resources essay conclusion

How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay

By the time you get to the final paragraph of your paper, you have already done so much work on your essay, so all you want to do is to wrap it up as quickly as possible. You’ve already made a stunning introduction, proven your argument, and structured the whole piece as supposed – who cares about making a good conclusion paragraph?

The only thing you need to remember is that the conclusion of an essay is not just the last paragraph of an academic paper where you restate your thesis and key arguments. A concluding paragraph is also your opportunity to have a final impact on your audience. 

Feeling Overwhelmed Writing Your Essay Conclusion?

Simply send us your paper requirements, choose a writer and we’ll get it done fast.

How to write a conclusion paragraph that leaves a lasting impression – In this guide, the team at EssayPro is going to walk you through the process of writing a perfect conclusion step by step. Additionally, we will share valuable tips and tricks to help students of all ages impress their readers at the last moment.

Instead of Intro: What Is a Conclusion?

Before we can move on, let’s take a moment here to define the conclusion itself. According to the standard conclusion definition, it is pretty much the last part of something, its result, or end. However, this term is rather broad and superficial.

When it comes to writing academic papers, a concluding statement refers to an opinion, judgment, suggestion, or position arrived at by logical reasoning (through the arguments provided in the body of the text). Therefore, if you are wondering “what is a good closing sentence like?” – keep on reading.

What Does a Good Conclusion Mean?

Writing a good conclusion for a paper isn’t easy. However, we are going to walk you through this process step by step. Although there are generally no strict rules on how to formulate one, there are some basic principles that everyone should keep in mind. In this section, we will share some core ideas for writing a good conclusion, and, later in the article, we will also provide you with more practical advice and examples.

Here are the core goals a good conclusion should complete:

• “Wrap up” the entire paper;
• Demonstrate to readers that the author accomplished what he/she set out to do;
• Show how you the author has proved their thesis statement;
• Give a sense of completeness and closure on the topic;
• Leave something extra for your reader to think about;
• Leave a powerful final impact on a reader.

Another key thing to remember is that you should not introduce any new ideas or arguments to your paper's conclusion. It should only sum up what you have already written, revisit your thesis statement, and end with a powerful final impression.

When considering how to write a conclusion that works, here are the key points to keep in mind:

• A concluding sentence should only revisit the thesis statement, not restate it;
• It should summarize the main ideas from the body of the paper;
• It should demonstrate the significance and relevance of your work;
• An essay’s conclusion should include a call for action and leave space for further study or development of the topic (if necessary).

How Long Should a Conclusion Be? 

Although there are no strict universal rules regarding the length of an essay’s final clause, both teachers and experienced writers recommend keeping it clear, concise, and straight to the point. There is an unspoken rule that the introduction and conclusion of an academic paper should both be about 10% of the overall paper’s volume. For example, if you were assigned a 1500 word essay, both the introductory and final clauses should be approximately 150 words long (300 together).

Why You Need to Know How to End an Essay:

A conclusion is what drives a paper to its logical end. It also drives the main points of your piece one last time. It is your last opportunity to impact and impress your audience. And, most importantly, it is your chance to demonstrate to readers why your work matters. Simply put, the final paragraph of your essay should answer the last important question a reader will have – “So what?”

If you do a concluding paragraph right, it can give your readers a sense of logical completeness. On the other hand, if you do not make it powerful enough, it can leave them hanging, and diminish the effect of the entire piece.

Strategies to Crafting a Proper Conclusion

Although there are no strict rules for what style to use to write your conclusion, there are several strategies that have been proven to be effective. In the list below, you can find some of the most effective strategies with some good conclusion paragraph examples to help you grasp the idea.

One effective way to emphasize the significance of your essay and give the audience some thought to ponder about is by taking a look into the future. The “When and If” technique is quite powerful when it comes to supporting your points in the essay’s conclusion.

Prediction essay conclusion example: “Taking care of a pet is quite hard, which is the reason why most parents refuse their children’s requests to get a pet. However, the refusal should be the last choice of parents. If we want to inculcate a deep sense of responsibility and organization in our kids, and, at the same time, sprout compassion in them, we must let our children take care of pets.”

