clincher essay writing

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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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