"CONCLUSION & REFERENCES
IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH"
M E E T I N G 7 R E AD I N G F O R AC A D E M I C P U R P O S E S
A. CONCLUSION
OBJECTIVES:
1. Learners will be able to identify what elements
should or should not be included in a conclusion.
2. Learners can apply techniques to write a good
conclusion for an academic essay.
PRACTICE 1
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever read an essay without a
conclusion? What impression did it give you?
2. Do you think a conclusion is necessary in writing?
3. How would you define a good conclusion?
4. What kind of expressions do we normally find in a
conclusion?
ANALOGIES OF CONCLUSION
1. Conclusion as the Final Chord
A conclusion is the last paragraph in your essay or research
paper, or the last part in any other type of presentation. A
conclusion is similar to the final chord in a song. It makes the
listener feel that the piece is complete and well done.
2. Conclusion as the Summing Up
To use another analogy, a conclusion is like a trial lawyer's
summing up after he has presented all his evidence to a jury.
This summing up is the strongest part of his presentation,
although it does not take as much time as presenting his
evidence. Such a principle also applies to a writer's concluding
paragraph or chapter. The conclusion is very muchlike the
summing up. It ties all the ideas together and indicates to the
readers that this is the end of the writing.
ANALOGIES OF CONCLUSION
3. Conclusion as the Climax
A writer should remember that the conclusion is often
what readers remember best. Thus, it should be
treated as the climax of the whole paper. A good
conclusion would highlight the reliability of the author
and increase readers' conviction in what they have
read.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A GOOD
CONCLUSION
In general, a good conclusion will:
1. summarize main points.
2. give personal opinions.
3. challenge readers to make a change in lifestyle,
or to take some action, or to reconsider their
thoughts about something.
4. give a suggestion for further research.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A GOOD
CONCLUSION
The conclusion should support what has been stated
in the body of the paper; yet, it should not simply
repeat what the readers have already read in the
essay or paper. It needs to give readers "something to
think about," but no new evidence should be
included in this section. It should synthesize, not
merely summarize. It should reveal how the points,
the examples, and the supporting data mentioned
earlier in the body of the paper are not randomly
selected; on the contrary, they fit together
coherently.
EFFECT OF A GOOD CONCLUSION
As a result, a good conclusion will usually make the
following impact on readers:
1. stress the importance of the topic of the paper.
2. create a sense of completeness of the paper.
3. leave a lasting final impression on readers.
STRATEGIES FOR WRITING A GOOD
CONCLUSION
1. Echo the Introduction
A good introduction introduces the general topic of the
paper to the readers, and the content of the conclusion
should be consistent with the introduction. So, it is
suggested that you reread the introduction before you
start to write the conclusion. When you echo the
introduction for the conclusion, you can bring readers full
circle in their reading experience. You have to remember,
though, that to echo is not the same as repeating the
exact words. Your conclusion should reflect the
introduction, but not copy it.
STRATEGIES FOR WRITING A GOOD
CONCLUSION
Example:In the example below, the Introduction and
Conclusion are provided.
Introduction:According to many critics of his time,
Shakespeare was vulgar, provincial and overrated. He is
not very much appreciated, let alone considered as a
literary genius of his time. All has changed greatly now as
he is regarded the supreme deity of poetry, drama, and
high culture itself.
Conclusion:It is true that Shakespeare was once
considered a vulgar and provincial by his fellow critics of
his time. However, the opinion is completely challenged
today. Despite the violence in his tragicomedies and the
absurdities in his comedies, Shakespeare has managed to
present the reality of life in his plays and he is widely known
as the best playwright in English literature.
STRATEGIES FOR WRITING A GOOD
CONCLUSION
2. Challenge the Reader
Presenting a challenge for readers in the conclusion helps them
to gain a new meaning out of the paper they have read. It
redirects readers'understanding of the paper, so they may apply
what they have read into their own lives.
Example:
Using public transport instead of a private vehicle is good for our
environment because it reduces the level of pollution. It is also
good for you because it costs less. However, many people still
feel reluctant to change their transportation habit. They think
public transport is not as comfortable as their own car. We have
to remember, though, that such a personal comfort would result
in a higher level of polluted air in our city. Thus, it is a challenge
for us to care more for our environment and to put aside our
selfish comfort for the benefit of our society.