Another effective strategy is to link your conclusion to your introductory paragraph. This will create a full-circle narration for your readers, create a better understanding of your topic, and emphasize your key point.

Echo conclusion paragraph example: Introduction: “I believe that all children should grow up with a pet. I still remember the exact day my parents brought my first puppy to our house. This was one of the happiest moments in my life and, at the same time, one of the most life-changing ones. Growing up with a pet taught me a lot, and most importantly, it taught me to be responsible.” Conclusion:. “I remember when I picked up my first puppy and how happy I was at that time. Growing up with a pet, I learned what it means to take care of someone, make sure that he always has water and food, teach him, and constantly keep an eye on my little companion. Having a child grow up with a pet teaches them responsibility and helps them acquire a variety of other life skills like leadership, love, compassion, and empathy. This is why I believe that every kid should grow up with a pet!”

Finally, one more trick that will help you create a flawless conclusion is to amplify your main idea or to present it in another perspective of a larger context. This technique will help your readers to look at the problem discussed from a different angle.

Step-up argumentative essay conclusion example: “Despite the obvious advantages of owning a pet in childhood, I feel that we cannot generalize whether all children should have a pet. Whereas some kids may benefit from such experiences, namely, by becoming more compassionate, organized, and responsible, it really depends on the situation, motivation, and enthusiasm of a particular child for owning a pet.”

What is a clincher in an essay? – The final part of an essay’s conclusion is often referred to as a clincher sentence. According to the clincher definition, it is a final sentence that reinforces the main idea or leaves the audience with an intriguing thought to ponder upon. In a nutshell, the clincher is very similar to the hook you would use in an introductory paragraph. Its core mission is to seize the audience’s attention until the end of the paper. At the same time, this statement is what creates a sense of completeness and helps the author leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Now, since you now know what a clincher is, you are probably wondering how to use one in your own paper. First of all, keep in mind that a good clincher should be intriguing, memorable, smooth, and straightforward.

Generally, there are several different tricks you can use for your clincher statement; it can be:

• A short, but memorable and attention-grabbing conclusion;
• A relevant and memorable quote (only if it brings actual value);
• A call to action;
• A rhetorical question;
• An illustrative story or provocative example;
• A warning against a possibility or suggestion about the consequences of a discussed problem;
• A joke (however, be careful with this as it may not always be deemed appropriate).

Regardless of the technique you choose, make sure that your clincher is memorable and aligns with your introduction and thesis.

Clincher examples: - While New York may not be the only place with the breathtaking views, it is definitely among my personal to 3… and that’s what definitely makes it worth visiting. - “Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars”, Divine Comedy - Don’t you think all these advantages sound like almost life-saving benefits of owning a pet? “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”, The Great Gatsby

Conclusion Writing Don'ts 

Now, when you know what tricks and techniques you should use to create a perfect conclusion, let’s look at some of the things you should not do with our online paper writing service :

• Starting with some cliché concluding sentence starters. Many students find common phrases like “In conclusion,” “Therefore,” “In summary,” or similar statements to be pretty good conclusion starters. However, though such conclusion sentence starters may work in certain cases – for example, in speeches – they are overused, so it is recommended not to use them in writing to introduce your conclusion.
• Putting the first mention of your thesis statement in the conclusion – it has to be presented in your introduction first.
• Providing new arguments, subtopics, or ideas in the conclusion paragraph.
• Including a slightly changed or unchanged thesis statement.
• Providing arguments and evidence that belong in the body of the work.
• Writing too long, hard to read, or confusing sentences.

In case, you have written a conclusion, but you're not sure if it’s good enough?

EssayPro provides all kinds of writing assistance. Send your work to one of our top writers to get it reviewed in no time.

Conclusion Paragraph Outline

The total number of sentences in your final paragraph may vary depending on the number of points you discussed in your essay, as well as on the overall word count of your paper. However, the overall conclusion paragraph outline will remain the same and consists of the following elements:

• A conclusion starter:

The first part of your paragraph should drive readers back to your thesis statement. Thus, if you were wondering how to start a conclusion, the best way to do it is by rephrasing your thesis statement.

