Like introductions, it is best to keep to a simple structure for a conclusion. Though components of the conclusion in academic papers may vary greatly, the conclusion should reiterate the main points or arguments of your paper and should relate back to the information that you have provided in your introduction. After moving from general to specific information in the introduction and body, your conclusion should begin pulling back into more general information.

Activity 3-1: Arranging the sentence order of a conclusion

The following sentences are from a conclusion paragraph, but they are in the wrong order. Discuss with your partner and put them in the correct order.

(1) All students deserve a chance to be successful in their studies and responsible universities must respond to student needs so that they graduate well-educated students of the highest standard, now and in the future.

(2) To conclude, university students who are experiencing difficulty with their academic writing skills will require assistance to reach their academic potential.

(3) In response, universities invest considerable capital into well-run programs that effectively assist students to overcome their writing problems.

(4) The main causes of student difficulty appear to be that secondary school assessment has a different focus from university expectations and that universities are increasingly attracting mature age students who may require an update on their skills.

Activity 3-2: Identifying the structure of a conclusion

Read another sample conclusion below (Sample Conclusion 3). Underline the features listed in Table 1 and write the letter (a-g) and complete the Table.

Sample Conclusion 3

(1) This essay set out to examine two academic forms of writing — essays and reports and evaluate their suitability to give evidence to the learning of university students. (2) The evaluation was approached in terms of their purpose, form and content. (3) It also gave some consideration to alternate forms of academic assessment.

(4) From the evidence of writers offering advice on correct academic writing, and observation of common practice among academics and students, it is clear that essays are used in order to show how a student can take on board existing knowledge in their discipline and use this to draw their own conclusions and form opinions.(5) Proper academic style requires a fixed structure of introdcution, main body and conclusion. (6) However, the manner in which the topic is dealt with depends on the process of the question or title being tackled. (7) On the other hand, reports are used to give evidence to research on a restricted topic. (8) They are written so as to allow the reader to read selectively, a process that is aided by a fixed structure including sections with heading and subheadings.

(9) From this examination, it has been shown that essays and reports do indeed appropriately give evidence of these two different types. (10) It has also been explained how they are well-suited to giving evidence to the results or products of these learning processes. (11) What may need to be considered, but is beyond the scope of this paper, is whether it is sufficient to summatively assess these two types of learning or whether other forms of assessment, for instance, learning journals or student portfolios, may be required as well in order to allow for formative assessment evidencing other forms of learning and taking greater consideration of the learning processes involved.

Table 1 Structure of a Conclusion