Module 2b —
Report Writing
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Writing conclusions
Reports that are primarily analytical usually require conclusions. These are sometimes combined with recommendations. Executive summaries and large sections of major reports can also be improved by having conclusions. With some long reports, like the reports of the Director-General, a conclusion may take up an entire section or chapter of the report. In cases like this, you will see conclusions for each chapter.
It is surprising how many ILO reports fail to make use of conclusions. This is a missed opportunity because a conclusion enables a writer to reinforce the main messages of a report. A conclusion summarizes the report as a whole, drawing inferences from the entire process about what has been found, or decided, and how it impacts on the topic of the report.
Do not confuse the addition of a conclusion with adding unnecessary length to your report. A conclusion demonstrates good organization. When written well, it can help make the reader’s task easier. A report that is too long is usually the result of poor planning or using too many words when a few will do.
With a good conclusion, the writer can pull all the threads of the report details together into a thesis and relate that to the initial purpose for writing the report. In other words, the conclusion should confirm for the reader that the report's purpose has been achieved. It should also confirm that the writer/reader contract set up in the report's introduction has, in fact, been fulfilled.
Model conclusion
Let’s have a look at a report that includes an effective conclusion.
Following is the table of contents of a working paper called Structural Adjustment and Agriculture in Uganda. This is a well-organized report, and the table of contents demonstrates the organization of the report very well. It also gives you some idea of the main points raised. After the table of contents, you will see the conclusion. Note how the conclusion, although brief, refers back to the content areas of the report and serves as a final summary.
| Contents 1. Introduction
2. The economic recovery programme
3. Agriculture under structural adjustment in Uganda
4. Recommendations and conclusion
|
Given the severity of the economic and social problems facing the NRM Government, no choice remained to it but to launch the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) as a prerequisite for obtaining financial support from multilateral and bilateral donors. The implementation of the ERP saw a major turnaround in the economy. Positive economic growth has been recorded, inflation has been tamed, the fiscal deficit has been reduced as a result of high tax revenues and rationalization of development expenditures, and current account deficits have declined along with improvements in the overall balance of payments and international reserves. However, gains have yet to percolate down to the average person. With agriculture still the dominant sector in the economy, sustainability of the initial improvements should be closely tied with and dependent on agricultural growth. Most smallholders have not benefited from the ERP in the short term. Devaluations and liberalization of the foreign exchange markets have turned the terms of trade against food crops, drastically increasing the cost of inputs and labour without much institutional support for credit. On the positive side, however, liberalization has improved the availability of inputs. The need for a more comprehensive policy that places equal emphasis on both the tradables and food crops, and provides strong linkages between agriculture and agro industries cannot be overemphasized. An agricultural programme that addresses the structural constraints in the agricultural sector will certainly provide a strong base for long-term economic growth and prosperity. |
The value of conclusions
Remember, the last words you write have the best chance of being remembered. For that reason, you should take advantage of the power of an effective conclusion. Many ILO reports that omit conclusions deny their writers the opportunity to reinforce their main points.
Some people find it extremely difficult to write useful conclusions. Remember, your conclusion is a succinct re-statement of the purpose of your report, and your supporting evidence. It is more than just a list of your main points. You may find it easier to write a conclusion if you leave the report draft aside for a day or two, then reread the draft and write your conclusion without further reference to the text.