Welcome to this
online video tutorial brought to you by HELPS.
This video will introduce useful advice and tips
on how to write an effective conclusion to an essay,
report or case study.
In a previous online tutorial video we introduced you to a real-life
assignment question. Talked about how to structure
the introduction to an essay. Here is that assignment question.
Notice the keywords including
'academic learning and literacy centers' and
'the most effective approach'. It's very important to ensure
that you fully analyse and understand the question before you start writing.
Ultimately your conclusion must demonstrate
that you have fully answered the question. Please keep in mind
the key words 'in red' which we will identify in our sample conclusion
in a moment.
Essentially a conclusion consists of three main objectives:
firstly it must summarise the arguments or information
that has been presented in the body of the paper. The purpose of the conclusion
is to consolidate the various issues or research data
that have been covered in the core of your paper. Then
it must restate the key points that have been presented
and reiterate the thesis statement. Finally
it should comment on any implications resulting from your discussion of the
topic.
This could include recommendations, forecasting future trends
or the need for further research.
If you experience difficulty in writing your conclusion
you can always talk to a HELPS advisor or one of our volunteers.
They're always ready to help you if you need assistance at
any stage of the writing process.
Essential elements of a conclusion must be carefully
integrated and 'progress logically' from one to another.
Start with a sentence that links back
to the main subject discussed in the body of the essay. Following this
give a brief summary of your argument or
information to make it easier for the reader to recall the overall content of
your paper.
It's important to summarise the key points only.
You may also wish to identify the main reasons,
causes or factors that relate to the question that you've been asked to
address.
Restating 'your thesis'
at this point articulates the purpose of your writing
and gives it a sense of unity. Finally
recommendations for future action or speculation on future trends
may be mentioned here.
Here is an example of a conclusion
written specifically for this essay topic on
academic language and literacy. You may pause the video at this point
to allow you to read and understand the paragraph.
You'll notice that it comprises all of the elements
that we just discussed. The first sentence
links back to the previous paragraph. The use of keywords
such as 'studying at tertiary level' reminds the reader
what they read previously. The second element
provides a brief summary of the information presented;
as well as some other critical factors in this
essay topic. The section 'in green'
serves to restate the thesis. In other words,
it is reiterating the argument of this essay.
Finally,
the section 'in red' provides some recommendations.
It's a great idea to include this part
in your conclusion, as it demonstrates to your 'target
reader' that you've thought more deeply about the implications of the topic.
Here are some important points to remember.
Ensure that your conclusion always has
a logical ending to what has been previously discussed.
It must consolidate all the parts of your argument
and refer the reader back to the focus you've outlined
in your introduction to the central topic. Generally for a paper
that is less than three thousand words in length, one to two paragraphs should
be sufficient to wrap up.
The conclusion must always add value to your essay.
It should add to the overall quality and impact
of your writing. Be sure
that your conclusion doesn't simply summarise
your entire essay. It's also a good idea to avoid
using long quotations. Be careful
not to focus on only one minor point
in the conclusion. It is essential to summarise
all of the main points covered. A very common mistake that students make
is introducing new material, evidence
or new points into the conclusion that have not been previously mentioned
in the body of the essay. If you feel that you need more help in writing
assignment
you can get free help at the HELPS unit.
We're located in building one, level 3
room 8 just across from the Concourse Cafe
and the Career's office. Our contact details appear on your screen.
Please feel free to come and visit us and chat to an advisor
about receiving academic language support to complete your assessments.
We're at your service.
Thanks for watching and thanks for listening.