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. What does the table of contents in a report contain?A table of contents shows the reader where the various sections of the report are located. It is written on a separate page. It includes the page numbers of each section within the report and any appendices that are attached to the report. It does not include the title page, abstract or executive summary.
Why should the important contents of a long business report be summarized in an executive summary quizlet?Documenting your sources for secondary research helps decision makers judge the quality of your data. An executive summary tells the story of the report so the busy reader can get the gist of the content.
Why do reports frequently include appendices?(Ch. 13) Which of the following is most likely to be included in an appendix? (Reports frequently include appendixes to provide reference materials. For example, common information in appendixes include financial statements, marketing materials, detailed data tables, brochures, references, résumés, and biographies.)
Which of the following will help you ensure that your report is fair and effective?Which of the following will help you ensure that your report is fair and effective? By reviewing his report before submitting it to his CEO in order to be sure that it contains sound, reliable information, analysis, and advice, Juan is taking an appropriate step toward making his report objective.
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