If you have finished the introduction and the main body of your dissertation or thesis, it is not yet time to celebrate. It is because writing a conclusion is equally important. Typically the decision is the last item that one writes in any research paper like a thesis or dissertation. Besides, readers read the conclusion last. Therefore, it needs to be memorable. Penning an impressive decision is simple yet not so easy after you have finished with the rest of the sections.
In general, a memorable conclusion provides a review of the main points in your research paper. It gives an explanation to your audience why the information is applicable, relevant, or related globally. To achieve this, you need to allocate adequate writing time to the thesis conclusion and not write it off until you finish. In this article, we provide practical strategies for writing an effective conclusion.
Whereas dissertation introduction begins with broad statements of the topic and narrows down to thesis statement, the conclusion, on the other hand, does the same but oppositely.
Restate the thesis
To begin your conclusion, it is better to restate the thesis statement. It does not mean merely copying and pasting the thesis statement from the introduction. Instead, it would be best if you wrote it using different words. Consider changing the structure of your comments so that you avoid sounding repetitive. Besides, do not say apologetically in your writings. Remember to be secure in your conclusion as in the introduction. The contents should address all the sections of your dissertation.
Reiterate or review significant points of your work
Do a review of key points from your paper. Go back to the body and take note of topic sentences for almost every paragraph. If possible, reword these sentences so that you avoid repetition. Please take note of two striking statistics and quotations and paraphrase them. In general, a conclusion is a representation of your close remarks on the dissertation topic. Therefore, it should bear your own words.
Explain the relevance of your work
However, it is good to allow your readers to critic your opinions and reflections, but you should not leave loose ends in your concluding remarks. Remember to provide some resolution and ensure your conclusion wraps your arguments. Remember to explain to your readers the relevance of your research in your field of study and how data analysis fits your interpretation.
Provide a take-home message for your readers
Conclude your conclusion with a memorable call to action, warning, or question. Some readers will wonder if you end your paper with a question on how they can use your thesis’s information. Based on your topic, you can conclude with a call to action or even a warning of impending danger. It will enable your reader to be careful when using the information in your paper.
Frequently asked questions
The secret of writing a great dissertation conclusion?
The conclusion is the last section your readers will see, so make it memorable by ensuring the following information come out clearly:
- Take-home message
- The relevance of your work
- A review of the significant points
- Restatement of your thesis
Information to include
In general, your conclusion is about the review of the significant points in your thesis. Here, you finalize your work with your closing thoughts after the hard work of writing all the other sections. It should be simple if you did all the different areas and have all the sticking points at the back of your mind.
The size of the conclusion?
The size of your conclusion depends on the overall size of the entire thesis. In general, the decision should be between 5 to 7 % of the whole thesis word count.
How to end your thesis conclusion?
You must end your thesis conclusion with unique ideas such as calling to action, warning, or even a question. Including a question might leave your readers wondering. But it is important so that they can dig in for information from the body of the dissertation.