Writing a strong conclusion

Every academic writer is well aware of the importance of conclusion. It is often more than enough to get the general picture of the dissertation or an essay by going through this usually laconic section. Writing one, however, is no small feat.

That is mostly because it is rather hard to find anything useful or interesting to say in conclusions. Here are only the few out of many points to keep in mind when writing the “epilogue” of your dissertation

Many people prefer sticking to the “formula”

When writing one, but it would often be better to go without clichés and phrases like “We can conclude that…”. It would make your conclusions section feel more alive and written, because you “care”.
Do not forget to bring up the main idea of the research, its significance. When writing a conclusion you should show how you answered the main research question and brought closure to the problem. Do not concentrate on something that you have written in a single paragraph of the paper, instead try shedding some light on the issues of the whole research, carried throughout the paper.

Last chapter has several main purposes:

• to summarise the results
• to present your own suggestions and ideas about the research
• to offer your advice and speculate on the future research in this area.

Check this list of most common tips useful to write a logical conclusion:

1. Never underestimate the significance of the keywords. Use them and the phrases from the introduction wisely. Do not abuse this, however, as it may come to bite you in the end. But, putting the correct keywords and phrases in the correct places throughout the conclusion can greatly benefit you in the eyes of the person, researcher, etc. who is currently reviewing your paper.
2. Do not lose “style”. Keep the same tone that you have used in the dissertation or essay. Try to refrain from using any ambiguity in your expressions, jokes and hard to understand contexts. The tone should be polite and formal. It will present you as the serious researcher, intent on having a serious and thoughtful discussion.
3. Keep in mind that you are not to introduce any new ideas in your conclusion. This section in its entirety should signal the reader that you are trying to point out the significance of the paper and bring the whole dissertation to the definite and clear end. Disregarding this is not recommended, as it may be viewed as “disappointing” in the eyes of the reader, who wanted to see the answer to the question raised and not to be introduced to another unsolved problem.
4. Always remember that a good researcher revises the conclusion along with the paper. If you are changing something in your essay or a dissertation, your conclusions section should become the mirror of the paper, accurately adjusting itself to whatever changes you have made. Rereading your own conclusions from time to time will do you no harm, but it may greatly benefit you in the long run.

These are only several points to keep in mind when writing a strong conclusion. Never hesitate to put some effort into this small section and your efforts will surely pay off.