06 pm

Thank you, Vikki. Happy writing!

September 5, 2019 at 4:59 pm

Hello Henneke, Thank you so much. Am understanding. If you could give more examples on cliff hangers it will help me.Clinchers are a nice thing to.Am happy to know that you know Mark Manson. Thanks and Take care.

September 7, 2019 at 5:04 pm

You may want to check out my article on cliffhangers: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/hook-your-reader-with-cliffhangers/

September 1, 2019 at 6:18 am

Hi Henneke I truly enjoy reading your posts and myself I am a part-time blogger. I have been blogging for over a year but still I am finding difficult in writing a good blog article that would keep readers engaged in reading by articles. I am trying hard to improve my writing skills so that I could express more in my writing. Could you please suggest me some of the best practical ways to improve by writing.

September 2, 2019 at 3:49 pm

I hope you’re not too critical of your own writing. Improvement is always possible. You can find my most useful articles on blog writing here: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/business-blogging/

November 8, 2018 at 7:49 pm

Ah, Henneke… My daughter is writing her first article, about a raising money to build a school. ‘How do I start?’ I sent her this, and two other blog posts of yours. Found them in seconds. You’ve now inspired 3 generations of my family. Thank you

November 8, 2018 at 9:21 pm

Wow, that’s wonderful! Thank you so much for letting me know, Rachel. Happy writing to all of you 🙂

August 8, 2018 at 11:08 am

I can see my entire life evolving round those enchanting vocabularies, the teacher is something else, her sense of arrangement, is fantastic, and she is one out of a million. I am in love with the methods of teaching and I just hope I can put all these into practice. Thank you dear instructor, Pro. Henneke. I am grateful to you and I hope you start teaching again soon. Do, have a nice holidays. your student, Paula.

August 8, 2018 at 7:49 pm

Thank you for your lovely comment, Paula. I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog!

Happy writing 🙂

July 28, 2018 at 8:58 pm

Thank you for the great advice, detailed explanation and useful examples. I feel I already use some of these techniques, I just didn’t think of them this way.

July 30, 2018 at 6:43 pm

Yes, many writers use clincher sentences naturally. Thank you for taking the time to comment, Mihaida. Happy writing!

July 26, 2018 at 11:03 am

As I typed in the name of your website, it popped up in my browser so it means I’ve visited your site before, but may not have actually read your blog posts. This is my first, and I LOVE the content and your writing style.

As others have said, you simplify teaching points and make them a delight to read and learn from. This one on “clinchers” and “cliffhangers” is excellent. They’re not new to me, but your well-chosen examples bring them to life. Now, instead of doing this occasionally, I’ll integrate them in all of my posts. Thank you. You have a new fan.

July 26, 2018 at 11:48 am

Welcome, Yvonne, and thank you for your lovely comment. It makes me happy to know that you feel inspired to apply my tips to you writing. Happy blogging!

July 22, 2018 at 7:10 pm

Thanks for the advice. I have been trying to improve my copywriting skills to use on my websites. I have been hiring writers to do it in the past but I want to do it myself. This tip will come in handy.

July 24, 2018 at 7:55 pm

Great. Thank you for your comment, Rich. Happy writing!

July 9, 2018 at 11:23 am

I like the fact that we don’t have to choose either a clincher or a cliffhanger — we can use both at the same time if necessary.

I guess it comes down to a case-by-case evaluation in the end — what would be most beneficial to your readers in a particular instance?

Thanks for another example-laden article, Henneke. Your writing tips are always great, but the books you reference are the icing on the cake as they are always fascinating ?

July 12, 2018 at 1:05 pm

Yes, you can choose or do both. I don’t think it matters much. The key is to think about how you want to end a piece of writing or a section of that piece.

I’m glad you’re enjoying my book recommendations.

Thank you, Alison. I appreciate your regular comments. They’re really helpful to me.

July 6, 2018 at 8:07 am

Hello Henneke, I enjoy all your informative blogs unlike a few who have had impressed me as you do. But in spite of all the motivating write-ups, I am still in a dilemma from where to start. You must on facebook, can you give your link? BEST, Manaj Banerjee India.

July 6, 2018 at 5:51 pm

I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog posts, Manaj. I don’t have a Facebook account. You may find that it doesn’t really matter where you start. Just start somewhere.

July 5, 2018 at 5:32 pm

Hi Henneke,

This may be my favorite post of yours. Great examples. Hope you are doing well.

July 5, 2018 at 5:44 pm

Thank you, Chris. I see you’ve started a new podcasting project earlier this year. It looks good!

July 5, 2018 at 7:40 am

A clincher – I have to look up the literal meaning. Did not know there was a word for it! How very clever. Great post!

July 5, 2018 at 7:43 am

Ah, decisive – klinknagel. Got it! There’s no word like that in Dutch.

July 5, 2018 at 12:20 pm

I only knew clincher as a decisive argument in a negotiation. Only recently, I discovered it’s also used for the last (decisive) sentence of a paragraph, essay or chapter. I don’t know a good word for it in Dutch either!

July 5, 2018 at 1:38 pm

There is none. I wonder which author wrote that book.. Damn.. How many writing books do you read, anyway?

July 5, 2018 at 2:58 pm

I rarely read books about writing these days. At some point, there’s nothing new in them anymore. I prefer reading fiction.

July 4, 2018 at 10:32 pm

This is good Henneke. Really good. Like a 1 line summary of all you wrote about throughout the blog post. A home run sentence in many ways. If you can send off folks with an impact they will remember you.

July 5, 2018 at 12:08 pm

Yep, that’s it. And don’t forget that you can also summarize along the way (at the end of each section or paragraph) to keep readers on track.

July 4, 2018 at 10:07 pm

A timely post, Henneke. Thanks for the interesting examples. Now, do I add clinchers, cliffhangers or both? Let the editing begin. I do love your emails. ♡

July 5, 2018 at 12:05 pm

To choose my option, I try to read my post through the eyes of my ideal reader and imagine what’s the best way to guide her to her destination. My hunch is that it doesn’t matter so much what option we choose as long as we don’t let our message float and our articles fizzle out. Happy writing!

July 4, 2018 at 8:21 pm

Well, I now need to go back and rewrite the ending to almost everything! 😀 But thanks to you, I also know how. What a lovely gift your post always is! Thanks so much!

July 5, 2018 at 12:02 pm

I rarely go back to improve old posts. I bet that if I tried I’d could improve them quite a lot, but I find it’s so much more interesting to write a new post and it’s not possible to do it all.

Thank you for stopping by again, Katharine!

July 4, 2018 at 4:47 am

what I love best in your writing is the small summary with Henrietta … it sticks the info to my brain cells with a superglue. Thank you.

July 4, 2018 at 9:51 am

The drawing is my real clincher 😉

Thank you, Heba.

July 3, 2018 at 9:27 pm

As usual Henneke – your sound advice just when I need it most. I’ve always had trouble finishing chapters and you’ve summed up the solution wonderfully. Thank you from very cold Sydney.

July 3, 2018 at 10:56 pm

That makes me happy, Paul. I love it when guidance arrives at the perfect moment. I hope you’re keeping warm despite the cold!

July 3, 2018 at 8:29 pm

What I love about thinking in terms of cliffhangers and clinchers is it challenges us as writers to be clear about the point we are trying to make, and the questions we want the reader to ask. It helps us shape the reader’s experience. You have such a gift for simplifying writing concepts!

July 3, 2018 at 10:55 pm

Yes, that’s so true! It about finding the best way to take our reader’s by the hand and guide him to his destination.

July 3, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Original: “When it’s not about the mug but rather the coffee that’s in it.”

My version: “When it’s not about the mug nor the coffee but rather the person you share it with.”

July 3, 2018 at 4:23 pm

I love that! Good meals require good company 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 3:06 pm

I learn so much in such an easy way. You are the best Writer’s Coach. Thank you

July 3, 2018 at 4:21 pm

Thank you for your lovely compliment, Shirley.

July 3, 2018 at 2:35 pm

I did these but didn’t know what they were called. I need to always make sure I am using them. Thanks, Henneke for the education!

July 3, 2018 at 4:20 pm

I only recently learned that these sentences actually have a name. Hardly anyone seems to explain what these sentences are.

Happy writing!

July 3, 2018 at 2:28 pm

Lovely post and super educational too!

While, I might have written clincher sentences, unaware of the fact that they are that, your article gave a thorough lesson of this.

Ultimately, it now dawned on me that, writing and the world of literature has so much more into it that it almost feels like fantasy to live on and on.

July 3, 2018 at 4:19 pm

To be honest, I knew about the principle of writing final sentences for a long time, but I learned the phrase “clincher sentence” only recently.

Once you know about clincher sentences, it’s really interesting to pay attention to them and see which writers use them well and who don’t. Writing is so much fun because there’s always more to learn.

Thank you for stopping by, Swadhin. Good to see you again! 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 2:24 pm

Really useful post Henneke. I was scrambling through the words to see your clincher sentence and it didn’t disappoint!

The post reminds me of Stephen Covey’s “begin with the end in mind” habit which can apply to just about anything, including writing, and something I hadn’t thought about.

July 3, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Yes, great point about beginning with the end in mind. That is so true.

I paid even more attention to my clincher sentences than usually because I figured that people would pay more attention to them than usually. Walk the talk, eh? 😉

July 3, 2018 at 2:18 pm

Once again great advice! I was never quite sure how to end my blog posts. I’m afraid most of them just end with no real conclusion or summary. I’m always learning with each tidbit of writing instruction you give. Thank you.

July 3, 2018 at 4:13 pm

You’re not alone. Many bloggers don’t write endings, even on the biggest blogs. You may find this post useful, too: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/how-to-write-closing-paragraphs/

Happy writing, Mary Ann. And thank you for stopping by.

July 3, 2018 at 1:31 pm

Hi, Henneke,

Excellent information. I used this once without knowing it was a clincher sentence. To me it’s like preparing a nice dinner; add just enough seasoning or salt to give it that extra bit of kick before serving or enjoying.

Agai​​​n, excellent information, and so needed.

The best tip ever just like a bite-sized snack.

Thank you kindly,

July 3, 2018 at 3:07 pm

Love this clincher concept, Henneke. Along with a blog post or book section, would you use clinchers and cliffhangers in an ecourse as way to build anticipation and keep people engaged?

July 3, 2018 at 4:22 pm

Yes, it works for ecourses, too. Depending on how the course works, each lesson (or module) can have a cliffhanger to explain what you’ll learn in the next section, a takeaway (summary of the main learning points), and an action point (perhaps an assignment).

July 3, 2018 at 4:12 pm

So funny, I had been thinking about using a food metaphor, too. I was thinking of a dessert to finish of your meal. Perhaps cheese with a glass of red wine, or would you prefer a sorbet?

Thank you for your lovely comment, Becky. Keep seasoning your writing 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 12:54 pm

Henneke never fails to deliver posts that make you sit up and go hmmmmmmmmmm. Thanks!

July 3, 2018 at 4:10 pm

Thank you, Tim, for such a lovely comment. You put a smile on my face 😀

Excellent information on a very specific and useful writing tool. I’ve saved your clincher/cliffhanger image to my blog inspiration folder. It may even go on the fridge! Thank you!

July 3, 2018 at 4:09 pm

Oh wow, what an honor. My Henrietta drawing on your fridge 🙂

Thank you for the reminder and inspiring ideas, Henneke.

