How to Write

Conclusion
March 31, 2021
 Structe of Conclusion
☺ Conclusion Structure
Contents Included
Thesis Restate the thesis (using synonyms and
paraphrases)
and remind the reader of tour
stance/position
Summary Summarize the main ideas/ key points
you discussed in your body paragraphs
Future Focus Suggestion/Rcommendation/Prediction/
Solution
Implications for your field/ Significance
of the topic
 Sample Conclusion Structure
☺ Conclusion (Thesis + Summary + Future Focus)

In conclusion, this essay has discussed three key areas of

CSR and has argued that it is an important consideration
for larger companies in 2020. In promoting a good
reputation in being environmentally friendly, supporting
local companies and providing positive working
conditions, evidence suggests that this will in the
long-run improve profitability and encourage outside
environment. Our future prediction is that as consumers
are becoming more ethically minded, now is the time to
invest in CSR.
 Useful Expressions for Conclusion
Announcing your conclusions and summarizing content
☺ In conclusion / In summary / In sum / To sum up, our work …
☺ Our work has led us to conclude / the conclusion that …
☺ We have presented / outlined / described …
☺ In this paper / study / review we have …
☺ This paper has investigated / explained / given an account of …

Restating the results (Conclusions section)

☺ The evidence from this study suggests / implies / points towards
the idea / intimates that …
☺ The results / findings of this study indicate / support the idea /
suggest that …
☺ In general, / Taken together, these results suggest / would seem to
suggest that …
☺ An implication / A consequence / The upshot of this is the
possibility that …
 Useful Expressions for Conclusion
Highlighting achievements (Conclusions section)
☺ Our research / This paper has highlighted / stressed /
underlined the importance of …
☺ We have managed to do / succeeded in doing / been able to
do / found a way to do X.
☺ We have found an innovative / a new / a novel / a
cutting-edge solution for …
☺ We have obtained accurate / satisfactory / comprehensive
results proving / demonstrating / showing that …
☺ We have devised a methodology / procedure / strategy which
…
☺ We have confirmed / provided further evidence /
demonstrated that …
 Useful Expressions for Conclusion
☺ Considerable progress has been made / insight has been
gained with regard to …
☺ Taken together, these findings suggest / implicate / highlight
a role for X
☺ Our study provides the framework / a springboard / the
backbone / the basis / a blueprint / an agenda / a stimulus /
encouragement for a new way to do X.
☺ The strength / strong point / value / impact / benefit /
usefulness / significance / importance of our work / study /
contribution lies in …
☺ X provides a powerful tool / methodology for …
☺ X ensures / guarantees that X will do Y, and it can be
generalized to …
☺ Our investigations into this area are still ongoing / in progress
and seem likely to confirm our hypothesis.
☺ These findings add to a growing body of literature on /
substantially to our understanding of X.
 Parallel Structures
☺ Parallel structure means that coordinate parts of a
sentence, such as items in a series or list, have the same
grammatical form. Items in a series must be all nouns, all
verbs, or all participles, and so on. There are two reasons
it is important to maintain parallelism in a series:
 Parallelism
☺ Sentences that maintain parallelism are much easier to
read and process than those that do not. With parallel
structure:

☺ I like running, singing, and reading.

☺ Without parallel structure:

☺ I like running, singing, and to read In the parallel
structure, all of the objects of “like” are gerunds, –ing
verbs acting as nouns. In the non-parallel structure,
there are two gerunds acting as nouns and one infinitive
(to read), which makes the sentence awkward and
harder to process.
 Parallelism
☺ Maintaining parallelism helps writers avoid grammatically
incorrect sentences. Below is an example of a
grammatically incorrect sentence without parallel
structure:

☺ The computer’s ability to multi-task, defend against

viruses, and overall usability all improved when I updated
the operating software.

☺ The grammar error becomes clear when you make a

bullet-point list of each item following the part of the
sentence that each item is meant to complete:
Parallelism
☺ The computer’s ability to:

- Multi-task

- Defend

- Usability

☺ “The computer’s ability to usability improved” is a

grammatically incorrect sentence because all words following
the phrase “the computer’s ability” must be verbs, but
“usability” is a noun. By maintaining a parallel structure, you
will avoid grammatically incorrect sentences containing lists.
Parallelism
☺ If you are unsure if a sentence is parallel and has
grammatically correct structure, try making a bullet-point list
like the one above.

☺ Writers should use parallel structure whether the items in the

list or series are grammatical subjects, predicates, or objects.

☺ Mowing the lawn, trimming the shrubs, and edging the

sidewalk took her two hours to complete.
☺ The writer interviewed two subject matter experts, edited four
drafts, and composed two press releases.

☺ On Saturdays they may visit the open-air market, the docks,

or the park.