• Summary of the body paragraphs:

Right after revisiting your thesis, you should include several sentences that wrap up the key highlights and points from your body paragraphs. This part of your conclusion can consist of 2-3 sentences—depending on the number of arguments you’ve made. If necessary, you can also explain to the readers how your main points fit together.

• A concluding sentence:

Finally, you should end your paragraph with a last, powerful sentence that leaves a lasting impression, gives a sense of logical completeness, and connects readers back to the introduction of the paper.

These three key elements make up a perfect essay conclusion. Now, to give you an even better idea of how to create a perfect conclusion, let us give you a sample conclusion paragraph outline with examples from an argumentative essay on the topic of “Every Child Should Own a Pet:

• Sentence 1: Starter
• ~ Thesis: "Though taking care of a pet may be a bit challenging for small children. Parents should not restrict their kids from having a pet as it helps them grow into more responsible and compassionate people."
• ~ Restated thesis for a conclusion: "I can say that taking care of a pet is good for every child."
• Sentences 2-4: Summary
• ~ "Studies have shown that pet owners generally have fewer health problems."
• ~ "Owning a pet teaches a child to be more responsible."
• ~ "Spending time with a pet reduces stress, feelings of loneliness, and anxiety."
• Sentence 5: A concluding sentence
• ~ "Pets can really change a child life for the better, so don't hesitate to endorse your kid's desire to own a pet."

This is a clear example of how you can shape your conclusion paragraph.

How to Conclude Various Types of Essays

Depending on the type of academic essay you are working on, your concluding paragraph's style, tone, and length may vary. In this part of our guide, we will tell you how to end different types of essays and other works.

How to End an Argumentative Essay

Persuasive or argumentative essays always have the single goal of convincing readers of something (an idea, stance, or viewpoint) by appealing to arguments, facts, logic, and even emotions. The conclusion for such an essay has to be persuasive as well. A good trick you can use is to illustrate a real-life scenario that proves your stance or encourages readers to take action. More about persuasive essay outline you can read in our article.

Here are a few more tips for making a perfect conclusion for an argumentative essay:

• Carefully read the whole essay before you begin;
• Re-emphasize your ideas;
• Discuss possible implications;
• Don’t be afraid to appeal to the reader’s emotions.

How to End a Compare and Contrast Essay

The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to emphasize the differences or similarities between two or more objects, people, phenomena, etc. Therefore, a logical conclusion should highlight how the reviewed objects are different or similar. Basically, in such a paper, your conclusion should recall all of the key common and distinctive features discussed in the body of your essay and also give readers some food for thought after they finish reading it.

How to Conclude a Descriptive Essay

The key idea of a descriptive essay is to showcase your creativity and writing skills by painting a vivid picture with the help of words. This is one of the most creative types of essays as it requires you to show a story, not tell it. This kind of essay implies using a lot of vivid details. Respectively, the conclusion of such a paper should also use descriptive imagery and, at the same time, sum up the main ideas. A good strategy for ending a descriptive essay would be to begin with a short explanation of why you wrote the essay. Then, you should reflect on how your topic affects you. In the middle of the conclusion, you should cover the most critical moments of the story to smoothly lead the reader into a logical closing statement. The “clincher”, in this case, should be a thought-provoking final sentence that leaves a good and lasting impression on the audience. Do not lead the reader into the essay and then leave them with dwindling memories of it.

How to Conclude an Essay About Yourself

If you find yourself writing an essay about yourself, you need to tell a personal story. As a rule, such essays talk about the author’s experiences, which is why a conclusion should create a feeling of narrative closure. A good strategy is to end your story with a logical finale and the lessons you have learned, while, at the same time, linking it to the introductory paragraph and recalling key moments from the story.

How to End an Informative Essay

Unlike other types of papers, informative or expository essays load readers with a lot of information and facts. In this case, “Synthesize, don’t summarize” is the best technique you can use to end your paper. Simply put, instead of recalling all of the major facts, you should approach your conclusion from the “So what?” position by highlighting the significance of the information provided.

How to Conclude a Narrative Essay

In a nutshell, a narrative essay is based on simple storytelling. The purpose of this paper is to share a particular story in detail. Therefore, the conclusion for such a paper should wrap up the story and avoid finishing on an abrupt cliffhanger. It is vital to include the key takeaways and the lessons learned from the story.

