Writing the parts of scientific reports
General
There are probably some overlaps between the Conclusion and the Discussion section. Nevertheless, this section gives you the opportunity to highlight the most important points in your report, and is sometimes the only section read. Think about what your research/ study has achieved, and the most important findings and ideas you want the reader to know. As all studies have limitations also think about what you were not able to cover (this shows that you are able to evaluate your own work objectively).
Possible structure of this section:
| Summary of the findings | Restate briefly the work carried out, the aims and hypotheses or research questions. Highlight the most important findings. |
| Evaluation of the study | State what you consider to be the achievements and limitations of your work. Assess how far the aims of your research have been satisfied. Here you can include a personal assessment of what you have learnt (if you are asked to provide it) |
| Suggestions for future research | Suggest how your work reported in this paper opens new research possibilities. |
| Implications of the study | Place the study in a wider context of research in the discipline and/ or a situation in the real world. |
| (positive) Applications of the research | Indicate how the research may be practically useful in real-world situations |
| Recommendations | Give specific suggestions for real-world actions to be taken on the basis of the research. |
Language focus
Use present perfect to sum up/ evaluate:
This study has explored/ has attempted…
Use past tense to state what your aim was and to refer to actions you carried out:
- This study was intended to analyse …
- The aim of this study was to …
Use present tense to evaluate your study and to state the generalizations and implications that you draw from your findings.
- The results add to the knowledge of …
- These findings suggest that …
You can either use present tense or past tense to summarize your results.
- The findings reveal …
- It was found that …
Language focus when making an evaluation of your work
Achievements of this study (positive)
- This study provides evidence that …
- This work has contributed to a number of key issues in the field such as …
Limitations of the study (negative)
- Several limitations should be noted. First …
Combine positive and negative remarks to give a balanced assessment:
- Although this research is somewhat limited in scope, its findings can provide a basis for future studies.
- Despite the limitations, findings from the present study can help us understand …
Language focus when giving suggestions for future resarch
Use more cautious language (modal verbs may, can, could)
- There are a number of possible extensions of this research …
- The findings suggest the possibility for future research on …
- These results may be important for future studies on …
- Examining a wider context could/ would lead …
Or indicate that future research is needed
- There is still a need for future research to determine …
- Further studies should be undertaken to discover…
- It would be worthwhile to investigate …
For useful phrases to lead your reader through the conclusion section, go to the Academic Phrasebank, Writing Conclusions.
FAQs
Restate briefly the work carried out, the aims and hypotheses or research questions. Highlight the most important findings. Suggest how your work reported in this paper opens new research possibilities. Place the study in a wider context of research in the discipline and/ or a situation in the real world.
How to write a conclusion in academic writing? ›
Your conclusion gives the reader a summary of the ideas you covered in your assignment. At this point, you should not be introducing any new ideas or information. In your conclusion, you should: Summarise each of your points from the main body of your essay.
What are the conclusion and recommendations of an academic report? ›
Whereas a conclusion offers you the opportunity to summarize or review your report's main ideas, recommendations suggest actions to be taken in response to the findings of a report. You can regard recommendations as a prompt to action for your readers.
What is the purpose of the conclusion of academic writing? ›
The purpose of a conclusion is to summarise the main points of your essay. It is your last opportunity to bring together what you have been saying, and to make your opinion, and your understanding of the topic, very clear to your examiner.
What 5 things should a conclusion include? ›
Restate your topic and why it is important, Restate your thesis/claim, Address opposing viewpoints and explain why readers should align with your position, Call for action or overview future research possibilities.
What is an example of a conclusion? ›
Example: In conclusion, Frederick Douglass was, as we have seen, a pioneer in American education, proving that education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.
What are the 5 steps of a conclusion? ›
An effective conclusion will contain all five elements of summing up your research paper:
- Restate your research topic.
- Restate the thesis.
- Summarize the main points.
- State the significance or results.
- Conclude your thoughts.
Here are some key aspects to include in your conclusion to ensure its effectiveness:
- End the essay on a positive note.
- Communicate the importance of your ideas and the subject matter.
- Provide the reader with a sense of closure.
- Reiterate and summarize your main points.
- Rephrase and then restate your thesis statement.
It is also important to ensure that each component is clearly labeled and presented in a logical order in the evaluation report. Findings should be presented first, followed by conclusions and then recommendations.
What is an example of a recommendation? ›
Dear [First and Last Name], It's my absolute pleasure to recommend [Name] for [position] with [Company]. [Name] and I [relationship] at [Company] for [length of time]. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with [Name], and came to know [him/her/them] as a truly valuable asset to our team.
The conclusion should summarise what has been written in the main body of the assignment but it should not introduce any new material or points. However, the conclusion is where you can offer your own thoughts and opinions having evaluated the evidence you have offered in your essay.
What are some things to avoid while writing conclusions? ›
For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:
- Important evidence or analysis that wasn't mentioned in the main body.
- Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
- Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)
Whatever the length of that journey, the concluding paragraph gives you an opportunity to revisit and strengthen the main parts of that journey for your reader. A conclusion can take many shapes, but its two main purposes tend to be to do the following: Revisit the ideas and themes in the essay. Provide closure.
How should I write a good conclusion? ›
How to Write a Conclusion
- Restate your thesis: remind readers of your main point.
- Reiterate your supporting points: remind readers of your evidence or arguments.
- Wrap everything up by tying it all together.
- Write a clincher: with the last sentence, leave your reader with something to think about.
It is also important to ensure that each component is clearly labeled and presented in a logical order in the evaluation report. Findings should be presented first, followed by conclusions and then recommendations.
How to start a conclusion paragraph? ›
The conclusion paragraph should begin by restating your thesis, and then you should broaden back out to a general topic. End with a closing statement.
Language focus
For useful phrases to lead your reader through the conclusion section, go to the Academic Phrasebank, Writing Conclusions.