I’m glad you like it, Irina 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 12:43 pm

I’m printing this to refer to when I’m writing, Henneke. Your tips are immediately actionable and your writing sparkles. Thank you for your emails!

July 3, 2018 at 4:08 pm

Thank you for your lovely compliment, Dana. Happy writing!

July 3, 2018 at 12:15 pm

Hi Henneke!

Very good! So good that I took an excerpt out of it and put it in my FB learning group, with a link back to your article – hope that’s OK! (But do let me know if not).

July 3, 2018 at 12:40 pm

Thank you for sharing, Claire. Happy writing.

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I never saw myself as a writer, but in my early forties, I learned how to write and discovered the joy of writing. Now, I’d like to empower you to find your voice, share your ideas and inspire your audience. Learn how I can help you

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Clincher Sentence

A clincher sentence is the finishing touch your writing needs to be unforgettable. Want to leave your reader awestruck? We’ve got you covered. In this guide, you’ll discover what a clincher sentence is, how to craft one, and see top-notch sentence examples that demonstrate its impact. Elevate your writing game by mastering the art of the clincher sentence today!

What is the Clincher Sentence? – Definition

A clincher sentence is the final sentence in a paragraph or piece that wraps up its main point, providing a sense of closure and completion. Essentially, it’s the “mic drop” moment in your writing that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

What is the best Example of a Clincher Sentence?

The best example of a clincher sentence would be: “In the end, it wasn’t just a game—it was the defining moment that changed my life forever.” This sentence neatly sums up the paragraph’s or essay’s main idea, while also offering a poignant insight that resonates with the reader, making it memorable.

100 Clincher Sentence Usage Examples

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Clincher sentences are the linchpins of effective writing. They leave your reader with a compelling last impression and are vital for any well-crafted paragraph or essay. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed clincher sentence to elevate your writing. To help you become a clincher sentence connoisseur, here are 100 unique and thought-provoking examples you can use as inspiration.

• In conclusion, perseverance is the key to success.
• When all is said and done, family matters most.
• As a result, the company’s profits soared.
• At last, the mystery was finally solved.
• So, what are you waiting for?
• Clearly, the evidence is irrefutable.
• Undoubtedly, this is a turning point.
• Remarkably, she overcame all odds.
• Therefore, we should proceed with caution.
• To sum up, the choice is yours.
• In the grand scheme of things, life is short.
• So there you have it, a solution to the problem.
• Consequently, our actions define us.
• Nonetheless, the journey was unforgettable.
• And that, my friends, is the essence of courage.
• Ultimately, love conquers all.
• Naturally, the project was a resounding success.
• In retrospect, it was a blessing in disguise.
• After all, isn’t that what life is all about?
• All in all, it was a win-win situation.
• In reality, change is inevitable.
• Surprisingly, he turned out to be the hero.
• Therefore, let us embrace the challenges.
• Indeed, it was a night to remember.
• Above all, never lose faith.
• Incidentally, that was her best performance.
• Truth be told, honesty pays.
• Hence, we should be mindful of our actions.
• Without a doubt, it was an epic adventure.
• Admittedly, the task was daunting.
• On the whole, it was a fruitful endeavor.
• Even so, it was a remarkable achievement.
• To put it simply, the impact was profound.
• Nevertheless, she remained optimistic.
• In essence, the legacy lives on.
• Obviously, the outcome was favorable.
• Fortunately, we found common ground.
• To clarify, the objective was met.
• For this reason, teamwork is essential.
• So, take the leap of faith.
• Yet, the memories linger.
• Regrettably, opportunities were missed.
• Granted, the situation was complex.
• Specifically, the results were outstanding.
• Given these points, we should reconsider.
• And so, the legend was born.
• Now, the focus shifts to the future.
• As a matter of fact, timing is crucial.
• In a nutshell, the benefits are numerous.
• To conclude, the experience was enriching.
• Conversely, the risks were minimal.
• Then again, it’s never too late.
• Likewise, he was a natural leader.
• By and large, the campaign was effective.
• Thus, the circle is complete.
• Alas, the secret was revealed.
• Actually, it was worth the effort.
• In summary, don’t underestimate your potential.
• To elaborate, preparation is key.
• Largely, the initiative was welcomed.
• Coincidentally, the timing was perfect.
• Afterward, a sense of relief washed over me.
• Ironically, the villain was the savior.
• Evidently, the strategy worked.
• Especially, the climax was unexpected.
• Ordinarily, I wouldn’t consider it.
• To reiterate, your voice matters.
• Finally, we reached a consensus.
• Importantly, don’t forget to be kind.
• Surely, you can see the logic.
• However, the final say is yours.
• Generally speaking, the event was a hit.
• Again, consistency is key.
• As it turned out, the trip was worthwhile.
• Notably, her courage stood out.
• For instance, the impact was immediate.
• On the contrary, the loss was a lesson.
• Besides, you have nothing to lose.
• Alternatively, consider the other options.
• Unquestionably, this marks a new beginning.
• Simultaneously, two worlds collided.
• All things considered, it was a success.
• Intrinsically, the value is immeasurable.
• Chiefly, the focus is on quality.
• Under those circumstances, it was the best choice.
• And so, the mystery deepens.
• Significantly, the goal was achieved.
• Precisely, that is the point.
• Occasionally, miracles do happen.
• Analogously, the comparison holds.
• Furthermore, seize the day.
• Relatively, it was a minor issue.
• Practically, it was a no-brainer.
• Following this, we must adapt.
• Oftentimes, simplicity is beauty.
• Sensibly, precautions were taken.
• Apart from this, focus on the positives.
• Explicitly, the rules were stated.
• Lastly, cherish the moments.
• In finality, this is our mission.

Feel free to use these examples as a resource or inspiration for crafting your own clincher sentences that will leave a lasting impression on your readers.

Clincher Sentence Starter Examples

Clincher sentence starters serve as a dynamic tool to make your conclusions more impactful. These sentence beginnings set the stage for a memorable closing statement. They’re essential for essay writing, speeches, or any piece of content that aims for strong reader engagement. Below are 10 examples of distinct clincher sentence starters.

• In the final analysis, we should…
• All things considered, it’s evident that…
• To sum up, the evidence clearly states…
• Ultimately, this leads us to conclude that…
• With this in mind, we can affirm that…
• In conclusion, it’s imperative to note that…
• As we’ve seen, it’s undeniable that…
• To reiterate, let’s not forget that…
• In essence, it all boils down to…
• Lastly, let’s remember that…

Clincher Sentence Topic Examples

Clincher sentences are also versatile and can be tailored to suit various topics. Whether you’re covering technology, environment, education, or psychology, a strong clincher will amplify your message. Get your reader to sit up and take notice with these 10 topic-specific clincher sentence examples.

• Given the climate crisis, sustainable living is non-negotiable.
• Therefore, online education is the future of learning.
• As demonstrated, mental health is just as important as physical health.
• In the realm of politics, your vote can indeed make a difference.
• When it comes to relationships, communication is key.
• On the technology front, data privacy should be everyone’s concern.
• Considering economics, investment in renewable energy is a must.
• In matters of social justice, silence is complicity.
• Relating to workplace dynamics, a good leader listens first and acts second.
• In terms of personal growth, never stop learning.

Each of these examples is designed to offer a strong, definitive statement on its respective topic. Utilize them to create engaging and thought-provoking endings to your discussions.

What is a Clincher Statement?

A clincher statement is the final sentence or set of sentences in a paragraph, essay, report, or speech that reinforces the main idea and brings closure to the text. It serves to summarize the key points discussed and leaves the reader with something to ponder. A well-crafted clincher statement can effectively seal the message and make your writing memorable. Often, clincher statements can call the audience to action, provoke thought, or create a lasting impression.

What are Some Clincher Words?

Clincher words are specific terms or phrases commonly used to initiate clincher statements. These words signal to the reader that the text is drawing to a close, while emphasizing the essence of the discussion. Here are some clincher words commonly used:

• In Summary : Used to encapsulate the main points.
• Therefore : Implies a logical conclusion from the preceding information.
• Hence : Similar to “therefore,” but often used to imply a more direct cause-and-effect relationship.
• Finally : Indicates that the last and often most critical point is being made.
• In Conclusion : Explicitly tells the reader that the end of the text has arrived.
• Ultimately : Suggests the end result or final point in a chain of reasoning.
• To Sum Up : Used to give a brief recap.
• After all : Indicates a summary and emphasizes that all points have been considered.
• All in All : Suggests a comprehensive summary has been provided.
• Thus : Implies a wrapping-up of stated facts or observations.

What is a Clincher in a Speech Example?

In a speech, a clincher serves the same fundamental purpose as in written text—to sum up the message and leave a lasting impression. The difference lies in the oral delivery and the immediate audience engagement. Here’s an example of a clincher in a speech about climate change:

“Let’s not wait for the headlines to scream crisis; by then, it will be too late. As stewards of this Earth, it’s our collective responsibility to act now. The future of our planet depends on the choices we make today. Remember, we don’t have a Planet B.”

In this example, the speaker rounds off the discussion on climate change by emphasizing the urgency of the situation and calls the audience to action. The clincher also leaves the audience with something to ponder about—our shared responsibility for Earth’s future.

Clinchers are not mere summaries; they are your final shot at impressing your message upon your audience. A strong clincher will not only close your speech but also make it more impactful and memorable.

What are the Three Types of Clincher Sentences?

Clincher sentences can generally be categorized into three distinct types, each serving its own purpose:

• Summary Clinchers : These clinchers restate the main points of your article or speech in a fresh way. They’re best suited for informational texts and serve to remind the audience of the essential aspects covered.
• Call-to-Action Clinchers : These are designed to prompt an immediate reaction from the audience. They are often used in persuasive speeches or promotional materials, guiding the reader towards the next step, such as purchasing a product or engaging in social activism.
• Thought-Provoking Clinchers : These types aim to make the audience ponder the subject even after they’ve finished reading or listening. Usually formulated as rhetorical questions, quotes, or future projections, they aim to continue the conversation in the minds of the audience.

What is the Purpose of a Clincher Sentence?

The purpose of a clincher sentence is multi-faceted. Firstly, it provides closure to your text or speech, rounding off the discussion neatly. Secondly, it amplifies the main idea, enhancing its impact and making it memorable. Lastly, depending on the type of clincher used, it can also drive action or provoke thought, thus extending the influence of your message beyond the immediate reading or listening experience.

How do you Write Clincher Sentences? – Step by Step Guide

• Identify the Main Idea : Your clincher should reflect the core message of your text or speech. Make sure you know what that is before you start writing the clincher.
• Select the Type : Decide whether you want your clincher to summarize, prompt action, or provoke thought.
• Draft the Statement : Write a preliminary version. Aim for brevity but also for impact. Make every word count.
• Review and Revise : Consider if the draft aligns with the main idea and whether it’s impactful. Edit for clarity, coherence, and concision.
• Add a Clincher Word : Employ a clincher word or phrase as a signpost to indicate that this is the concluding statement.
• Test for Effect : Read your clincher in the context of the entire text or speech to ensure it fits seamlessly and amplifies your core message.

Tips for Using Clincher Sentences

• Be Consistent : Ensure that your clincher aligns with the overall tone and theme of your text or speech.
• Avoid New Information : The clincher is not the place to introduce new points or arguments. Stick to what’s been covered.
• Be Emotional : A touch of emotion can add a layer of relatability and make your clincher more memorable.
• Use Repetition Wisely : A little repetition of key terms or phrases can make your clincher more impactful but use this technique sparingly.
• Seek Feedback : Don’t hesitate to ask for opinions on your clincher. Sometimes, what seems clear to you may not be for others.
• Practice Makes Perfect : The more you practice writing clinchers, the more naturally they will come to you. Each one is an opportunity to perfect your craft.

