When you have come to the end of your final project, you need to conclude the ideas you have explored throughout your discussion. The aim of your conclusion is to ensure that your readers walk away from your paper with clear ideas about what you have gained from your analysis and where the research might be headed. Here are some tips on how to write a good conclusion and elegantly round off your work.
These are all important things to remember. But most of all, leave your reader with a clear idea of what you have gained from your research.
The following example focuses on a film from the year 1970 called Tristana by the renowned film director, Luis Buñuel. Have a look at the film’s Wikipedia page for some brief background information, which will help contextualize the example.
This is an example of a poor conclusion for a paper entitled Examining the Trope of the Amputated Leg in the Context of the Wider Themes of Tristana.
Why might the following statement be a weak observation for a conclusion?
It is a very generalist statement, and although it draws upon the film director’s use of imagery, it does not explain why the leg is a metaphor and the greater implications of that comparison. It is a one-dimensional conclusion. The writer could expand and talk about why the amputation is a metaphor for pain and what the greater implications of this metaphor are, thus drawing on their earlier discussion. Is it only relevant to the protagonist or is it a much wider metaphor, depicting her as a symbol of society at large?
Consider the following sentence.
How did Buñuel make that stance obvious? This is a good introduction to a conclusion. But the writer should expand upon how they have come to this conclusion, summarizing earlier observations from their discussion. The Spanish government is also still an active entity in Spain. The writer might refer to how contemporary films represent depictions of political power today, whether to praise or criticize it, commenting upon Buñuel’s brave commentary given the context in which he made his film.
The following is an example of a stronger conclusion that summarizes, draws upon and evaluates the most important points from the discussion and refers to the bigger picture at hand in order to respond to the title of the final project.
Mentioning evidence (in this case, cinematic techniques) that backs up your claims and refers to earlier points made in your discussion, without going into too much detail, is a good way to summarize in your conclusion. The writer above also refers to the greater societal issues represented in the film, and the potential impact it had on its contemporary audience. They have also pulled their final assessment of the film into today’s world, questioning the use of such a subtle political commentary today, while recognising Buñuel’s place in cinematic history as an artistic political commentator and critic. This is a strong conclusion as the reader is left with a final impression of the writer’s understanding of the film’s themes, which also demonstrates that they have understood and effectively responded to the title.
Even though an academic paper is not necessarily an exercise in creative writing, the use of incisive statements and rhetorical techniques can make reading it a more pleasant experience. For example, the use of three abstract nouns at one point in the text (criticism, reaction and rebellion) not only employs the ‘rule of three’ (a common writing technique that adds emphasis and rhythm to your text); it also refers to the main themes of the film, leaving the reader with a final answer to the paper’s title.
- Do not simply repeat yourself in an attempt to close your discussion with a list of points you have already raised.
- Avoid introducing new ideas; all significant contributions regarding the subject at hand should have already been mentioned in your discussion.
- Summarize what you have discussed, mention and evaluate the most important points you have raised throughout your analysis and suggest the impact these might have beyond your research and on the wider context.
- Avoid including lengthy quotations. If you want to draw attention to a pivotal critic of the work you are analysing, someone who has heavily featured throughout your paper, try to paraphrase their ideas instead of directly citing them.
- Do not forget about your title. It is easy to get lost in the discussion as you discover new aspects about your chosen topic that are exciting and inspiring. For example, write the final project’s title in large letters and stick it above your writing station for the duration of your assessment. This will serve as a visual reminder of what you need to focus on.
These are all important things to remember. But most of all, leave your reader with a clear idea of what you have gained from your research.
The following example focuses on a film from the year 1970 called Tristana by the renowned film director, Luis Buñuel. Have a look at the film’s Wikipedia page for some brief background information, which will help contextualize the example.
