Step-by-step guide on how to write the Conclusions and Recommendations sections of a report.

1. © 2013 Sherrie Lee http://www.linkedin.com/in/orangecanton
REPORT WRITING
Writing and Presentation Skills

2. Conclusion

3. CONCLUSIONS

Conclusions are logical deductions based
on the data in the Findings section

Usually includes a comprehensive
summary of the findings

Ends with a statement which will lead to
the Recommendations section

4. CONCLUSIONS

Refer to TB pp. 49-51 for Findings

Refer to TB pp. 66 for Conclusions

What are the similarities between the
Findings and Conclusions sections?

What are the differences?

Do you include percentage figures in the
Conclusions?

5. CONCLUSIONS

Sub-headings are the same (change 3.4
to Addictive Game Features)

Respondents’ Profile is not included in the
Conclusions

Do not include percentage figures in the
Conclusions

Conclusions = summary of findings +
logical conclusions

6. CONCLUSIONS

Try it in your groups: TB p. 69

Refer to the handout on the Introduction
and Findings of the Report on Dover
Polytechnic

Write the Conclusions (on a separate
piece of paper): Don’t lose it – you will
need it for a later exercise!

Nominate someone in your group to read
out the answer.

7. CONCLUSIONS
The decline in the use of the canteen was due to the
following reasons:
3. CONCLUSIONS
3.1 Price and Quality of Food
While it was generally agreed that the price was reasonable
and the variety wide, more than half of those surveyed felt
that the quality of food could be improved upon,
particularly in the areas of the taste of the food, size of
food portions and freshness of ingredients.

8. CONCLUSIONS
3.2 Competition
Many canteen users, especially staff, were attracted by a new
foodcourt at the new neighbourhood shopping centre opposite
the Polytechnic. Canteen takings were also affected by the six
newly installed non-carbonated health drinks vending
machines located in the canteen. Many staff also found
sandwiches from the sandwich bar located outside Lecture
Theatre 4 of DP tasty and healthy. Compounding the problem
could be that the canteen did not seem to serve enough types
of healthy food.

9. CONCLUSIONS
3.3 Canteen Operating Hours
Respondents, majority of whom were staff, were dissatisfied with the
canteen operating hours. They wished the canteen to be opened as
early as 8 am to cater to those who wanted to have breakfast or avoid
the lunch crowd.
3.4 Ambience of the Canteen
The ambience of the canteen was not conducive for having meals due
to the lack of air-conditioning and high noise levels.
The music played by the newly installed juke box worsens the situation
as the selection of music turns away the adults.
Hence, to improve the canteen, recommendations must address the
problems identified in the above areas.

10. SNEAK PEAK

In preparation for the Individual Oral Presentation,
practice writing a speech.

Write on one of the following:

Three Things I Regret

Three Ways of Being Successful

Three Things To Do Before I ________

Give examples, reasons, etc.

Write about 300 – 400 words

11. FOR NEXT LESSON

Read Unit 9; complete Activities 9.1, 9.2

Bring books, newspapers magazines, etc.
that were used as reference material

Complete revised Findings

12. Recommendations

13. RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations should be:

Logical – should flow logically from the
conclusions

Relevant – must meet the purpose and the
scope as stated in the Introduction section

Feasible – must be practical and workable

14. RECOMMENDATIONS

How to write recommendations:

Brief – write concisely; any reason for
recommendation should only be given if
necessary

Clear – do not be ambiguous as to how the
suggestion should be implemented

Precise – vague recommendations usually
result from insufficient research / analysis

15. RECOMMENDATIONS

Refer to TB p. 66 for the Conclusions

Refer to TB p. 68-69 for the
Recommendations

What’s wrong with the
Recommendations?

How would you amend it?

16. RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations have the same subheadings as the Conclusions

4.1 Time Spent on Gaming

4.2 Stress

4.3 Society

4.4 Addictive Game Features

17. RECOMMENDATIONS

Try it in your groups: TB p. 69

Refer to the handout on the Introduction and
Findings of the Report on Dover Polytechnic

Write the Recommendations (on a separate
piece of paper) : Don’t lose it – you will
need it for a later exercise!

Nominate someone in your group to read out
the answer.

18. RECOMMENDATIONS
To help increase usage of the canteen, the following
recommendations are proposed:
4.1 Price and Quality of Food
To address the problems of size of food portions and freshness
of ingredients, the Operations Department should encourage the
canteen vendors to provide larger portions of food to
customers. The canteen operators should also be told to use
only fresh ingredients in their food. This could help to improve
the taste of the food. Canteen operators should also look into
improving the quality of their food by making weekly or
fortnightly changes to the menus.

19. RECOMMENDATIONS
4.2 Competition
Canteen vendors can also try to add more healthy food and
beverage to their menu like vegetable salads, sandwiches or
health drinks. This can help to draw the crowd away from the
new vending machines, sandwich bar and new food court.
4.3 Canteen Operating Hours
The canteen should begin operations at 8 am to cater to staff
taking breakfast or early lunch. This new measure could be put
on trial for one to two months before getting feedback from both
staff and canteen vendors on whether the early starting time
needs to be adjusted.

20. RECOMMENDATIONS
4.4 Ambience of the Canteen
To improve the ventilation system in the canteen, fans should be
installed. In the long run, plans to fully air-condition the food
court can be considered.
Students’ timetables should be reviewed to allow for staggered
lunch hours between 11 am and 2pm so as to minimise the
crunch during peak hours. This could also help to reduce the
noise level during peak hours.
The type of music installed in the juke box machine could be
reviewed to ensure that it does not play jarring music that may
turn staff off.