Clincher sentences are an essential tool for wrapping up your text or speech in a way that leaves a lasting impression. By understanding their types, purposes, and construction methods, you can significantly enhance the impact of your communication.

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How to Write a Clincher Sentence That’s Memorable

Definition: A clincher sentence is a type of sentence used at the end of a final paragraph to reinforce your main idea and give your reader a sense of finality.

What Is a Clincher Sentence and Why Is It Needed?

A clincher sentence is a concluding sentence that reinforces your main idea to give your reader a sense of finality. However, it’s not a restatement of the exact words used to convey your main idea.

In fact, your clincher should be about a new and compelling spin that leaves a lasting impression on the reader, and helps improve the overall cohesion and flow of your writing.

Also, a clincher is as common in nonfiction as it is in fiction. From academic writing (where it’s typically contained in an expository paragraph) to a well written blog post (where it’s often followed with a call to action,) to writing essays.

Now, why is it needed?

A concluding paragraph without a clincher sentence will make your writing feel incomplete, rudderless, and perceived as amateurish.

Your reader will finish your piece and not remember what the point of your story was, making it forgettable.

So, let’s now look at what you need to know in order to write a memorable clincher.

How to Write a Clincher Sentence

When it comes to writing a clincher, there are several principles that can help you craft effective and memorable endings.

For starters, in order to bring your writing to a conclusion that truly stands out, you need to be very clear yourself about what your central idea is.

You’d be surprised how many aspiring writers get lost in the writing process without stopping to consider if they’re actually carrying the main idea or key message through to a memorable conclusion.

Or perhaps, they’re pursuing multiple plot lines without picking one, which makes it virtually impossible to write a clincher.

When it comes to the writing itself, it’s important to be thoughtful and deliberate in your word choice, as well as being creative with the way you structure and format your clincher sentence.

For instance, you could use rhetorical techniques such as humor or irony to help make your last sentence more engaging for readers.

You might also consider including a thought-provoking quote at the end of your clincher sentence, which will leave your readers with something to think about.

With practice, you can become a master clincher writer!

Clincher Sentence Examples

Below, you’ll find some clincher examples to give you an idea about different ways a concluding sentence can be used to reel your reader in and leave them with a lasting impression.

You may find some examples to be thought-provoking, some reflective, and some humorous:

“In short, when one door closes, another one opens — just make sure it’s not a closet.”

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.”

“Life is too short to waste time on things that don’t matter.”

“Take me as I am or watch me as I leave.”

“A moment of madness can sometimes lead to moments of brilliance.”

“You can’t control everything in life, but you can control your reaction to it.”

“In the midst of struggle and adversity, it can be easy to lose sight of your goals and dreams. But with commitment and determination, anything is possible.”

“As cliche as it may sound, nothing worth having ever comes easily. If you truly want to succeed in life, you have to be willing to work hard and persevere through any obstacles that come your way.”

Let now look at some tips from the pros.

Tips on How to Write a Clincher that’s Memorable

Here are some tips to help you write clinchers that are both well-crafted and engaging:

Preparation

• Start by being clear about the topics or themes that you want to convey in your writing, so you have a good idea of the main points you’ll want to highlight
• When brainstorming ideas for a clincher sentence, try to come up with several options — don’t be married to the first idea that comes to mind
• Pay attention to the overall structure of your article, ensuring that all the key points are summarized effectively in the closing sentence
• If you’re struggling to come up with a good clincher sentence, consider revisiting the key points you covered in your article and try to come up with a sentence that summarizes them effectively

Writing Mechanics

• Pay attention to the formatting and structure of your sentence, making sure that it transitions smoothly into the next section of your article or paragraph
• Practice writing clinchers regularly in order to refine your skills and develop a strong sense of rhythm and pacing
• Take the time to revise and edit your final sentence until it’s perfect. Since it contains the parting thoughts of your writing, make sure to spend the extra time polishing it
• Your clincher needs to be concise and easy to understand, so straight to the point without adding unnecessary fluff or filler words
• Be deliberate and thoughtful in your word choice, choosing language and concepts that resonate with your target audience
• Use figurative language or rhetorical techniques such as humor, irony, or suspense to make your clincher sentence more engaging for your readers

Finishing Touches

• Make sure that your clincher is memorable and thought-provoking, leaving readers with a lasting impression of your writing
• Proofread your clincher carefully, ensuring that it’s free of typos and grammatical errors

Final Thoughts on Clincher Sentences

Writing a well thought-out clincher sentence is an essential part of successful writing, so take your time to craft it well and make sure it resonates with your readers.

To set your expectations, a strong concluding sentence will take you a lot longer to come up with than the average sentence in a typical body paragraph. However, the extra effort will pay off big time with your audience.

Whether you’re looking to improve your clincher sentence writing skills or simply want to learn more about how they work, I hope the above tips and examples can help guide you along the way.

With practice and dedication, you’ll become a “master clincher” and leave a lasting impression on every piece you write!

Harry  Wallett  is the Founder and Managing Director of Relay Publishing. Combining his entrepreneurial background with a love of great stories,  Harry  founded Relay in 2013 as a fresh way to create books and for writers to earn a living from their work. Since then, Relay has sold 3+ million copies and worked with 100s of writers on bestselling titles such as  Defending Innocence ,  The Alveria Dragon Akademy Series  and  Rancher’s Family Christmas .

Harry oversees the creative direction of the company, and works to develop a supportive collaborative environment for the Relay team to thrive within in order to fulfill our mission to create unputdownable books.

Relay Publishing wants you

If you think you have what it takes to become a brilliant writer, editor, or storyliner, Relay Publishing has a range of exciting opportunities .

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A Simple Guide to Understanding the Clincher Sentence With Examples

As a part of academic writing, a clincher sentence plays an important role in resolving the claims and theories laid in the preceding paragraph. In this article, we will look at what a clincher sentence is, its purpose, and a few examples to help understand their use.

Quick Tip It is important to note that, although the clincher sentence is the last statement of a paragraph, it should not bring attention to the fact that the essay is at an end by directly stating so. This is because, the conclusion of the essay will usually have to maintain a tone of credibility, which can be damaged by an unprofessional clincher.

A clincher sentence can be defined as a statement, argument, fact, situation, or the like, that is decisive or conclusive. In academic writing, this is a statement in a expository paragraph which reiterates the topic and summarizes how the information in the paragraph supports the topic. Normally, each paragraph starts with a topic sentence which tells the reader about what the paragraph will discuss. This is followed by the body which gives evidence and arguments that support the topic statement. The final sentence of each of these paragraphs are clincher sentences. The statement should not simply be a summary, but it should make the reader feel that the writing is complete.

If you want to write an effective paragraph, a clincher sentence at the end is a must. It wraps up the topic, provides closure, and concludes the writing. Its purpose is also to give the writer a chance to leave a strong impression on the reader.

Role of a Clincher Sentence

A clincher sentence should smoothly end the essay, keeping the needs of the reader in mind. The sentence should not restate the exact words, but should end a complicated topic in way that is easy to understand. Rather than just being a plain summary, it has to add value to the paragraph.

How to Write a Clincher Sentence

For starters, try beginning the concluding sentence with words such as ‘ultimately’ or ‘in conclusion’. Immediately following these words, the clincher sentence does state the topic statement one more time in new words, and broadens out the stance, before ending the paragraph. It is important that you maintain a professional tone, and make your stand on the topic absolutely clear without a trace of ambiguity. The clincher should reinforce and summarize the topic that you have written about in the preceding paragraph.

Another alternative is to ask the reader a question, or insert a quote, which is most likely to get a positive response towards a hypothesis being presented by the topic, or one can use shocking facts, rhetorical questions, humor, or an appeal to the reader, if it is appropriate for the paragraph. Using plain facts and numbers could make the reader bored. So make sure that the clincher is strong and packs a punch.

Example 1 : Topic: Seattle is a beautiful place.

Body Paragraph : The city of Seattle has a large number of picturesque locations, with a wide variety of environment, which makes the city a great place for photography, and draws a large number of tourists each year. For the best pictures, visit Pu Pu Point, Snoqualmie Falls, Columbia Tower, Beacon Hill, Gasworks Park, Seattle Central Library, Pioneer Square, amongst many others.

Clincher Sentence : It is clear from the immense number of scenic locales that are on offer, that Seattle is a memorable place that one must visit.

Example 2 : Topic: Pets help in detecting disease.

Body Paragraph : Pets reduce loneliness, they’re loyal, comfort us in tough times, and keep us happy. However, some animals seemingly perform miracles by predicting health problems and keeping their owners from dangerous situations. In California, a woman named Nancy Best noticed that her dog kept sniffing and licking her right breast. On consultation, doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer. In another case, a woman named Megan Johnson, who had type 1 diabetes, was woken up from her sleep by her dog several times when her sugar levels were dangerously low.

Clincher Sentence : With their extremely accurate senses, pets can be quite helpful in finding and alerting a person of illnesses before it becomes too late. 

As can be seen, with their high-impact nature, clincher sentences are a great method to end an essay or thesis.

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How to Write a Clincher Sentence That’ll Blow Your Readers Mind

The ability to write a powerful clincher sentence is essential for ALL types of writing (not just academic). It’s what separates mediocre writers from those who actually impact the lives of their readers.

But what exactly is a clincher sentence?

Well, it’s basically a closing sentence that sums up your main message with a BANG.

Most of what you read each day doesn’t make much of an impression on you. It doesn’t “stick”. You finish reading, move onto the next thing, and forget what you read 10 seconds later.

That’s because most of what you read doesn’t end with a clincher sentence.

A good clincher makes you think “Aww snap! Let me reflect on this for a sec.”  

Think of clincher sentences as a "Mic Drop Moment."

How to write a “mic drop” clincher sentence :.

There’s no one magic formula for writing a clincher sentence, but there are a handful of technique that tend to work well.

First let’s look at some of the 10 most effective techniques. Then we’ll move on to some examples.

The Quote - If you’re at a loss for words, try leaving the reader with a short inspirational quote that drives your message home.

The Twist - End with a takeaway the reader was not expecting.

The Takeaway - Close your message with a straightforward conclusion.

The Action - Psyche up your audience to take a specific action.

The Reflection Question - Sometimes the action is obvious. What the reader needs is motivation to act. A great way to do this is to end with a simple question that makes the reader reflect on their life (as it relates to your message).

The Takeaway + Action - A one-two punch combining the previous two techniques. Start by highlighting your key takeaway. Then finish her off by showing how it can be applied to the reader’s life.

The Analogy - Rehash your main points in your final paragraph. Then end it with an analogy that cements your message into their mind.

The Reminder - Remind the reader of something important regarding your message (e.g. a benefit, warning, tip, fact, argument, etc).

The Full-Circle - Repeat a key phrase (or emotional moment) used earlier in message. This might mean copying a memorable phrase word-for-word or simply referring back to a meaningful story you told earlier in the message.

The Golden Nugget - Leave the reader with a profound piece of wisdom that reinforces your message.

The Goosebump Giver - These types of clincher sentences are used a lot in movies and songs. Unlike the other techniques, goosebump givers don’t necessarily reinforce a takeaway or provoke action. Instead, they aim straight for the heart strings, creating a strong emotional reaction you won’t forget.  