This is an example of a poor conclusion for a paper entitled Examining the Trope of the Amputated Leg in the Context of the Wider Themes of Tristana.
 | Buñuel was a communist atheist who opposed the Spanish government, a stance he made obvious through his film Tristana. Don Lope’s murder represents the fall of the government and power for oppressed peoples. By the end of the film, Tristana is free but she still has challenges to face and overcome. The amputation of her leg is a metaphor for pain and struggle, but the new prosthesis gives her power to recover. The film is one of Buñuel’s best. |
Why might the following statement be a weak observation for a conclusion?
| The amputation of her leg is a metaphor for pain and struggle, but the new prosthesis gives her power to recover. |
It is a very generalist statement, and although it draws upon the film director’s use of imagery, it does not explain why the leg is a metaphor and the greater implications of that comparison. It is a one-dimensional conclusion. The writer could expand and talk about why the amputation is a metaphor for pain and what the greater implications of this metaphor are, thus drawing on their earlier discussion. Is it only relevant to the protagonist or is it a much wider metaphor, depicting her as a symbol of society at large?
Consider the following sentence.
| Buñuel was a communist atheist who opposed the Spanish government, a stance he made obvious through his film Tristana. |
How did Buñuel make that stance obvious? This is a good introduction to a conclusion. But the writer should expand upon how they have come to this conclusion, summarizing earlier observations from their discussion. The Spanish government is also still an active entity in Spain. The writer might refer to how contemporary films represent depictions of political power today, whether to praise or criticize it, commenting upon Buñuel’s brave commentary given the context in which he made his film.
The following is an example of a stronger conclusion that summarizes, draws upon and evaluates the most important points from the discussion and refers to the bigger picture at hand in order to respond to the title of the final project.
 | It is important to recall that Tristana is a film made by a communist atheist who stood against everything the patriarchal Spanish order represented for society at that time. Spain was still emerging from a harsh dictatorship during the late 1970s, a situation Buñuel reflected on and referred to symbolically throughout the film, employing different narrative and audiovisual techniques to do so. Whilst extreme, the protagonist’s murder of Don Lope is also a figurative dethroning of the oppressor of all individuals under similar circumstances; those oppressed in personal relationships, by institutions or by their surroundings. The young protagonist eventually achieves freedom, but as the film’s final montage suggests, society’s conditioning is unavoidable and the spectator cannot overlook the societal and political challenges still to be overcome. The amputation, as read through different contexts presented in the film, stands to represent a crippled nation; a country set to achieve emancipation but at the cost of war and loss. However, the prosthesis, which is gained, represents strength and courage against the oppressor. Buñuel’s aim was to challenge his audience to question the world they live in, and Tristana exemplifies this call for criticism, reaction and rebellion. The film also serves as a point of reference for political criticism in twenty-first-century cinema, which begs the question as to whether films are still capable of such an artistic commentary. Subtlety is an art form in itself, but in today’s politically-polarized society where such subliminal messages are no longer necessary, do filmmakers still draw on these powerful artistic techniques to get under their audience’s skin? |
Mentioning evidence (in this case, cinematic techniques) that backs up your claims and refers to earlier points made in your discussion, without going into too much detail, is a good way to summarize in your conclusion. The writer above also refers to the greater societal issues represented in the film, and the potential impact it had on its contemporary audience. They have also pulled their final assessment of the film into today’s world, questioning the use of such a subtle political commentary today, while recognising Buñuel’s place in cinematic history as an artistic political commentator and critic. This is a strong conclusion as the reader is left with a final impression of the writer’s understanding of the film’s themes, which also demonstrates that they have understood and effectively responded to the title.
Even though an academic paper is not necessarily an exercise in creative writing, the use of incisive statements and rhetorical techniques can make reading it a more pleasant experience. For example, the use of three abstract nouns at one point in the text (criticism, reaction and rebellion) not only employs the ‘rule of three’ (a common writing technique that adds emphasis and rhythm to your text); it also refers to the main themes of the film, leaving the reader with a final answer to the paper’s title.
Recommended citation:
«Conclusion» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=3293> [consulta: 28 abril 2024].