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Smithjoara - 27th May 15:37
Writing good essays is a skill that many students need to practice. But writing a thesis statement or conclusion is a different kind of exercise.
The most important point to keep in mind when you're writing your thesis statement and/or conclusion is that you don't have to always agree with what you're saying. An argument can get very complex, and there are lots of different ways to say it. Sometimes the debate between two sides is the most interesting part of an essay, and sometimes it's the details that matter.
Your thesis statement needs to be simple enough to summarize your key points, but complex enough so that you can recognize when it's gotten out of hand. Your conclusion should be as tight as possible, and not rely too heavily on your thesis statement.
You need to make sure that the parts of your essay where one side agrees with you (and vice versa) are clearly discussed for each individual point, including what's being said about them (e.g., "If we accept this conclusion, therefore..."). You should also include any supporting evidence from sources like books or websites so readers can find out more about them or their sources if they want further information on the topic at hand.
When writing from both sides of an argument—either persuasively or in support of a particular side—it's important that you use reasoning and evidence to back up your claims so readers will know what side you're coming from (or if this isn't convincing enough for people, just leave them hanging). If you can't back up your claim with evidence without resorting to ad-hominems or false equivalencies, then your essay might be better suited for another type of writing assignment; but remember: if it wasn't compelling first, it probably isn't compelling second!