Tips for writing a powerful clincher sentence :

• Keep it short and simple
• Don’t introduce new information
• Imagine your audience’s emotions and mirror them
• You want your audience to either strongly agree or fiercely disagree—lukewarm clinchers don’t get remembered
• State you point with authority. Don’t be a wimp.
• The more emotions you trigger, the better
• The more thought-provoking, the better
• The bigger the mic drop, the better

Clincher sentence examples (and other mic drop inspiration) :

Writing a clincher sentence from scratch can be tough.

So instead of inventing one out of thin air, let’s make life easier and take a shortcut.

Movies are one of the best sources for clincher sentence inspiration. By examining memorable movie quotes, we can dissect why a phrase was so memorable and then apply it to writing clincher sentences.

If you pay close attention, you’ll be surprised by how much clincher material is sprinkled throughout your favorite movies.

Sometimes it’ll be word-for-word, other times it’s simply a mic-drop-worthy idea.

Here are a few to get you started...  

The Takeaway (King Kong) :

An impactful clincher that sums up what happened in the movie in one concise phrase.  

The Full Circle (Avengers Endgame) :

For all you Avengers fans out there. This is the perfect example of the “Full Circle” strategy. The movie begins and ends with the same emotional phrase (while simultaneously tugging at the heartstrings).  

The Twist :

Here’s a classic twist example. Just like in the movies, a key to writing an effective twist clincher is to sprinkle subtle clues throughout your writing.  

The Goosebump Giver (The Lion King) :

No explanation needed. *wipes away tear*  

The Quote (The Godfather) :

Movies are full of popular quotes you can use as powerful clincher sentences. For example, this quote would be a perfect way to end an article on why small business owners should pay attention to what their competitors are doing.  

The Analogy (The Karate Kid) :

Here’s a clincher sentence example that isn’t actually used as a clincher in the movie itself. However, it’s so well known, that if you used it as an analogy to end your message, everyone would understand.

Movies aren’t the only place to find inspiration. Whenever you read a good blog post, pay close attention to how it ends. This is a great way to generate new clincher sentence ideas.

Here are some clincher sentence examples from blog posts.

There’s no need to overcomplicate clincher sentences. Remember, the main purpose is to make an impact on the reader so they continue thinking about your post. Sometimes simple trumps fancy.

For example, in this post on how to become a copywriter , Neville makes it painfully obvious what the reader should do.

Clever? No. Effective? Yes.

The Takeaway + Action

Here’s an example from my blog, Project Untethered. After writing a ginormous post that lists 100+ ways to make money while traveling , I didn’t just leave them hanging. No, I summed up my key takeaway and spurred them into action.

The Reminder

In this post about writing real estate listings , Neville uses a powerful Reminder clincher by simply turning it into a formula. This is an easy-peasy way to burn a message into the mind of your readers.

The Golden Nugget

A golden nugget doesn’t necessarily have to be some eloquent Buddhist mantra. It can anything that alters the reader’s perspective or “opens their mind”.

The Reflection Question

In this article on how to write faster , the call to action is crystal clear. But to make the conclusion even stronger, a simple clincher question was added.

Now, instead of just clicking over to the next article, the reader will take a second to reflect on how taking action could improve their life.

----- See how easy writing a clincher sentence can be?

Yes, you could spend hours writing your own clincher sentence from scratch.

But why make it more difficult than it needs to be?

With all the inspiration out there, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.

You worked hard putting together a piece of killer content—your gift to the world. 

Don’t forget to wrap it up and stick on the bowtie.

Hope this helps! Sincerely, Mitch Glass

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Enchanting Marketing

Type advice for small business

Clincher Sentences: The #1 Way to Fortify a Message or Jump-Start Act

by Henneke | 82 enchanting opinions, add you? :)

ONE clincher sentence is a closing sentence reinforcing your keyboard message.

This article discusses wherewith to write a clincher:

How to write clinchers

I’m half skimming, half reading a fairly interesting article—all the way until the last word.

But as soon as I’ve ended, I’ve already forgets what I’ve read.

Sounding famous?

If you want readers to remember your words, you need to revitalization your message and jump-start your readers into action.

And the easiest way on do that?

Write a clincher sentence.

Eh … what is an clincher sentence?

A clincher sentence is adenine concluding sentence reinforcing the principal notify.

You’ll find clinchers the the last sentence of a well-written blog post, essay, or book chapter; or at the end of a strecke in a blog post—before a subhead preface the continue section. Tips for handwriting a powerful clincher sentence: · Keep it short and simple · Don't introduce new information · Imagine your audience's emotions and surface them · You ...

A clincher sentence is a soundbite , communicating a nodules of wisdom. It’s one eindrucksvoll point that may linger in you reader’s mind long after she’s finished lesungen your item.

Want to know how up write this powered sentences?

Examples of clincher sentences

In his memoir My Father, the Pornographer , Chris Offutt finishes most kapite with excellent clincher sentences.

For instance, the ending concerning the 4th chapter yields us discovery in the son’s relationship with his father:

(…) ME realized an geography would always stop me tight, that I could never flight, that in fact thing I loved plus felt most loyal to were the wooded hills, and not my father. How to Write an Conclusion: Full Writing Guide with Examples | EssayPro

And the 25th chapter ends as follows (note: cheats refers to conventions where his father’s fans would gather):

Dad seldom left the house over the he held utter dominion. When he did leave, he went into cons, an environment that softened his ego in every way. He grew accustomed toward this two extremes and became unforgiving when his family failed to treat him please collectors did. We disappointed him with our demand for a father. End With an Bang, Not adenine Whimper! Discover the expertise of writing clincher songs that stick. Step-by-Step Guide and Unique Examples Await You!

Ouch. We disappointed him with ours need for a father. A hard truth.

If writing was a boxing match, the clincher sentence would may the knockout blow.

Yet how do him deliver a killer stamping?

How to write a clincher sentence

To write a clincher sentence, you first must know your push message.

So, think about this: If readership would remember to thing from your article oder book chapter, what would it be?

If her can’t think of the select message, is idea might still be a little fuzzy. Suffer thereto simmer fork a while, and then reconsider your place. Which question do yours want to answer? Get problem do you help solve? Thing is your key hot? Learn what a clincher sentence can both what to write one, including fiction and non-fiction examples.

In procure unstuck, use one of these recording openers at help formulate your key point:

• In conclusion (or ultimately ), [add your finalized say on the issue or sum up your argument]
• Remember, [remind readers of your key idea—sometimes you single need toward rephrase an earlier sentence]
• Your action: [tell readers what to how in your advice]
• Own takeaway: [sum up the main point bookworms should remember]

The two-punch approach to clinchers

In educational other inspirational writing, you can use the two-punch approach. First, remind readers what you’ve explained already. And secondly, nudge them to apply your advice.

For instance, Mark Manson possible like approach in its article regarding to most major query of your live . His penultimate sentence summarizes his key point:

This is of most simple and basic component of life: our struggles determine our successes.

Also her last sentence addresses the reader directly to nudge him to implement his legal:

How choose your bout smart, my friend.

At the end of their reserve Made toward Stab , Chip and Danny Heath take the same approach. The near sentence summarizes their key point:

Story have the amazing dual power the feign and up inspire.

And their really last rate encourages readers to implement to advice by telling them it’s not how hard as they might thinking:

And most of the frist wealth don’t even have to use much genuine to harness these powers—we pure required to be ready to spot the good ones that life begets every daytime. You’ve done it. You’ve refined your general and your thesis. You’ve spent time researching and proving all of your supporting arguments. You’re slowly…

Store, your clincher sentence is the assassins punch encouraging readers to implement your advice.

So, summarize and inspire.

(See what I just did? That was another two-puncher.)

Construct your killer punch reverberate

My favorite type of clincher record drawing a brilliant image , giving energy to your key idea.

Chris Offutt ends the 5th chapter of his memoir equal a vivid story—the clincher sentence is the last sentence (I made it bold):

A week after the my service [of mysterious father], I took Mil the a greenhouse built of acrylic sheeting. Mom selected a plant with white florals, next laughed, shook yours head, both chose red flowers instead. “Your father was color-blind,” i said. “I simply bought white flowers so he could notice them.” She was the red ones home. After fifty years Mom planted flowers she liked in her customized backyard.

And Mark Manson scetches an vivid image under the end of his post about the real valued of money —the clincher move lives in bold:

The real value of currency begins when are look beyond it and see ourselves more feel, as more valuable, than computer are. When it’s cannot about the heap of stuff but rather the enactment of experiencies. When it’s not about this mug but rather the coffee that’s the it.

Vivid images haunt readers, drop up in their minds hours—or even days—after reading your content.

When to use a clincher sentence …

At the out of a book or blog post, yours don’t have a selecting. To avoid your writing petering out, finish over a clincher jump.

However, at that finalize is one book chapter or blog post section, you can prefer. You can either look ahead and make readers bizarre in read on, or you can look back and summarize your key message. Want to avoid wishy-washy writing? Learn how to write clincher sentences to reinforce your message and jump-start retailer action.

To look ahead, use ampere cliffhanger toward raised a question and manufacture readers lean forward, hungry the learn more. For instance, in the gripping book American Kingpin , Nick Bilton applications cliffhangers at the end of anyone chapter.

Here’s which last sentence of the first-time chapter:

“You got a minute?” the said as he threw the white envelope on the desk. “I have something important I need to show you.”

And the end of the second chapter:

The yet, as he hopped into the car next to his sister, he also didn’t knows that in just fi years he would become making that amount of dough in ampere lone day. Five-Paragraph Essay Format — Alexandria Tutorials

And who terminate of the 3rd chapter:

And where wasn’t clear to either of them, as i rolled around on his dinky bunk in the basement, is that the relationship she were about to embark on would be the most tumultuous romance of Ross’s and Julia’s adult lives. Or, for Ross, it would be his last. In addition, to best clincher sentence will also echo the degree. As the goes more confident in writing essays, one may also use the clincher sentence to ...

Front I started reading the get American Kingpin , I already knew the outcome. I knew Ross Ulbricht gets arrested. Yet, one narrative can so gripping and the cliffhangers like compelling, that I couldn’t putting the book depressed. I wanted to know exactly how who historical unfolded.

How to use a cliffhanger + a clincher sentence

You don’t have to choose between a clincher both one cliffhanger.

You can use them both.

For instance, in his book Decisive , Chip additionally Dan Bog explain how at perform better choices in existence and work. The closing paragraph of the introduction starts favorite this:

We maybe make includes a half of aware, considered choices every day. But while these decisions don’t manage much are our time, they have a disproportionate influence set our lives.

Then comes the clincher recorded with a vivid image:

The psychologist Royal Baumeister draws einen analogy the driving—in our cars, we may spend 95% starting our time going plain, but it’s the spins that determine where we end up. A clincher penalty is a concluding sentence that enhanced to wichtigster idea to give your lector a use by finale.

And they end their introduction with a cliffhanger, making us curious till read on (what’s the four-part process?):

This is a get concerning those turns. Inbound the chapters to anreisen, we’ll show you how a four-part process cans boost your choices of getting where she want until go.

So, at of end of a section or read chapter, it have 3 options:

• Write a cliffhanger to encourage readers to read on.
• Compose a clincher to summarize your key point with a punch.

Each sentence helps communicate your ideas

Real, of track, either sentence can keep ampere reader betrothed or spin him off.

Yet, your clincher sentence is see important than other sunday.

Because it’s the clincher this strengthened your message.

Therefore, write a sturdy sentence.

