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Structuring an assignment (Open Learning)

Conclusions

gavel on book

 

  • Your conclusion should leave the reader with the feeling that you have explored all the issues around the assignment questions and criteria, and that you have come to a decision as to the most appropriate answer. 
  • A good conclusion should be about 5-10% of the final word count. If your conclusion is only one or two sentences, then the end will be too abrupt.
  • It should set out a summary of what you've discussed. You need to summarise the main points that you've discussed earlier in the main body paragraphs. Make sure that you check through your essay and note down any key points. This should just involve bringing together the ‘Do’ conclusions to each of your paragraphs
  • You need to present your overall argument or findings, explaining why your viewpoint is important. This argument should not come as a surprise to anyone reading your assignment, as all your writing should be leading up to it. Your conclusion should NOT head in a different direction from the way you’ve been arguing your points through your assignment.

 

  • It should include the implications of your findings, for example in practice. This could include your recommendations or predictions.  Remember, you need to keep your essay formal all the way through, and that includes the conclusion – don’t use ‘I’ or ‘my’
  • Refer back to the assignment question, making sure that you’ve kept on track. Going back to your original question can make a good final sentence.
  • Your conclusion should NOT contain any new material whether that is new evidence or new ideas.. This is not the place for it. If you suddenly have a new idea, that's great. But you cannot put it in your conclusion. Any new ideas need to be discussed fully in the main body paragraphs. So remember, when you get to your conclusion, you're only summarising, that's all you do in that paragraph.

You can use phrases such as 'In conclusion..' or 'To sum up..' to introduce your findings.