How to write an effective
conclusion
Also known as putting it all together
What is a conclusion?
• A conclusion is a summary of the experiment.
• It is putting the hypothesis together with the
data and coming up with a conclusion or
ending thought.
• It is a written answer to the original question.
So where to start…
• Every conclusion begins with a topic sentence.
• In a conclusion, the topic sentence is the
restatement of the problem/question.
Can your group state a hypothesis for
the research question below?
• The effect of different temperatures on the
activity of an enzyme?
Can you write a conclusion for the data
below?
Rate of reaction of an enzyme at different temperatures
1.6
1.4
Rate of reaction
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
Temperature (±0.1°C)
60
70
80
90
Keep your group’s conclusion close to
hand
• We will now go through step by step of the
format and information that should have been
included….
Our conclusion outline
1. Restate the Problem
This experiment was
investigating the affect of
different temperatures on
enzyme activity.
Our conclusion outline
1. Restate the problem
2. Restate your hypothesis
(It was predicted that…)
It was predicted that as the temperature
increased from 0°C, the rate of enzyme
reaction will increased up until the optimum
temperature for this enzyme.
This is the temperature at which the enzyme
will be working with maximum efficiency.
After this point the rate of reaction will begin
to decrease as the enzyme denatures.
So was your hypothesis right, wrong or
indifferent?
3. Accept or reject your hypothesis
Does the data support the hypothesis?
If it does-we accept the hypothesis
If it doesn’t-we reject the hypothesis
My processed data supports my
hypothesis
Now provide evidence
4. Provide actual data in sentence form that
backs up your previous statement.
• What type of relationship was there, if any?
– How did the independent variable effect
the dependent variable?
• Were there any trends?
• changes; (increases, decreases in data)
• patterns (repeated data that is similar)
Our conclusion outline
As the temperature increased from
0°C to 25°C, the rate of reaction also
increased until at 25°C where the
rate of reaction reached it’s
maximum of 1.5 units.
After this temperature the rate of
reaction dropped to 0.5 units at
45°C. As the temperature was
increased to 65°C the rate of
reaction fell to 0 units and stayed at
0 units at 85°C as well.
Next
5.
Justify your data with scientific theory
As the temperature increases the molecules have
greater kinetic energy. This increases the
number of collisions thereby increasing the rate
of reaction.
As the temperature continues increasing the
rate of reaction decreases after the optimum
temperature.
This is because the enzyme, which is a protein
molecule denatures. The specific 3D structure of
the active site is irreversibly changed so it can
no longer form an enzyme-substrate complex.
Our conclusion outline
1. Restate the problem
2. Restate your hypothesis
(It was predicted that…)
3. Accept or reject your hypothesis
4. Provide actual data in sentence form that
backs up your previous statement.
5. Justify your data with scientific theory
Yeah! We’re almost there….
6. Concluding sentence
• This sentence should
– Begin with a transition word
• To sum up
• In conclusion
• Therefore, it can be said that
– Rephrase the original question or problem
– Explain the importance of carrying out the
experiment
Our conclusion outline
In conclusion, it can be stated
that different temperatures do
have an affect on enzyme
activity.
Therefore, it is possible to
deduce the optimum
conditions for an enzyme to
ensure maximum efficiency of
this particular enzyme.
6 points to scientific success!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Restate the problem
Restate your hypothesis
Accept or reject your hypothesis
Provide actual data in sentence form that
backs up your previous statement.
5. Justify your data with scientific theory
6. Concluding sentence that justifies the
experiment
Conclusion
This experiment was investigating the affect of different temperatures on enzyme
activity.
It was predicted that as the temperature increased from 0°C, the rate of enzyme
reaction will increased up until the optimum temperature for this enzyme.
This is the temperature at which the enzyme will be working with maximum
efficiency. After this point the rate of reaction will begin to decrease as the enzyme
denatures.
My processed data supports my hypothesis. As the temperature increased from 0°C
to 25°C, the rate of reaction also increased until at 25°C where the rate of reaction
reached it’s maximum of 1.5 units.
After this temperature the rate of reaction dropped to 0.5 units at 45°C. As the
temperature was increased to 65°C the rate of reaction fell to 0 units and stayed at
0 units at 85°C as well.
As the temperature increases the molecules have greater kinetic energy. This
increases the number of collisions thereby increasing the rate of reaction. As the
temperature continues increasing the rate of reaction decreases after the
optimum temperature. This is because the enzyme, which is a protein molecule
denatures. The specific 3D structure of the active site is irreversibly changed so it
can no longer form an enzyme-substrate complex.
In conclusion, it can be stated that different temperatures do have an affect on
enzyme activity. Therefore, it is possible to deduce the optimum conditions for an
enzyme to ensure maximum efficiency of this particular enzyme.