How to Write a Conclusion for a Lab Report

Unlike an essay, a lab report is based on an experiment. This type of paper describes the flow of a particular experiment conducted by a student and its conclusion should reflect on the outcomes of this experiment.

In thinking of how to write a conclusion for a lab, here are the key things you should do to get it right:

• Restate the goals of your experiment
• Describe the methods you used
• Include the results of the experiment and analyze the final data
• End your conclusion with a clear statement on whether or not the experiment was successful (Did you reach the expected results?)

How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper

Writing a paper is probably the hardest task of all, even for experienced dissertation writer . Unlike an essay or even a lab report, a research paper is a much longer piece of work that requires a deeper investigation of the problem. Therefore, a conclusion for such a paper should be even more sophisticated and powerful. If you're feeling difficulty writing an essay, you can buy essay on our service.

However, given that a research paper is the second most popular kind of academic paper (after an essay), it is important to know how to conclude a research paper. Even if you have not yet been assigned to do this task, be sure that you will face it soon. So, here are the steps you should follow to create a great conclusion for a research paper:

• Restate the Topic

Start your final paragraph with a quick reminder of what the topic of the piece is about. Keep it one sentence long.

• Revisit the Thesis

Next, you should remind your readers what your thesis statement was. However, do not just copy and paste it from the introductory clause: paraphrase your thesis so that you deliver the same idea but with different words. Keep your paraphrased thesis narrow, specific, and topic-oriented.

• Summarise Your Key Ideas

Just like the case of a regular essay’s conclusion, a research paper’s final paragraph should also include a short summary of all of the key points stated in the body sections. We recommend reading the entire body part a few times to define all of your main arguments and ideas.

• Showcase the Significance of Your Work

In the research paper conclusion, it is vital to highlight the significance of your research problem and state how your solution could be helpful.

• Make Suggestions for Future Studies

Finally, at the end of your conclusion, you should define how your findings will contribute to the development of its particular field of science. Outline the perspectives of further research and, if necessary, explain what is yet to be discovered on the topic.

Then, end your conclusion with a powerful concluding sentence – it can be a rhetorical question, call to action, or another hook that will help you have a strong impact on the audience.

• Answer the Right Questions

To create a top-notch research paper conclusion, be sure to answer the following questions:

• What is the goal of a research paper?
• What are the possible solutions to the research question(s)?
• How can your results be implemented in real life? (Is your research paper helpful to the community?)
• Why is this study important and relevant?

Additionally, here are a few more handy tips to follow:

• Provide clear examples from real life to help readers better understand the further implementation of the stated solutions;
• Keep your conclusion fresh, original, and creative.

Address to our term paper writers if you need to proofread or rewrite essay.

Want to Have Better Grades?

Address to our professionals and get your task done asap!

So, What Is a Good Closing Sentence? See The Difference

One of the best ways to learn how to write a good conclusion is to look at several professional essay conclusion examples. In this section of our guide, we are going to look at two different final paragraphs shaped on the basis of the same template, but even so, they are very different – where one is weak and the other is strong. Below, we are going to compare them to help you understand the difference between a good and a bad conclusion.

Here is the template we used: College degrees are in decline. The price of receiving an education does not correlate with the quality of the education received. As a result, graduated students face underemployment, and the worth of college degrees appears to be in serious doubt. However, the potential social and economic benefits of educated students balance out the equation.

Strong Conclusion ‍

People either see college as an opportunity or an inconvenience; therefore, a degree can only hold as much value as its owner’s skillset. The underemployment of graduate students puts the worth of college degrees in serious doubt. Yet, with the multitude of benefits that educated students bring to society and the economy, the equation remains in balance. Perhaps the ordinary person should consider college as a wise financial investment, but only if they stay determined to study and do the hard work.

Why is this example good? There are several key points that prove its effectiveness:

• There is a bold opening statement that encompasses the two contrasting types of students we can see today.
• There are two sentences that recall the thesis statement and cover the key arguments from the body of the essay.
• Finally, the last sentence sums up the key message of the essay and leaves readers with something to think about.

