文章结尾的作用是概括全文内容，进一步强调或肯定文章的中心思想，使文章意义表达得更加深刻。

文章结尾的形式也是多种多样的，常见的有以下几种：

1．首尾呼应，画龙点睛

在文章的结尾，把含义较深的话放在末尾，以点明主题，深化主题，起到画龙点睛的效果。如"I Cannot Forget Her" (我忘不了她)的结尾：

After her death, I felt as if something were missing in my life. I was sad over her passing away, but I knew she would not have had any regrets at having given her life for the benefit of the people.

2．重复主题句

结尾回到文章开头阐明的中心思想或主题句上，达到强调的效果。如“I Love My Home Town”(我爱家乡)的结尾：

I love my home town, and I love its people. They too have changed. They are going all out to do more for the good of our motherland.

3. 自然结尾

随着文章的结束，文章自然而然地结尾。如“Fishing”(钓鱼)的结尾：

I caught as many as twenty fish in two hours, but my brother caught many more. Tired from fishing, we lay down on the river bank, bathing in the sun. We returned home very late.

4．含蓄性的结尾

用比喻或含蓄的手法不直接点明作者的看法，而是让读者自己去领会和思考。如“A Day of Harvesting”(收割的日子)的结尾：

Evening came before we realized it. We put down our sickles and looked at each other. Our clothes were wet with sweat, but on every face there was a smile.

5．用反问结尾

虽然形式是问句，但意义却是肯定的，并具有特别的强调作用，引起读者深思。如 "Should We Learn to Do Housework?" (我们要不要学做家务?) 的结尾。

Everyone should learn to do housework. Don't you agree, boys and girls?

6．指明方向，激励读者

结尾表示对将来的展望，或期待读者投入行动。如“Let's Go in for Sports”(让我们参加体育运动)的结尾：

As we have said above, sports can be of great value. They not only make people live happily but also help people to learn virtues and do their work bettter. A sound mind is in a sound body. Let's go in for sports.

文章的结尾没有一定的模式，可以根据表达主题的需要灵活创造。一般的习惯是，一些记叙文和描写文经常采用自然结尾的方法；但说理性和逻辑性较强的说明文和议论文则往往都有结束语，以便使文章首尾呼应，结构完整。