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I'm writing a professional essay for an argument, and I'm trying to find a good paragraph starter to use for the penultimate paragraph.

I'm leaning towards writing something similar to 'finally,' or 'last but not least,' but I don't think it really fits since it's not the last paragraph. This is the final paragraph where I build my case. The last paragraph, I just restate my main points and leave it there. If it's important, the previous paragraphs two paragraphs were argument ones, and the first paragraph was an intro.

Should I use them, or just scrap them and use something else?

I'm specifically asking if it's fine to use this in a professional setting. If a word somehow existed that means something along the lines of 'last but in a penultimate way', that would be great too.

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    If the last paragraph just summarizes all that came before it, then the penultimate paragraph is the last of your argumentation and finally or something with a similar meaning seems quite fitting to me, as it will contain the conclusion of your argumentation or the last of your arguments. Finally isn't reserved for last paragraphs. Commented Feb 7, 2024 at 7:18
  • @Ben it's not to summarise what's come before it, it's to make a new point in my argument. Commented Feb 7, 2024 at 22:10
  • Well then you seem to know what you want and don't need other opinions. Commented Feb 8, 2024 at 6:10
  • Can you say what 'a professional essay for an argument' means? Good or bad, can you say what 'a paragraph starter' means? Despite any of that, can you say what you mean by 'the penultimate essay'? Commented Oct 8, 2024 at 21:31
  • @RobbieGoodwin A "professional essay for an argument" is to be defined as one that uses academic professional language to clearly take one side in an argument and clearly use evidence to claim why it's better. A "paragraph starter" is to be defined as the first line of a paragraph, what leads into what it'll be about. Penultimate essay was a large typo; it was meant to be penultimate paragraph. Commented Oct 8, 2024 at 22:31

2 Answers 2

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Suggestions:

  • To come to a conclusion, ...
  • Towards a conclusion, ...
  • Conclusively, ...
  • As a matter of fact, ...
  • As far as X is concerned, ...
  • It was [has still to be] shown that, ...
  • What does it leave us? (rhetorical question, followed by the argument) ....
  • To emphasize [one last point], ...
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How about something like?

  • A final point is ...
  • A final consideration is ...

In other words, use the word 'final' but make it mean your last point, not your last paragraph.

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