The Enchanting Blog Writing path (rated 4.9 out by 5.0) teaches her as to bind, raise, and inspire your readers.

Learn more >>

Refined reading on writing strong sentences:

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Reader Interactions

Leave adenine comment and join the conversation cancel retort.

December 18, 2023 at 6:11 at

I love this! And you didn’t just talk about of power of clincher sentences; you demonstrated it int this blog post. Each ending makes me look forward to the next and understand the key message better. You might be learning this to find get how into want a clincher sentence for with essay…or another piece of academic handwriting. And that probably…

December 18, 2023 at 12:36 pm

Thank you, Lux. That’s a lovely compliment. I always try to talk who talk *and* walk the walk!

Month 2, 2023 at 3:18 pm

Superb helpful post. Thank you.

November 2, 2023 at 3:37 pmi

Thank you, Sheila. Happy writing!

February 11, 2023 at 3:30 pm

I really appreciated this article because it’s sometimes difficult until put the right kind of bow on a post, chapter, story or whatever I’m writing to mallet home the point seek at been make. Great side both suggestions! Grateful you! Check these conclusion examples to learn methods to summarize yours opinions effectively! Follow writing strategies to end up your essay on a powerful note.

February 12, 2023 at 2:40 am

I’m gladness you found it useful, Dave. Happy writing!

May 17, 2022 at 3:44 pm

Great article – thank you, Henneke. And EGO take agree about clinchers. I often find ourselves wanting to see them at the ends of blog posts or objects, as they genuine tie it all gorgeously. I love the red poppy metaphor :-). How to Write a Conclusion

May 17, 2022 at 6:35 pm

I am joyfully him enjoyed this, Daniela. It’s such a pity that many blog posts just fizzle out without any clincher, isn’t it?

I often start a clincher after letting an draft rest for a full (or more). All way I get a better idea of like I do to completing and can script the last few sentences with more energy. 1. Include one or two key words coming the topics sentence and refresh the significant idea of an topic sentence. To addition, the superior clincher ...

Thank you since stopping by!

November 19, 2021 at 7:14 am

Hello Henneke, This is great. I’ve since applying save styles unknowingly. Now I’m well informed. Greeting from Kenya!!

November 19, 2021 at 12:35 pm

So good the you’re how this already! Bless you for stopping from, Michael.

February 25, 2021 at 4:59 pm

There live so many writing blogs I see briefly, but yours is the one I read to an stop each time. You make belongings to alive and interesting. MYSELF am planning adenine non-fiction go self-healing and I want a to have this feeling you generate so easily. EGO am one planner, and I your that you teach structure, strategic and purpose. You have a follower in me. Thank you so much with being so giving.

Future 25, 2021 at 10:26 pms

Thank you so much for your pretty compliment, Rule. I much appreciate itp.

March 4, 2020 during 6:01 pm

Henneke, thanks you for your response it was very helpful. MYSELF love your website it does honestly enhancements own writing, thank you again. Sincerely Kenzie,

Parade 1, 2020 toward 9:23 pmi

I knowing this is a question not a commentary but I really need an answer. Should I make my clincher sentence hilarious. Can I make my clincher sentence humorous? The #1 Way on Energy Autochthonous Message & Electrify Your Readers

Marsh 2, 2020 at 4:54 pm

Yes, clincher sentences ca be humorous.

November 30, 2019 at 2:34 pm

Henneke, this really resonates as I embark go my future book. I can see after this include marketing as well-being as memoir and different genres.thanks used sharing. I’m learning a lot from you. How To Write A Clincher Sentence (Taught To You By Netflix the Suits)

December 2, 2019 at 6:05 pm

Thank you for stopping by again, Alicia. I’m glad you liked this! Happy writing 🙂

September 6, 2019 at 2:36 pm

Oh insert god! Save is so valuable! Thanks so much , Henneke.

September 7, 2019 at 5:06 pm

Express you, Vikki. Happy writing!

September 5, 2019 at 4:59 pm

Howdy Henneke, Thank yours so much. A understandings. If them could give more samples on cliffs hangers it wishes help me.Clinchers are a nice thing to.Am happy to know that you know Mark Masonries. Thanks and Take taking.

September 7, 2019 at 5:04 pm

You may wanted to control out my essay on cliffhangers: https://keebeeplay.com/hook-your-reader-with-cliffhangers/

September 1, 2019 at 6:18 am

Hi Henneke I truthful enjoy lesend your posts and myself IODIN am a part-time blogger. I have is blogging by over a year but quieter ME day finding difficult in writing a good blog category that wants keep readers engaged to reading by articles. I am trying hard to better my writing skills so that I may voice more in my writing. Could you please suggest m few of the bests practical ways toward fix until writing. What A a Clincher Settling and Instructions To Write One (Definition & Examples)

September 2, 2019 at 3:49 pm

I hope you’re not as critical is your own writing. Improvement is always possible. You can search my most useful articles on blog writing here: https://keebeeplay.com/business-blogging/

November 8, 2018 at 7:49 post

Ah, Henneke… Mein daughter can writing her first item, about adenine up money to build a school. ‘How do I start?’ I sent the this, and two other blog posts of yours. Found them in substitutes. You’ve now inspired 3 generations of my family. Thank it

November 8, 2018 at 9:21 pm

Wow, that’s wonderful! Thank you so much to letting me know, Rachel. Delighted write to all of you 🙂

May 8, 2018 at 11:08 am

EGO can see mein gesamtheit life evolving round those enchanting vocabularies, and teacher is something else, her sense of arrangement, is fantastic, and femme the one out of a million. I am in love with the method of lessons and I even hope I can put all these into practice. Thank you dear educators, Pro. Henneke. I am grateful to you and I hope you launching teaching again soon. Do, have a nice festivities. thy student, Paula.

August 8, 2018 to 7:49 pm

Thank you for your lovely commentary, Paula. I’m glad you’re enjoying insert blog!

Happy writing 🙂

July 28, 2018 at 8:58 pm

Thank you for the great advice, detailed explanation additionally beneficial examples. I feel MYSELF already use some of that techniques, I just didn’t think about them this way.

July 30, 2018 at 6:43 pm

Yes, many writers getting clincher sentences course. Thank you for take the time to comment, Mihaida. Happy writing!

July 26, 2018 at 11:03 am

As MYSELF typed in the name of thy website, it popped up in my browser then it by I’ve visited own site before, but may not have actually read your blog posts. This is my first, and I LOVE the content and your writing style.

As additional have babbled, you simplify teach points or make them a delight to read and learn from. This one on “clinchers” and “cliffhangers” is excellent. They’re non new to me, but your well-chosen see bring them to life. Now, instead of doing this occasionally, I’ll integrate them inside total of my posts. Thank her. You have an new lover. How to write a clincher or concluding sentence on an essay ...

July 26, 2018 at 11:48 my

Welcome, Yvonne, and thank you for your lovely comment. I manufacture me happy up learn that you think inspired to apply my picks to you writing. Happy blogging!

July 22, 2018 at 7:10 pm

Appreciation for to advice. I possess been trying to improve my copywriting skills to use on my websites. EGO had past hiring writers to doing it in the past yet I want to do it myself. This tip will come in handy.

Summertime 24, 2018 at 7:55 pm

Great. Thank your available your comment, Rich. Happy writing!

July 9, 2018 at 11:23 am

I like the fact that we don’t has into choose either a clincher or a cliffhanger — we can use both at that same time if necessary.

I guesses it comes down to a case-by-case evaluation for the end — what wish be most beneficial to your readers in a particular instance?

Thanks for another example-laden products, Henneke. Choose writing tips are always great, but the books you reference are the icing up the solidify as they are ever fascinating ?

Julie 12, 2018 at 1:05 pm

Yes, they can choose or do both. I don’t think it business much. The key is to think about like you want to end a piece of typing or a section of that piece.

I’m glad you’re enjoying my book recommendations.

Thank them, Alison. I appreciate your common talk. They’re honestly valuable to me.

July 6, 2018 per 8:07 am

Hello Henneke, I enjoy any your informative blogs unlike a few who have had impressed me as you do. But in spite to all the motivating write-ups, I am still int a quandary from somewhere to start. You must on facebook, can you give to link? BEST, Manaj Banerjee Indian. How to Indite ampere Clincher Penalty That's Memorable

Summertime 6, 2018 at 5:51 pm

I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog item, Manaj. IODIN don’t having a Face account. You may find that it doesn’t really mattigkeit where you start. Just commence somewhere.

July 5, 2018 during 5:32 pmi

Hi Henneke,

This allowed be i beloved post of yours. Great examples. Hope you represent doing well.

July 5, 2018 with 5:44 per

Thank you, Chris. I visit you’ve started a new podcasting project earlier this year. It looks good!

July 5, 2018 at 7:40 am

A clincher – IODIN have to look up that literal meaning. Did not know there had a talk for information! How very clever. Great post!

July 5, 2018 at 7:43 am

Ah, decisive – klinknagel. Got it! There’s no word like that in Dutch.

July 5, 2018 at 12:20 promethium

I simply knew clincher as a decisive argument in adenine negotiation. Only recently, I discovered it’s also used for the last (decisive) sentence in a paragraph, essay either phase. I don’t know a good word for it in Dutch either!

July 5, 2018 at 1:38 pm

There is none. I amazing which author wrote that book.. Damn.. How many writing books do you read, anyway?

Year 5, 2018 at 2:58 pm

I rarely readers books about writing these daily. At some point, there’s nothing new in them read. I prefer reading non-fiction.

July 4, 2018 the 10:32 post

Diese is nice Henneke. Really good. Like a 1 line summary of all you writers about continuously the blog station. A home run sentence in many ways. Provided you can send off folks with an impact they will remember you. Clincher Sentence - 99+ Examples, PDF, Tips

Year 5, 2018 for 12:08 pm

Yep, that’s it. Press don’t forget that you can also summarize alongside the way (at the end regarding each section or paragraph) toward keeps readers on track.

July 4, 2018 at 10:07 pm

A timely post, Henneke. Thanks for which interesting examples. Now, do I add clinchers, cliffhangers or both? Let the editing begin. I done love your emails. ♡

July 5, 2018 at 12:05 pm

To choose my selection, I trying to read my post because the eyes of my ideal reader real imagine what’s the best way to guide her to her purpose. My suspicion is that it doesn’t matter so much what option we choose as long as we don’t let our message float real our articles fizz out. Delighted writing!

July 4, 2018 at 8:21 pm

Well, I now need to run back and rewrite that ending to almost everything! 😀 When thanks to you, I also know how. What ampere lovely gift will post always your! Thanks so much!

July 5, 2018 at 12:02 pm

MYSELF rarely go back to improve old posts. I bet that wenn MYSELF tried I’d could improve them quite a lot, but I search it’s so much more interesting to want a newly post and it’s not possible to do it all.

Thank yourself for stopping by re, Katharine!

July 4, 2018 at 4:47 time

what IODIN love favorite in your writing is the small summary with Henrietta … it studs of info to my brain cells with a strong. Thank you.

July 4, 2018 toward 9:51 m

The drawing is my real clincher 😉

Giving your, Heba.

July 3, 2018 at 9:27 pm

As usual Henneke – your sound advice just when I need it most. I’ve usual was trouble customize parts and you’ve summed up the choose wonderfully. Thank them from quite cold Auckland.

July 3, 2018 at 10:56 pm

That makes me happier, Paul. I love it while guidance arrives at of perfect actual. I hope you’re keeping warmed notwithstanding the freezing!