Weak Conclusion

In conclusion, with the poor preparation of students in college and the subsequent underemployment after graduation from college, the worth associated with the college degree appears to be in serious doubt. However, these issues alone may not reasonably conclude beyond a doubt that investing in a college degree is a rewarding venture. When the full benefits that come with education are carefully put into consideration and evaluated, college education for children in any country still has good advantages, and society should continue to advocate for a college education. The ordinary person should consider this a wise financial decision that holds rewards in the end. Apart from the monetary gains associated with a college education, society will greatly benefit from students when they finish college. Their minds are going to be expanded, and their reasoning and decision making will be enhanced.

What makes this example bad? Here are a few points to consider:

• Unlike the first example, this paragraph is long and not specific enough. The author provides plenty of generalized phrases that are not backed up by actual arguments.
• This piece is hard to read and understand and sentences have a confusing structure. Also, there are lots of repetitions and too many uses of the word “college”.
• There is no summary of the key benefits.
• The last two sentences that highlight the value of education contradict with the initial statement.
• Finally, the last sentence doesn’t offer a strong conclusion and gives no thought to ponder upon.
• In the body of your essay, you have hopefully already provided your reader(s) with plenty of information. Therefore, it is not wise to present new arguments or ideas in your conclusion.
• To end your final paragraph right, find a clear and straightforward message that will have the most powerful impact on your audience.
• Don’t use more than one quote in the final clause of your paper – the information from external sources (including quotes) belongs in the body of a paper.
• Be authoritative when writing a conclusion. You should sound confident and convincing to leave a good impression. Sentences like “I’m not an expert, but…” will most likely make you seem less knowledgeable and/or credible.

Good Conclusion Examples

Now that we've learned what a conclusion is and how to write one let's take a look at some essay conclusion examples to strengthen our knowledge.

The ending ironically reveals that all was for nothing. (A short explanation of the thematic effect of the book’s end) Tom says that Miss Watson freed Jim in her final will.Jim told Huck that the dead man on the Island was pap. The entire adventure seemingly evaporated into nothingness. (How this effect was manifested into the minds of thereaders).

All in all, international schools hold the key to building a full future that students can achieve. (Thesis statement simplified) They help students develop their own character by learning from their mistakes, without having to face a dreadful penalty for failure. (Thesis statement elaborated)Although some say that kids emerged “spoiled” with this mentality, the results prove the contrary. (Possible counter-arguments are noted)

In conclusion, public workers should be allowed to strike since it will give them a chance to air their grievances. (Thesis statement) Public workers should be allowed to strike when their rights, safety, and regulations are compromised. The workers will get motivated when they strike, and their demands are met.

In summary, studies reveal some similarities in the nutrient contents between the organic and non-organic food substances. (Starts with similarities) However, others have revealed many considerable differences in the amounts of antioxidants as well as other minerals present in organic and non-organic foods. Generally, organic foods have higher levels of antioxidants than non-organic foods and therefore are more important in the prevention of chronic illnesses.

As time went by, my obsession grew into something bigger than art; (‘As time went by’ signals maturation) it grew into a dream of developing myself for the world. (Showing student’s interest of developing himself for the community) It is a dream of not only seeing the world from a different perspective but also changing the perspective of people who see my work. (Showing student’s determination to create moving pieces of art)

In conclusion, it is evident that technology is an integral part of our lives and without it, we become “lost” since we have increasingly become dependent on its use. (Thesis with main point)

You might also be interested in reading nursing essay examples from our service.

How To Write A Conclusion For An Essay?

How to write a good conclusion, how to write a conclusion for a college essay, related articles.

Conclusions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of conclusions, offer strategies for writing effective ones, help you evaluate conclusions you’ve drafted, and suggest approaches to avoid.

About conclusions

Introductions and conclusions can be difficult to write, but they’re worth investing time in. They can have a significant influence on a reader’s experience of your paper.

Just as your introduction acts as a bridge that transports your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. Such a conclusion will help them see why all your analysis and information should matter to them after they put the paper down.

Your conclusion is your chance to have the last word on the subject. The conclusion allows you to have the final say on the issues you have raised in your paper, to synthesize your thoughts, to demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and to propel your reader to a new view of the subject. It is also your opportunity to make a good final impression and to end on a positive note.

