Read through the introduction and body of your essay. Ask yourself which main points, if any, you like to reiterate. Read the thesis statement in your introduction and reflect on whether or not you think you have adequately supported it in the essay's body. Consider referencing back to your thesis statement in your conclusion paragraph as a means of bringing the paper full circle and making it more complete.
Read the research papers and essays of peers and other writers. Read the conclusion of each paper to gain ideas concerning how to write a good conclusion. Reflect on the different styles and conclusion techniques you come across and think about which ones you'd like to use or you think will be most effective in your paper.
Ask someone to read your completed essay. Ask the reader what she thought of the paper and if she thinks the conclusion was effective in bringing a sense of completion to the topic. Ask the reader if she thinks the conclusion could be improved and, if so, what she thinks might be a more effective conclusion strategy.
Reiterate the intent of your essay. After the reader has read through your supporting arguments and research, it can be effective to explicitly remind him of the point you want to get across in the paper. For example, if your essay is about how crossing guards need to be more vigilant in school zones, the first line of your conclusion could state "Far too many accidents, injuries and deaths occur in school zones each year which is why I believe it is imperative that our city's crossing guards keep a more watchful eye."
Start your closing paragraph with a quotation by one of your references or sources. Using a source quotation from a knowledgeable source can add credibility to the final conclusion you want to draw. For example, you could write "According to Madison Elementary School Principal, John Smith, 'Far too many students are injured in our crosswalks,' and I couldn't agree more."
Summarize your entire essay briefly in your conclusion. Reference each of the main points you made in the body of your paper as well as to your thesis statement to demonstrate why you arrived at the conclusion you did. For example, you could write "By rerouting traffic, training our crossing guards and lowering the speed limit in school zones, we can prevent accidents from occurring and young lives from being lost."
End your conclusion by posing a question to the reader. Posing a rhetorical question can cause the reader to think about your research and ponder the question long after he finishes your paper. For example, you could pose a question like "With so many possible solutions to choose from, why hasn't City Hall done something to prevent these accidents from occurring?"