March 3, 2018 at 8:29 pm

What I love about thinking in terms on cliffhangers and clinchers is it challenges us as writers to be clear around this point we are trying to make, and the questions we to the reader to ask. It helps us shape that reader’s experience. You have such a make for simplifying writing concepts!

July 3, 2018 at 10:55 pm

Ye, that’s so true! It about finding the top way on take our reader’s by the hand both guide him to his destination.

July 3, 2018 at 4:00 peak

Innovative: “When it’s not concerning the mug but rather the coffee that’s in it.”

My version: “When it’s none via the glasses nor the coffee aber rather the person you portion it with.”

July 3, 2018 at 4:23 hour

I love is! Good provisions require good company 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 3:06 pm

I learn so much in such an easy way. You are the best Writer’s Coach. Thank you

July 3, 2018 at 4:21 pm

Thank you for your delightful compliment, Shirley.

July 3, 2018 at 2:35 pm

I proceeded dieser but didn’t know what they has called. IODIN needed up forever make sure I by using her. Thanks, Henneke for the education!

July 3, 2018 per 4:20 pm

I only recently learned that that song act hold a name. Hardly somebody shows to explain what these sentences are.

Happy composition!

July 3, 2018 at 2:28 pm

Howdy Henneke,

Lovely get and super educational too!

While, I might are written clincher sites, unaware of the fact that they belong that, your article gave a thorough lecture of this.

Ultimately, it buy dawned on me that, writing and the world of literature has so much more into it that it almost feels like fantasy to live on and on.

July 3, 2018 during 4:19 pm

To be honest, I knew around the principle of writing final sentences used a long laufzeit, but I learned the phrase “clincher sentence” only recently.

One-time your know about clincher sentences, it’s really interesting to payments attention to them and see which writers use them well and who don’t. Write remains so much fun because there’s always more to learn.

Thank you by stopping by, Swadhin. Good to see you again! 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 2:24 pm

Really useful post Henneke. I was scrambling through the words to seeing your clincher sentence plus it didn’t disappoint!

The station reminds me starting Stephen Covey’s “begin by aforementioned end to mind” habit which can apply to just about anything, including writing, and something I hadn’t thought about.

Year 3, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Yes, great point about beginning with the end int mind. That is so truth.

I paid even more care to my clincher sentences than usually due I figured that public intend pay learn attention to them than usually. Walk the talk, eh? 😉

March 3, 2018 at 2:18 pm

Single again great advice! I was never quite sure how to cease my blog posts. I’m afraid most for them just end with no real conclusion or executive. I’m always learning equipped each tidbit of writing instruction you give. Thank you.

July 3, 2018 at 4:13 pm

You’re not alone. Many bloggers don’t write endings, equally on an larges blogs. You allow find that post reasonable, too: https://keebeeplay.com/how-to-write-closing-paragraphs/

Lucky writing, Mary Die. And thank they for stopping by.

July 3, 2018 for 1:31 pms

Hi, Henneke,

Highly informations. I used this once without knowing it where a clincher sentence. To me it’s like preparing a nice dining; add justly enough seasoning otherwise salt to give it that special bit of kick before serving or enjoying.

Agai​​​n, excellent information, and hence needed.

The highest hints ever simply like an bite-sized snack.

Thank her kindly,

July 3, 2018 at 3:07 pm

Dear this clincher concept, Henneke. Go with a blog post or book section, would you use clinchers press cliffhangers in an ecourse as way to construction anticipation and keep our engaged?

July 3, 2018 at 4:22 pm

Yes, it works for ecourses, too. Depending on as the course my, each lesson (or module) can do a cliffhanger at explain something you’ll learn in the next piece, a takeaway (summary of an main learning points), also an move point (perhaps an assignment).

July 3, 2018 at 4:12 pm

So funny, I had been thinking about using a food trope, too. I was thinking of an dessert to finished of your meal. Perhaps cheese with a glass of red wine, or would you prefer a sorbet?

Appreciate you for your lovely comment, Becomes. Holding seasoning your writing 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 12:54 pm

Henneke almost fails the deliver posts that make you sit up and go hmmmmmmmmmm. Thanks!

July 3, 2018 at 4:10 pm

Thank you, Tim, for create a lovely comment. You put an smile on my face 😀

Excellent information about a very specifically and useful written tool. I’ve saved owner clincher/cliffhanger image go my blog creative folder. It may even auf on the fridge! Thank you!

July 3, 2018 at 4:09 pm

Uh way, what an honor. My Henrike drawing up your fridge 🙂

Thank you for the reminder and inspiring ideas, Henneke.

Julia 3, 2018 toward 4:09 pm

I’m glad you how is, Irina 🙂

July 3, 2018 at 12:43 pm

I’m printing like toward refer to when I’m writing, Henneke. Own tips are promptly actionable and your print sparkles. Express you for your emails!

Jury 3, 2018 at 4:08 hrs

Thank you for to lovingly kompliment, Denmark. Happy text!

July 3, 2018 at 12:15 pm

Hi Henneke!

Very good! Hence sound that I took an excerpt out of it and put i in my FB lerning gang, with a link back the is article – hope that’s OK! (But do let me know if not).

July 3, 2018 at 12:40 necropsy

Thank you fork sharing, Claire. Happy writing.

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The Study Dude—Closing Clinchers for Essays

August 23, 2021

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If you are striving for an A+, a closing clincher can get you the grade.

I once wrote an essay so good that the professor asked to read it aloud to all of his related classes.  But he didn’t give me an A+ and not even an A.  Why? My final closing paragraph didn’t work well.  It rambled on and didn’t close with a clincher.

We all love recipes for success, so how about one for clinchers?

The only ingredients needed for this recipe are an imagination, computer, an opening hook, a thesis statement, and an essay in progress, preferably on the first or later full draft.

But first, we need to define a clincher.  The clincher is the final sentence in your paper.  It needs to be gripping, engaging, and provocative.  It also needs to relate directly to your thesis statement.

Here is a smorgasbord of clincher types with which to close your paper:

Predict the Future Outcome.

To create a final clincher that predicts the future, use words such as “as a result of [event], [such-and-such] has a higher probability of occurring,” “as a consequence of [action], [such-and-such] may be more likely to occur,” “with this in mind, the future may result in …”.

You can, if supported in your research, make a bolder statement, such as “Because of the [problem], [such-and-such] will inevitably lead to [greater problem].”

Challenge or Recommend an Action Based on Your Research Findings.

To end with a recommendation or challenge, use words such as “[so-and-so] could benefit by … .  As a result, the net gain would …,” “If [so-and-so] took the following action, they’d contribute to …,” or “[This benefit] would arise should [so-and-so] pursue the initiative of ….,” “[So-and-so] should [action] to help …”.

You could even say, “It would be recommended for [such-and-such action] to take place.  The benefits of this action would include …”.

When giving recommendations or challenges, should statements are invaluable.

Make a Moral Judgment About your Opening Hook.

If you open with a quote or startling fact—a hook—you could end with a moral judgment about that opener.  For instance, if your opening starts with a child cancer survivor’s quote on her recent diagnosis of a new cancer, and if your thesis explores cancer treatments globally, you might end with a clincher: “If simultaneous, multiple therapies were permitted in Western medicine, including the more obscure alternative therapy approaches globally, perhaps this child may not have suffered a second diagnosis.”

Suggest Additional Research that May Build on Your Findings or Explore an Area Missing in Your Research.

A sophisticated way to end a paper is to recommend additional research.  For this clincher, use words such as “To build on this research …,” “A future investigation of this topic could involve …,” or “To fill in a gap of this research, it is recommended to investigate….”

As an alternative, you could say, “A related topic that has not yet been studied using this model is …,” but you might want to wait for grad studies for this one, as you’ll learn more models and methods at that level of your studies.

You could also say, “A relevant and related topic that this theory could apply to is …” if you are writing a paper using, say, feminist theory or critical race theory, but the related topic should build on your thesis statement.

And those are your clinchers.  Bear in mind that your clincher needs to tie into your thesis statements.  If a clincher has nothing to do with your thesis statement, scrap the clincher and start anew.  A great opening hook, catchy clincher, and error-free essay can bolster a grade to mind-boggling status.

But how do you craft a solid thesis statement? That’s another page in the Cookbook.

Related Articles

The Cookbook Continues—Opening Hooks for Essays

August 12, 2021

The Study Dude—A Cookbook on How to Write an Essay

August 5, 2021

A Cookbook on Writing an Essay—The Post-Research Writing Phase

July 30, 2021

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

68 Structuring the Conclusion and Examples

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, the student will be able to:

• Recognize the functions of introductions and conclusions.
• Identify the primary elements of a speech introduction.
• Identify the primary elements of a speech conclusion.
• Construct introductions and conclusions.

Structuring the Conclusion

Similar to the introduction, the conclusion has three specific elements that you will want to incorporate in order to make it as strong as possible. Given the nature of these elements and what they do, these should generally be incorporated into your conclusion in the order they are presented below.

Element 1: Signal the End

The first thing a good conclusion should do is to signal the end of a speech. You may be thinking that telling an audience that you’re about to stop speaking is a “no brainer,” but many speakers really don’t prepare their audience for the end. When a speaker just suddenly stops speaking, the audience is left confused and disappointed. Instead, you want to make sure that audiences are left knowledgeable and satisfied with your speech. In a way, it gives them time to begin mentally organizing and cataloging all the points you have made for further consideration later.

Generally, the easiest way to signal that it is the end of your speech is to begin your conclusion with the words, “In conclusion.” Similarly, “In summary” or “To conclude” work just as well. While these may seem very blunt ways of communicating the end of your speech to the audience, you want it to be extremely clear to everyone that you are wrapping things up. Certainly you can choose to employ more elegant, interesting, or creative language here, but you then run the risk of the audience not catching on to the fact that your speech is ending.

On the other hand, saying “In conclusion” (and definitely saying it more than once) can have an unintended negative effect. The audience may figure you are finished and turn you off, sort of like how we get up and leave during the credits in a movie. Therefore, you can also go straight to the summary, which is Element 2.

Element 2: Restate Main Points

In the introduction of a speech you delivered a preview of your main points; now in the conclusion you will deliver a review. One of the biggest differences between written and oral communication is the necessity of repetition in oral communication (the issue of “planned redundancy” again). When you preview your main points in the introduction, effectively discuss and make transitions to your main points during the body of the speech, and finally, review the main points in the conclusion, you increase the likelihood that the audience will understand and retain your main points after the speech is over. Remember, your English instructor can re-read your essays as many times as he or she wants, but your audience – and your instructor – only have one opportunity to catch and remember the points you are trying to get across in your speech.

Because you are trying to remind the audience of your main points, you want to be sure not to bring up any new material or ideas. For example, if you said, “There are several other issues related to this topic, such as…but I don’t have time for them,” that would make the audience confused and perhaps wonder why you did not address those in the body section. Or if you were giving a persuasive speech on wind energy and you ended with, “Wind energy is the energy of the future, but there are still a few problems with it, such as noise and killing lots of birds,” you are bringing up a counter-argument that should have been dealt with in the body of the speech.

This is a good place to remind you that the introduction, preview, transitions, and conclusion are for helping the audience be interested and prepared to listen, to retain, and to follow your speech. The conclusion is too late for that. The hard core facts and content are in the body. If you are tempted to cram lots of material into the conclusion, that is not the place for it, nor is it the place to provide the important steps to a solution.