Your conclusion can go beyond the confines of the assignment. The conclusion pushes beyond the boundaries of the prompt and allows you to consider broader issues, make new connections, and elaborate on the significance of your findings.

Your conclusion should make your readers glad they read your paper. Your conclusion gives your reader something to take away that will help them see things differently or appreciate your topic in personally relevant ways. It can suggest broader implications that will not only interest your reader, but also enrich your reader’s life in some way. It is your gift to the reader.

Strategies for writing an effective conclusion

One or more of the following strategies may help you write an effective conclusion:

• Play the “So What” Game. If you’re stuck and feel like your conclusion isn’t saying anything new or interesting, ask a friend to read it with you. Whenever you make a statement from your conclusion, ask the friend to say, “So what?” or “Why should anybody care?” Then ponder that question and answer it. Here’s how it might go: You: Basically, I’m just saying that education was important to Douglass. Friend: So what? You: Well, it was important because it was a key to him feeling like a free and equal citizen. Friend: Why should anybody care? You: That’s important because plantation owners tried to keep slaves from being educated so that they could maintain control. When Douglass obtained an education, he undermined that control personally. You can also use this strategy on your own, asking yourself “So What?” as you develop your ideas or your draft.
• Return to the theme or themes in the introduction. This strategy brings the reader full circle. For example, if you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay is helpful in creating a new understanding. You may also refer to the introductory paragraph by using key words or parallel concepts and images that you also used in the introduction.
• Synthesize, don’t summarize. Include a brief summary of the paper’s main points, but don’t simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used fit together. Pull it all together.
• Include a provocative insight or quotation from the research or reading you did for your paper.
• Propose a course of action, a solution to an issue, or questions for further study. This can redirect your reader’s thought process and help them to apply your info and ideas to their own life or to see the broader implications.
• Point to broader implications. For example, if your paper examines the Greensboro sit-ins or another event in the Civil Rights Movement, you could point out its impact on the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. A paper about the style of writer Virginia Woolf could point to her influence on other writers or on later feminists.

Strategies to avoid

• Beginning with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as “in conclusion,” “in summary,” or “in closing.” Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing.
• Stating the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion.
• Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion.
• Ending with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes.
• Making sentimental, emotional appeals that are out of character with the rest of an analytical paper.
• Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the body of the paper.

Four kinds of ineffective conclusions

• The “That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It” Conclusion. This conclusion just restates the thesis and is usually painfully short. It does not push the ideas forward. People write this kind of conclusion when they can’t think of anything else to say. Example: In conclusion, Frederick Douglass was, as we have seen, a pioneer in American education, proving that education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.
• The “Sherlock Holmes” Conclusion. Sometimes writers will state the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion. You might be tempted to use this strategy if you don’t want to give everything away too early in your paper. You may think it would be more dramatic to keep the reader in the dark until the end and then “wow” them with your main idea, as in a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The reader, however, does not expect a mystery, but an analytical discussion of your topic in an academic style, with the main argument (thesis) stated up front. Example: (After a paper that lists numerous incidents from the book but never says what these incidents reveal about Douglass and his views on education): So, as the evidence above demonstrates, Douglass saw education as a way to undermine the slaveholders’ power and also an important step toward freedom.
• The “America the Beautiful”/”I Am Woman”/”We Shall Overcome” Conclusion. This kind of conclusion usually draws on emotion to make its appeal, but while this emotion and even sentimentality may be very heartfelt, it is usually out of character with the rest of an analytical paper. A more sophisticated commentary, rather than emotional praise, would be a more fitting tribute to the topic. Example: Because of the efforts of fine Americans like Frederick Douglass, countless others have seen the shining beacon of light that is education. His example was a torch that lit the way for others. Frederick Douglass was truly an American hero.
• The “Grab Bag” Conclusion. This kind of conclusion includes extra information that the writer found or thought of but couldn’t integrate into the main paper. You may find it hard to leave out details that you discovered after hours of research and thought, but adding random facts and bits of evidence at the end of an otherwise-well-organized essay can just create confusion. Example: In addition to being an educational pioneer, Frederick Douglass provides an interesting case study for masculinity in the American South. He also offers historians an interesting glimpse into slave resistance when he confronts Covey, the overseer. His relationships with female relatives reveal the importance of family in the slave community.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. New York: Dover.

