What is the primary role of a conclusion in an essay?

The primary role of a conclusion in an essay is to summarize the main points effectively. This section serves as the final opportunity for the writer to reinforce their argument and remind readers of the key ideas that have been discussed throughout the essay. By summarizing the main points, the conclusion helps to clarify the overall message and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of the argument presented.

A conclusion also provides a sense of closure, tying together all the elements of the essay, but its main purpose is indeed to encapsulate the primary arguments rather than introducing new evidence, presenting counterarguments, or providing background material. Introducing new evidence would confuse readers, counterarguments are typically addressed in the body of the essay, and background material is usually presented in the introduction or body sections, not in the conclusion.