The Conclusion
Do not underestimate the importance of the conclusion - it is the last thing the reader reads. It should give your writing a sense of completeness and leave a lasting impression on the reader.
There is no one correct way to write a conclusion but you might think about the following:
- Synthesise - don't summarise! Don't repeat things said in the main body (the reader has already read this!) but show how your ideas, your examples and your references have combined to support your line of argument.
- Bring your paper full circle by echoing the introduction. But talk about the topic now with the hindsight of having developed your ideas in the body of your review.
- Acknowledge where there are opposing viewpoints which might qualify your argument.
- Pose questions which still remain to be answered or further explored or require further study.
- Emphasise key material.
- Point out the importance of the implications of what you have said on your field of research or your area of work.
- You may feel you were not always able to arrive at conclusions to your questions. Being able to recognise the lack of a conclusion can be good in that it demonstrates you understand the complexity of the problem.
- You might save a provocative or exciting insight or quotation to add spice to your conclusion. But take care not to risk diverting attention from the arguments you have developed - avoid leaving the reader with a new direction that needs researching when you want your ideas and deliberations on your topic to take centre stage.