Conclusion of a Journal Article
Bill Knowlton1,2
1Department
of Materials Science & Engineering
of Electrical Engineering
Boise State University
2Department
MSE 478/578 Scientific Communication in Materials Science &
Engineering
1
Anatomy Overview – Tying it all together
Results
Discussion
Hypothesis or Knowledge Gap
Supporting
Idea or
Finding
g1
CT or
Sim
1
Supporting
Idea or
Finding
g2
CT or
Sim
2
CT or
Sim
3
Introduction
Supporting
Idea or
Finding 3
CT or
Sim
4
CT or
Sim
5
CT = Characterization Technique
Sim = Simulation/calculations/modeling
Knowlton
2
1
Recall the Abstract
Abstract-(past tense) condensed version of topic,
problem, approach to solving problem, how you solved
problem (findings & conclusions), and implications
Topic – State the topic of your research area (1 sentence)
Question - State the hypothesis or question your research
seeks to answer (1-2 sentences)
Approach – State the experimental approach you are using
to determine whether or not your hypothesis is correct (1
sentence)
Findings – State your findings or results that have been
revealed by your experimental approach. (1-2 sentences)
Conclusions – State the conclusion of your findings (1
sentence)
Implications (sometimes) – State the implications of your
findings (1 sentence)
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Conclusion
Conclusion fills the Knowledge Gap
Relative to Introduction:
Emphasizes answering the questions listed in the
Introduction that highlighted the Knowledge Gap you
identified
Do not leave any questions in the Introduction unanswered
Relative to the Discussion:
Reviews the main points of the paper from the Discussion
Summarizes the evidence for each main point of the paper
Stipulates the significance of your work
States what Gap has been filled
Relative to the Abstract:
Similar to Abstract
Do not regurgitate the Abstract as the Conclusion
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2
Conclusion
A Conclusion might elaborate on:
The importance of the work
Suggests applications and extensions.
How might you begin writing the Conclusion?
Using the previous slide as a guide, create several
Conclusion sub-sections:
Introduction: Answer each question posed in the Introduction
Discussion:
Reviews the main points highlighted in the Discussion
Summarizes the evidence for each main points in the Discussion
Abstract:
Review the Abstract
Insure that you have not left important aspects out of the Conclusion.
Implications: (not as important as the other three)
Stipulate the significance of your work
What are the broader impacts of the work
Why should this work be continued? Provide the ground-work
This is a chance for you to market/advertise your work
Create a bulleted list for each sub-section of the Conclusion
Typically, past tense.
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In-Class Exercise (20 minutes)
Go over a journal article that is closely related to your
work – that is, it defines part of the border of your
knowledge gap. Read the Conclusion and determine if it:
Emphasizes answering the questions listed in the
Introduction that highlighted its Knowledge Gap
Leaves any questions in the Introduction unanswered
Reviews the main points of the paper highlighted in the
Discussion
Summarizes the evidence for each main point of the paper
States what Knowledge Gap has been filled
Compliments the Abstract but does not regurgitate it.
Stipulates the significance of its work
Questions:
What/how does the conclusion of the paper do well on the above?
What is lacking in the conclusion of the paper on the above?
How would you improve it?
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3
Tenses:
Tenses:[3]
Present tense:
For the general case and statements on what is
currently known.
E.g., statements that are:
General knowledge
Widely accepted
Those that can be referenced in the present tense
Past tense:
Experimental results
Observations that were made during your study
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References for this overview:
[1] Eschew Obfuscation: Advice on Writing
Clearly, Larry J. Forney, Dept. of Biological
Sciences, Professor Trish Hartzell, PhD.
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology,
and Biochemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow,
ID; presented at the 2008 INBRE Conference,
Boise, ID
[2] Day, R. “How to write and publish a scientific
paper”, 5th ed. (Orynx Press, 1998)
[3] Michael Jay Katz, "From Research to
Manuscript: A Guide to Scientific Writing"
Springer; 2nd ed. edition (January 29, 2009) pp.
210.
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