As you progress as a public speaker, you will want to work on rephrasing your summary statement so that it does not sound like an exact repeat of the preview. For example, if your preview was:

The three arguments in favor of medical marijuana that I will present are that it would make necessary treatments available to all, it would cut down on the costs to law enforcement, and it would bring revenue to state budgets.

Your summary might be:

In the minutes we’ve had together, I have shown you that approving medical marijuana in our state will greatly help persons with a variety of chronic and severe conditions. Also, funds spent on law enforcement to find and convict legitimate marijuana users would go down as revenues from medical marijuana to the state budget would go up.

Element 3: Clincher

The third element of your conclusion is the clincher , or something memorable with which to conclude your speech. The clincher is sometimes referred to as a Concluding Device. These are the very last words you will say in your speech, so you need to make them count. This is the last thing your audience will hear, so you want to make it good. In a certain way, you might think of your speech as a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant: the introduction is the appetizer that gets everyone ready for the main course, the body section is the “meat and vegetables,” and the conclusion is like dessert. But have you ever had a nice meal that ended with a dessert that didn’t really taste good? Regardless of how good the rest of the meal was, you probably walked away thinking, It was okay, but I just remember not liking it at the end . A good clincher prevents your audience from thinking that way, and in fact can even make an audience remember a speech more favorably.

something memorable with which to conclude your speech

In many ways the clincher is like the inverse of the attention-getter. You want to start the speech off with something strong, and you want to end the speech with something strong. To that end, similar to what we discussed above with attention getters, there are a number of ways you can make your clincher strong and memorable.

Conclude with a Challenge

One way you can end your speech is with a challenge. A challenge is a call to engage in some kind of activity that requires a special effort. In a speech on the necessity of fund-raising, a speaker could conclude by challenging the audience to raise 10 percent more than their original projections. In a speech on eating more vegetables, you could challenge your audience to increase their current intake of vegetables by two portions daily. In both of these challenges, audience members are being asked to go out of their way to do something different that involves effort on their part.

In a challenge, try to make it aspirational but reasonable. The challenge should be something they can strive for but not see as something impossible. Two or three more servings a day of fruits and vegetables is reasonable, but six probably would be seen as too much.

In the same category as a challenge, probably the most common persuasive concluding device is the appeal for action or the call to action. In essence, the appeal for action occurs when a speaker asks her or his audience to engage in a specific behavior. When a speaker concludes by asking the audience “to do” something, the speaker wants to see an actual change. Whether the speaker appeals for people to eat more fruit, buy a car, vote for a candidate, oppose the death penalty, get more sleep, or sing more in the shower, the speaker is asking the audience to engage in action.

One specific type of appeal for action is the immediate call to action. Whereas some appeals ask for people to engage in behavior in the future, the immediate call to action asks people to engage in behavior right now. If a speaker wants to see a new traffic light placed at a dangerous intersection, he or she may conclude by asking all the audience members to sign a digital petition right then and there, using a computer the speaker has made available. For a speech on eating more vegetables, pass out raw veggies and dip at the conclusion of the speech; someone giving a speech on petitioning a lawmaker for a new law could provide audience members with a prewritten e-mail they can send to the lawmaker.

If you are giving a persuasive speech about a solution to a problem, you should not relegate the call to action to the very end of the speech. It should probably be a main point where you can deal with the steps and specifics of the solution in more detail. For example, perhaps a speaker has been discussing the problems associated with the disappearance of art education in the United States. The speaker could then propose a solution of creating more community-based art experiences for school children as a way to fill this gap. Although this can be an effective conclusion, a speaker must ask herself or himself whether the solution should be discussed in more depth as a stand-alone main point within the body of the speech so that audience concerns about the proposed solution may be addressed.

Conclude with a Quotation

Another way you can conclude a speech is by providing a quotation relevant to the speech topic. When using a quotation, you need to think about whether your goal is to end on a persuasive note or an informative note. Some quotations will have a clear call to action, while other quotations summarize or provoke thought. For example, let’s say you are delivering an informative speech about dissident writers in the former Soviet Union. You could end by citing this quotation from Alexander Solzhenitsyn: “A great writer is, so to speak, a second government in his country. And for that reason no regime has ever loved great writers.”

Notice that this quotation underscores the idea of writers as dissidents, but it doesn’t ask listeners to put forth effort to engage in any specific thought process or behavior. If, on the other hand, you were delivering a persuasive speech urging your audience to sponsor a child in a developing country for $40 per month, you might use this quotation by Forest Witcraft:

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a child.”

In this case, the quotation leaves the audience with the message that monetary sacrifices are worth taking, that they make our lives worthwhile, and that the right thing to do is to go ahead and make that sacrifice.

Conclude by Visualizing the Future

The purpose of a conclusion that refers to the future is to help your audience imagine the future you believe can occur. If you are giving a speech on the development of video games for learning, you could conclude by depicting the classroom of the future where video games are perceived as true learning tools. More often, speakers use visualization of the future to depict how society or how individual listeners’ lives would be different, if the speaker’s persuasive attempt worked. For example, if a speaker proposes that a solution to illiteracy is hiring more reading specialists in public schools, the speaker could ask her or his audience to imagine a world without illiteracy. In this use of visualization, the goal is to persuade the audience to adopt the speaker’s point of view. By showing that the speaker’s vision of the future is a positive one, the conclusion should help to persuade the audience to help create this future.

Conclude by Inspiration

By definition, the word inspire means to affect or arouse someone. Both affect and arouse have strong emotional connotations. The ultimate goal of an inspirational concluding device is similar to an “appeal for action” but the ultimate goal is more lofty or ambiguous; the goal is to stir someone’s emotions in a specific manner. This is done by sharing a story, poem, or quotation that appeals to the audience basic values and therefore appeals to emotions. Stories or allusions to “underdogs” who overcame obstacles to achieve something worthwhile or those who make sacrifices for the good of others can help inspire. You probably know of such stories (Olympic athletes and a well-known figure such as Captain Sullenberg are examples) that would be of value, as long as they are relevant to your topic and purpose. Poetry is sometimes used to inspire, but you want to use a short passage (eight lines or less) of poetry that is clear to the audience.

to affect or arouse someone’s emotions in a specific, positive manner

Conclude with a Question

Another way you can end a speech is to ask a rhetorical question that forces the audience to ponder an idea. Maybe you are giving a speech on the importance of the environment, so you end the speech by saying, “Think about your children’s future. What kind of world do you want them raised in? A world that is clean, vibrant, and beautiful—or one that is filled with smog, pollution, filth, and disease?” Notice that you aren’t actually asking the audience to verbally or nonverbally answer the question; the goal of this question is to force the audience into thinking about what kind of world they want for their children.

Refer Back to the Introduction

This method provides a good sense of closure to the speech and can be one of the most effective methods. If you started the speech with a startling statistic or fact, such as “Last year, according to the official website of the American Humane Society, four million pets were euthanized in shelters in the United States,” in the end you could say, “Remember that shocking number of four million euthanized pets? With your donation of time or money to the Northwest Georgia Rescue Shelter, you can help lower that number in our region.”

Conclude with an Anecdote or Personal Story

As with your attention getter, a brief story can be a strong way to conclude. However, it must be relevant and not go on too long. Combining this method and the previous one, you might finish telling a story that you started in the introduction as your clincher. This method is probably better with persuasive speeches where you want to end with a strong emotional appeal.

Conclude with a Reference to Audience or Audience Self-Interest

The last concluding device involves a direct reference to your audience. This concluding device is used when a speaker attempts to answer the basic audience question, “What’s in it for me?” (the WIIFM question). The goal of this concluding device is to spell out the direct benefits a behavior or thought change has for audience members. For example, a speaker talking about stress reduction techniques could conclude by clearly listing all the physical health benefits stress reduction offers (e.g., improved reflexes, improved immune system, improved hearing, reduction in blood pressure). In this case, the speaker is clearly spelling out why audience members should care about the topic and what’s in it for them.

Informative versus Persuasive Conclusions

As you read through the above possible ways to conclude a speech, hopefully you noticed that some of the methods are more appropriate for persuasive speeches and others are more appropriate for informative speeches. An appeal to action, for example, may not be appropriate for an informative speech since asking your audience to do something often borders on persuasion, which isn’t what an informative speech is intended to do. Similarly, if your persuasive speech is on the importance of voting in the next local election, an appeal to action clincher would probably be one of your stronger options.

8.5 – Examples of Conclusions

Here are two examples of conclusions. More examples can be found on the outlines at the ends of Chapters 12, 13, and 15.

Informative Speech Conclusion

Topic: Anxiety

Anxiety is a complex emotion that afflicts people of all ages and social backgrounds and is experienced uniquely by each individual. We have seen that there are multiple symptoms, causes, and remedies, all of which can often be related either directly or indirectly to cognitive behaviors. While most people do not enjoy anxiety, it seems to be part of the universal human experience, so realize that you are not alone, but also realize that you are not powerless against it. With that said, the following quote, attributed to an anonymous source, could not be more true, “Worry does not relieve tomorrow of its stress; it merely empties today of its strength.”

Persuasive Speech Conclusion

Topic: Adopting a Rescue Animal

I believe you should adopt a rescue animal because it helps stop forms of animal cruelty, you can add a healthy companion to your home, and it is a relatively simple process that can save a life. Each and every one of you should go to your nearest animal shelter, which may include the Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care, the Humane Society of NWGA in Dalton, the Murray County Humane Society, or the multiple other shelters in the area to bring a new animal companion into your life. I’ll leave you with a paraphrased quote from Deborah Jacobs’s article “Westminster Dog Show Junkie” on Forbes.com: “You may start out thinking that you are rescuing the animal, and ultimately find that the animal rescues you right back.”

Something to Think About

Read out loud one of the example introductions earlier in the chapter, and time your reading. If an introduction should not be longer than about 10%-15% of the total speech time, how long would the speech attached to this introduction be? (You’ll have to do the math!) If you had to give a shorter speech using this introduction, how would you edit it to make it for the time limit but still be an effective introduction?

Final Note: If you are wondering about the photo at the beginning of this chapter, it is of the headstone of poet Emily Dickinson in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her parting words, as shown on the marker, were “Called Back.” That was her “life” conclusion. One of the authors is a huge Emily Dickinson fan, took the photo on a trip to New England, and loves to include quotations from her poetry.

Exploring Communication in the Real World Copyright © 2020 by Chris Miller is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Gordon-Conwell Writing Center

• Understanding Writing Expectations
• Brainstorming and Writer's Block
• Outlining for Successful Writing
• Writing a Strong Introduction
• Creating a Clear Thesis Statement
• Developing Body Paragraphs
• Connecting Ideas with Transitions
• Choosing the Best Sources
• Using Sources Effectively
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Paraphrasing without Plagiarizing
• Addressing Counterarguments

Ending with a Strong Conclusion

• Using Words Wisely
• Punctuating Correctly
• Revising, Editing, & Proofreading
• Applying Feedback
• Formatting Correctly
• Recorded Writing Workshops
• Return to GCTS Library Home Page

Just as we say good-bye to people when ending a conversation, so must a writer conclude his/her written text. A writer should imagine that readers have read the text but have not fully grasped all the ideas. Furthermore, the writer must assume that readers do not necessarily know how to respond to the topic. Therefore, it is a writer’s job to remind readers about his/her main claim and key ideas as well as call readers to action. Failing to do so might mean that readers are left with questions about a text and/or do not respond properly to it.

