How to Write a ConclusionWhat is a ConclusionwAconclusionisananswercreatedfromthehypothesis,andsumsupthehypothesis.wConclusionsalwaysareputattheendofawritingpiece.Theystatewhathasbeenprovenandwhathasbeenlearned.Purposes of a Conclusionuwrapthingsupandendyouressay,wevaluatesthesignificanceofthepaper,wreemphasizesthemainpoints,wpredictsanoutcome,woffersasolution,orsuggestsafurtherstudy.A Conclusion should include wArestatementofyoursubject,yourthesis,hypothesis,orwhatcanbecalledthecentralmissionofyourstudy.wApresentationofyourfindings,asummary.Becarefultoavoidmakingachapterbychapterlistofthecontentsofyourmaintext.Itshouldsoundlikeadiscussion.A conclusion should include3.Discussandinterpretfindings.Giveanswers.Drawinferencesfromyourstudyanddiscusstherelevanceofyourdata.4.Pointtoareasoffurtherresearch.Nodoubtwhileyouwereresearchingyourtopic,insomeareas,youfoundmorequestionsthananswers.A conclusion should include5.Gracefulexit.Makesureyourendinghasasending.Thefinaltwoorthreeparagraphsareasimportantasanyothers.Youcouldtalkabouttheoverallsignificanceofthestudy,ofthesubjectingeneral,andhowitisimportanttoknowaboutit.Makethereaderfeelthatithasbeenworthhisorhertimetoreadthispaperandthattheworldwillbeabetterplacewithyouinitasanacademic.The ConclusionRemindyourreaderwhyyouhavebeenwritingthisessay!ItsbeenalongwhilesinceyourTopicSentence!So,rephraseyourTopicSentence.Finally: broaden your focus!Moveawayfromexamples,quotesandanalysisandmakesomegeneralconclusions:DiscusswhatyouthinkwastheauthorspurposeDescribeyourpersonalreactionsorthoughtsConnectittolifeinthe21stcenturyYour conclusion should NOT include:wNewideasorfacts,wAnyfootnotes.wAnnouncementofwhatyouhavedone(i.e.InthispaperIhaveexplained.)Sample Conclusion:Macbethstartedoffasaheroandendedupahatedtyrant.Suchpower-hungrypeoplearestillaroundtodayandcontinuetocausegreatinstabilityinsociety.Thatiswhywecontinuetohavepoliticalunrestandwarsandwehearaboutthemdailyinthenews.Sadly,Shakespearehasshownusthatselfish,nakedambitionisoneofhumanitystimelessvices.Suggestions1. Answer the question So What?wShowyourreaderswhythispaperwasimportant.Showthemthatyourpaperwasmeaningfulanduseful.Suggestions2. Synthesize, dont summarizeuDontsimplyrepeatthingsthatwereinyourpaper.Theyhavereadit.uShowthemhowthepointsyoumadeandthesupportandexamplesyouusedwerenotrandom,butfittogether.Suggestions3. Redirect your readersuGiveyourreadersomethingtothinkabout,perhapsawaytouseyourpaperintherealworld.uIfyourintroductionwentfromgeneraltospecific,makeyourconclusiongofromspecifictogeneral.uThinkglobally.Suggestions4. Echoing the introduction: wEchoingyourintroductioncanbeagoodstrategyifitismeanttobringthereaderfull-circle.Suggestions5. Looking to the future:wLookingtothefuturecanemphasizetheimportanceofyourpaperorredirectthereadersthoughtprocess.wItmayhelpthemapplythenewinformationtotheirlivesorseethingsmoreglobally.Other SuggestionswKeepinmindthebalanceofyourassignment.Theconclusionshouldbeclearandrelativelybrief.wThereisno need to go over everything againthatyouhavealreadymentionedthiswouldbeunnecessarilyboringandtedious.wMakesurethatthe conclusion is based on what you have said beforeitisoftentemptingtogooffatatangentandtosaythingsthatarecompletelyunrelatedtothetopic.Bewaryofthis.IntroductoryParagraphMain Paragraph 1Main Paragraph 2ConclusionOther suggestionswTrynottomakeyouropiniontoopompousorauthoritarianusuallyyourviewpointwillbeobviousfromyourdiscussion,sothereisnoneedtoconcludewithstatementssuchas:Inconclusion,IthinkHamletisagreatplay.Allowyourenthusiasmforthetopictoshowinhowyoudiscussit.Other suggestionswBecarefulwithtenses.Inaconclusion,youwillusuallywanttousethepresentperfect(e.g.Theaimofthisdissertationhasbeento.)followedbythesimplepast(Chapter1providedanoverviewof,etc.).Other suggestionswBeverycarefulaboutusingthewordconclusionanywhereotherthantheconclusionitself!Thiscanmisleadthereader.Ifyouusethewordconclusionseveraltimesinanessay,thereaderwillgiveuptryingtoworkoutwheretheconclusionreallyis.