As an editor, I read too many exhausted conclusions which need a burst of energy. At the end of writing a long article, report or book, it is easy to feel exhausted and dash off something short, anything, just to finish.
Your conclusion is worth more effort. It may be the last thing the reader reads, so it should leave readers in the right state of mind. You want readers to remember your key messages and feel positive about your work, even if there is more to do.
When discussing results, drawing conclusions or highlighting implications, move from the specifics of your work back to the general and broader implications. To avoid misinterpretations of your work and to increase its dissemination include clear statements that readers can easily cite in other work.
Avoid concluding with a quote or reference from someone else’s work. Your work should be the last thing in the reader’s mind.
Abstracts and executive summaries are similar to conclusions, so make sure your abstract is awesome too.
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For advice on writing or editing your conclusion, please contact me on rhdaniels@bigpond.com
Right with Rhonda 