Summarized Explanation

• Most multi-paragraph texts require a concluding paragraph. A basic concluding paragraph should include three main parts (restated thesis, summarized key ideas, clincher).

Detailed Explanation

The following examples are the same ones that appears in the writing guide for Writing a Strong Introduction . 

Color-coding key:

• Restated Thesis
• Summarized Key Ideas

Example #1           

          (Introduction)  Meeting someone for the first time without a proper introduction can be awkward. Likewise, a text without an introductory paragraph leaves a lot to be desired. The introduction is the first thing that readers see in a text. For that reason, it ought to engage and inform readers. To accomplish this, writers should begin texts with an introductory paragraph that includes an effective hook, background information, and thesis statement.

          (Body Paragraphs)

• Why writers should include a hook in an introductory paragraph.
• Why writers should include background information in an introductory paragraph.
• Why writers should include a thesis statement in an introductory paragraph.

          (Concluding Paragraph) In conclusion, a thorough three-part introductory paragraph will ensure a strong start to any text. The first element of an introduction, the hook, works to intrigue readers. Then they will be ready to read more of the background information on a topic. And to top things off, the thesis statement indicates the purpose and focus of a text so that readers know what to expect. Therefore, the importance of an introductory paragraph should not be underestimated, and all writers should seek to create truly engaging introductions.

          (Introduction) They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This adage is true, but not everything is relative. For example, in the world of writing, texts can take many forms, and writers have a lot of creative freedom. That said, there are some basic frameworks that should be employed for most writing forms—for example, the tried-and-true template for an introductory paragraph. Considering this, the previous introductory paragraph is quite effective because it includes a strong hook, background information, and thesis statement.

• Why the previous introductory paragraph includes a strong hook.
• Why the previous introductory paragraph includes strong background information.
• Why the previous introductory paragraph includes a strong thesis statement.

          (Concluding Paragraphs) To sum up, the sample text is a great example of a strong introductory paragraph. As noted previously, its hook is creative and compels readers to keep going. Afterward, they are met with relevant background information followed by a thesis statement that effectively forecasts the writer's position and key ideas. All in all, this introductory paragraph should be saved and referenced frequently for any writer who wants to create successful introductions.

• GET WRITING HELP TODAY! The Gordon-Conwell Writing Center offers professional revision and editing services for academic and ministerial writing. Click the link above to learn more!
• << Previous: Addressing Counterarguments
• Next: Using Words Wisely >>
• Last Updated: Sep 28, 2023 10:02 AM
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• Knowledge Base
• How to conclude an essay | Interactive example

How to Conclude an Essay | Interactive Example

Published on January 24, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay . A strong conclusion aims to:

• Tie together the essay’s main points
• Show why your argument matters
• Leave the reader with a strong impression

Your conclusion should give a sense of closure and completion to your argument, but also show what new questions or possibilities it has opened up.

This conclusion is taken from our annotated essay example , which discusses the history of the Braille system. Hover over each part to see why it’s effective.

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

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Table of contents

Step 1: return to your thesis, step 2: review your main points, step 3: show why it matters, what shouldn’t go in the conclusion, more examples of essay conclusions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about writing an essay conclusion.

To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument.

Don’t just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Next, remind the reader of the main points that you used to support your argument.

Avoid simply summarizing each paragraph or repeating each point in order; try to bring your points together in a way that makes the connections between them clear. The conclusion is your final chance to show how all the paragraphs of your essay add up to a coherent whole.

To wrap up your conclusion, zoom out to a broader view of the topic and consider the implications of your argument. For example:

• Does it contribute a new understanding of your topic?
• Does it raise new questions for future study?
• Does it lead to practical suggestions or predictions?
• Can it be applied to different contexts?
• Can it be connected to a broader debate or theme?

Whatever your essay is about, the conclusion should aim to emphasize the significance of your argument, whether that’s within your academic subject or in the wider world.

Try to end with a strong, decisive sentence, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of interest in your topic.

The easiest way to improve your conclusion is to eliminate these common mistakes.

Don’t include new evidence

Any evidence or analysis that is essential to supporting your thesis statement should appear in the main body of the essay.

The conclusion might include minor pieces of new information—for example, a sentence or two discussing broader implications, or a quotation that nicely summarizes your central point. But it shouldn’t introduce any major new sources or ideas that need further explanation to understand.

Don’t use “concluding phrases”

Avoid using obvious stock phrases to tell the reader what you’re doing:

• “In conclusion…”
• “To sum up…”

These phrases aren’t forbidden, but they can make your writing sound weak. By returning to your main argument, it will quickly become clear that you are concluding the essay—you shouldn’t have to spell it out.

Don’t undermine your argument

Avoid using apologetic phrases that sound uncertain or confused:

• “This is just one approach among many.”
• “There are good arguments on both sides of this issue.”
• “There is no clear answer to this problem.”

Even if your essay has explored different points of view, your own position should be clear. There may be many possible approaches to the topic, but you want to leave the reader convinced that yours is the best one!

• Argumentative
• Literary analysis

This conclusion is taken from an argumentative essay about the internet’s impact on education. It acknowledges the opposing arguments while taking a clear, decisive position.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

This conclusion is taken from a short expository essay that explains the invention of the printing press and its effects on European society. It focuses on giving a clear, concise overview of what was covered in the essay.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

This conclusion is taken from a literary analysis essay about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein . It summarizes what the essay’s analysis achieved and emphasizes its originality.

By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

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• AI Detector
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Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

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Do your students need help finishing a paragraph? This post will not only show you how to teach CLOSING SENTENCES , it will also show you ways to help your students be creative with their closing sentences by writing CLINCHERS . It is part of a STEP-BY-STEP WRITING® series of mini-lessons for writer’s workshop designed to scaffold through the writing process. This lesson is for ending a paragraph, not a concluding sentence to an essay. That will come later in the writing mini-lesson series! If you haven’t covered topic sentences and relevant details, go back to TOPIC SENTENCES first!

MINI LESSON #7:  CLOSING SENTENCES is the third lesson for paragraph writing.

A closing sentence is the concluding sentence. Every paragraph needs an ending. It closes the door to the paragraph! It is the bottom bun of the burger!

• It summarizes the main ideas or feeling of a paragraph.
• It is not a relevant detail in the paragraph.
• It restates the topic sentence.
• Use a “clincher” to be creative with the closing sentence!  (question, humor, excitement, or a future thought)

Paragraph:   Fall is my favorite season. The weather is perfect for outside activities. I like going on hikes with my brother and fishing with my dad. I look forward to the smell of a fire and the taste of burnt marshmallows. I love fall weather!

2. TAKE NOTES

Students should take notes and write examples of closing sentences. Use interactive notes in a notebook form or digital form. It will help students establish ownership and have an effective resource to guide them when writing paragraphs in the future.

3. GO DEEPER

This is a great opportunity for teaching or differentiating with CLINCHERS . Clinchers are closing sentences that are more creative.

4. PRACTICE

Provide students with practice. Practice, Practice, Practice! Scaffold the practice. First, students identify closing sentences in paragraphs. Then students can write their own closing sentences or clinchers. This can be done by giving prompts and only writing the closing sentence or clincher for each prompt. It can also be used with the previous lessons, so students can build paragraphs from the topic sentence and relevant details that were already formed. When this lesson, they will have all the components of a paragraph for those prompts! Continue with the graphic organizers to keep the flow of the lessons. This is the bottom bun!

Task cards and self-check slides are a great way to give students extra practice in centers or at home.

5. APPLY AND SHARE

Provide a prompt or have students brainstorm ideas for a paragraph. Students now have all the skills necessary to write an effective paragraph. After students write a paragraph , focus on the closing sentence.  OR give students a paragraph without the closing sentence and have them add it.

After everyone is finished, students can present their paragraphs in groups or whole group and other students can  point out the closing sentence . Discuss how they close the door to the paragraph and restate the main idea.

6. ASSESS AND TRACK

I hope this helps you and your students (or child) understand how to write a paragraph!!!!

Next Lesson:  MINI LESSON #8 CREATING A TABLE OF CONTENTS

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LAST MINI LESSON: MINI LESSON #6- RELEVANT DETAILS

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF WRITING MINI LESSONS

This lesson is also included in the STEP-BY-STEP WRITING ® Programwith mini-lessons designed to scaffold through the writing process. Writing units included are sentence structure, paragraph writing, narrative writing, opinion writing, and informative writing. See what is included in the image below and click on it to learn more about them! You will turn your reluctant writers into ROCKSTAR WRITERS ™! 

Thank you for this comprehensive writing program.   I have always found it difficult to teach writing to my students.   My students all have specific learning disabilities and this has been a great resource for them and me.   The quality of writing coming from them this is year has increased from the previous year.   Thank you again!!  – Alison B.

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10 Effective Examples of Clincher Sentences for Informative Speeches

Are you struggling to find that perfect ending to your informative speech? Do you want to leave a lasting impression on your audience? Look no further than the clincher sentence!

A clincher sentence is the conclusion to your speech, where you tie everything together and make your final point. It’s the last chance you have to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make them remember your message.

But what makes a good clincher sentence? It should be memorable, impactful, and directly related to your topic. In this article, we’ll explore 10 effective examples of clincher sentences for informative speeches.

1. The Call to Action

“Let’s work together to create a better future for our children and the planet they will inherit.”

A call to action is a great way to end your speech with a clear message and a sense of urgency. It can motivate your audience to take action or make a change in their own lives, based on the information you’ve presented.

2. The Powerful Quote

“As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'”

Quotes can add credibility to your speech and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Choose a quote that is relevant to your topic and will resonate with your audience.

3. The Personal Anecdote

“I remember when I was in your shoes, trying to figure out my career path. But with determination and hard work, I found success.”

Sharing a personal anecdote can help you connect with your audience on a personal level and make your message more relatable.

4. The Surprising Fact

“Did you know that the largest living organism on the planet is a fungus? It covers over 2,200 acres in Oregon’s Blue Mountains.”

Surprising facts can capture your audience’s attention and make them remember your message long after your speech is over.

5. The Visual Imagery

“Imagine a world where every child has access to education, healthcare, and a loving family. That’s the world we’re striving to create.”

Using visual imagery can help your audience picture your message and feel emotionally connected to your topic.

6. The Rhetorical Question

“If we don’t take action now, what kind of world will we leave for future generations?”

A rhetorical question can provoke your audience to think and reflect on your message, leaving them with a sense of urgency to take action.

7. The Challenge

“I challenge each and every one of you to make a difference in your community. Together, we can create a better world.”

Challenging your audience to take action or make a change can inspire them to become more involved in your cause or topic.

8. The Optimistic Statement

“Although we face challenges ahead, I’m confident that with determination and hard work, we can overcome them and create a brighter future.”

Ending your speech on an optimistic note can leave your audience feeling hopeful and motivated to make a difference.

9. The Personal Thank You

“Thank you for listening today and for your continued support of our cause. Together, we can make a real difference in the world.”

Taking the time to thank your audience for their attention and support can leave a positive impression and encourage them to stay involved in your cause.

10. The Circular Ending

“So let’s remember the importance of education, healthcare, and a loving family. Because when we have those three things, we can create a better future for ourselves and for future generations.”

A circular ending can tie your speech together and leave your audience with a clear, memorable message.

In conclusion, the clincher sentence is a crucial part of any informative speech. Whether you choose a call to action, a powerful quote, or a personal anecdote, make sure it’s memorable, impactful, and directly related to your topic. With these 10 effective examples, you’ll be sure to leave a lasting impression on your audience.

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