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 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Temperature (0.1C)

Rate of reaction

Keep your groups 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 0C, 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 doesnt-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 0C to 25C, the rate of reaction also increased until at 25C where the rate of reaction reached its maximum of 1.5 units. After this temperature the rate of reaction dropped to 0.5 units at 45C. As the temperature was increased to 65C the rate of reaction fell to 0 units and stayed at 0 units at 85C 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! Were 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 0C, 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 0C to 25C, the rate of reaction also increased until at 25C where the rate of reaction reached its maximum of 1.5 units. After this temperature the rate of reaction dropped to 0.5 units at 45C. As the temperature was increased to 65C the rate of reaction fell to 0 units and stayed at 0 units at 85C 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.