2. What a conclusion is NOT

A quick recap on how to write a conclusion can be found at the Oxbridge Essays Website:


Source: Oxbridge Essays Website, accessed Nov 1, 2021 at https://www.oxbridgeessays.com/blog/how-to-conclude-your-essay-well/

More ideas about what might be best to avoid in your writing are listed below:

  • Focusing on a minor point in the essay.
  • Apologizing for your view by saying such things as "I may not be an expert" or "At least this is my opinion."
  • Attempting to make up for an incomplete structure. (If you initially promised to discuss/analyse 30 articles and only attempt a complete analysis or review of ten articles, do not try to cover the remaining texts in a concluding paragraph. In such a situation, it is best to limit your paper to topics you can realistically cover).

Instead, it may appear useful to use one or more of the following concluding techniques:

•             Ask a provocative question.

•             Evoke a vivid image of a problem discussed.

•             Call for some sort of action.

•             Universalize (compare to other situations).

•             Suggest results or consequences.

Source: Richmond University writing lab, accessed Nov 1, 2021 at http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conclude.html

In many cases your content, structure and vocabulary will significantly vary depending on your target audience and the perspectives you use to look at the problem.