I. General Rules Show
The function of your paper's conclusion is to restate the main argument. It reminds the reader of the strengths of your main argument(s) and reiterates the most important evidence supporting those argument(s). Do this by stating clearly the context, background, and necessity of pursuing the research problem you investigated in relation to an issue, controversy, or a gap found in the literature. Make sure, however, that your conclusion is not simply a repetitive summary of the findings. This reduces the impact of the argument(s) you have developed in your essay. When writing the conclusion to your paper, follow these general rules:
Consider the following points to help ensure your conclusion is presented well:
The conclusion also provides a place for you to persuasively and succinctly restate the research problem, given that the reader has now been presented with all the information about the topic. Depending on the discipline you are writing in, the concluding paragraph maycontain your reflections on the evidence presented. However, the nature of being introspective about the research you have conducted will depend on the topic and whether your professor wants you to express your observations in this way. NOTE: If asked to think introspectively about the topics, do not delve into idle speculation. Being introspective means looking within yourself as an author to try and understand an issue more deeply, not to guess at possible outcomes or make up scenarios not supported by the evidence. II. Developing a Compelling Conclusion Although an effective conclusion needs to be clear and succinct, it does not need to be written passively or lack a compelling narrative. Strategies to help you move beyond merely summarizing the key points of your research paper may include any of the following strategies:
III. Problems to Avoid Failure to be concise Failure to comment on larger, more significant issues Failure to reveal problems and negative results Failure to provide a clear summary of what was learned Failure to match the objectives of your research Resist the urge to apologize Assan, Joseph. "Writing the Conclusion Chapter: The Good, the Bad and the Missing." Liverpool: Development Studies Association (2009): 1-8; Concluding Paragraphs. College Writing Center at Meramec. St. Louis Community College; Conclusions. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Conclusions. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Freedman, Leora and Jerry Plotnick. Introductions and Conclusions. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Leibensperger, Summer. Draft Your Conclusion. Academic Center, the University of Houston-Victoria, 2003; Make Your Last Words Count. The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin Madison; Miquel, Fuster-Marquez and Carmen Gregori-Signes. “Chapter Six: ‘Last but Not Least:’ Writing the Conclusion of Your Paper.” In Writing an Applied Linguistics Thesis or Dissertation: A Guide to Presenting Empirical Research. John Bitchener, editor. (Basingstoke,UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), pp. 93-105; Tips for Writing a Good Conclusion. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Kretchmer, Paul. Twelve Steps to Writing an Effective Conclusion. San Francisco Edit, 2003-2008; Writing Conclusions. Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University; Writing: Considering Structure and Organization. Institute for Writing Rhetoric. Dartmouth College. Which one of the following conclusions is most warranted from research on brain development?Which of the following conclusions is most warranted from research on brain development? Educational experiences can affect students' cognitive development throughout the elementary and secondary school years.
Which one of the following conclusions is most true regarding factors that influence brain development *?According to the textbook, which one of the following conclusions is most true regarding factors that influence brain development? Together, brain development is shaped by genetic and environmental factors throughout the life span.
Which of the following best describes psychologists current beliefs about the brain and learning?Which one of the following best describes psychologists' current beliefs about the brain and learning? Learning involves changes in synapses and possibly also involves the growth of new neurons and astrocytes.
Which one of the following statements is most accurate statement regarding theories of learning?Which one of the following statements is the most accurate statement regarding theories of learning? They are often modified as new data emerge. The textbook's perspective regarding various theories of learning is that: Different theories may be (more or less) applicable in different situations.
|