Hamilton College. n.d. “Conclusions.” Writing Center. Accessed June 14, 2019. https://www.hamilton.edu//academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/conclusions .

Holewa, Randa. 2004. “Strategies for Writing a Conclusion.” LEO: Literacy Education Online. Last updated February 19, 2004. https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

• U.S. Locations
• UMGC Europe
• Learn Online
• Find Answers
• 855-655-8682
• Current Students

Essay Conclusions

Explore more of umgc.

• Writing Resources

Contact The Effective Writing Center

E-mail:  writingcenter@umgc.edu

Learn about the elements of a successful essay conclusion.

The conclusion is a very important part of your essay. Although it is sometimes treated as a roundup of all of the bits that didn’t fit into the paper earlier, it deserves better treatment than that! It's the last thing the reader will see, so it tends to stick in the reader's memory. It's also a great place to remind the reader exactly why your topic is important. A conclusion is more than just "the last paragraph"—it's a working part of the paper. This is the place to push your reader to think about the consequences of your topic for the wider world or for the reader's own life!

A good conclusion should do a few things:

Restate your thesis

Synthesize or summarize your major points

Make the context of your argument clear

Restating Your Thesis

You've already spent time and energy crafting a solid thesis statement for your introduction, and if you've done your job right, your whole paper focuses on that thesis statement. That's why it's so important to address the thesis in your conclusion! Many writers choose to begin the conclusion by restating the thesis, but you can put your thesis into the conclusion anywhere—the first sentence of the paragraph, the last sentence, or in between. Here are a few tips for rephrasing your thesis:

Remind the reader that you've proven this thesis over the course of your paper. For example, if you're arguing that your readers should get their pets from animal shelters rather than pet stores, you might say, "If you were considering that puppy in the pet-shop window, remember that your purchase will support 'puppy mills' instead of rescuing a needy dog, and consider selecting your new friend at your local animal shelter." This example gives the reader not only the thesis of the paper, but a reminder of the most powerful point in the argument!

Revise the thesis statement so that it reflects the relationship you've developed with the reader during the paper. For example, if you've written a paper that targets parents of young children, you can find a way to phrase your thesis to capitalize on that—maybe by beginning your thesis statement with, "As a parent of a young child…"

Don’t repeat your thesis word for word—make sure that your new statement is an independent, fresh sentence!

Summary or Synthesis

This section of the conclusion might come before the thesis statement or after it. Your conclusion should remind the reader of what your paper actually says! The best conclusion will include a synthesis, not just a summary—instead of a mere list of your major points, the best conclusion will draw those points together and relate them to one another so that your reader can apply the information given in the essay. Here are a couple of ways to do that:

Give a list of the major arguments for your thesis (usually, these are the topic sentences of the parts of your essay).

Explain how these parts are connected. For example, in the animal-shelter essay, you might point out that adopting a shelter dog helps more animals because your adoption fee supports the shelter, which makes your choice more socially responsible.

One of the most important functions of the conclusion is to provide context for your argument. Your reader may finish your essay without a problem and understand your argument without understanding why that argument is important. Your introduction might point out the reason your topic matters, but your conclusion should also tackle this questions. Here are some strategies for making your reader see why the topic is important:

Tell the reader what you want him or her to do. Is your essay a call to action? If so, remind the reader of what he/she should do. If not, remember that asking the reader to think a certain way is an action in itself. (In the above examples, the essay asks the reader to adopt a shelter dog—a specific action.)

Explain why this topic is timely or important. For example, the animal-shelter essay might end with a statistic about the number of pets in shelters waiting for adoption.

Remind the readers of why the topic matters to them personally. For example, it doesn’t matter much if you believe in the mission of animal shelters, if you're not planning to get a dog; however, once you're looking for a dog, it is much more important. The conclusion of this essay might say, "Since you’re in the market for a dog, you have a major decision to make: where to get one." This will remind the reader that the argument is personally important!

Conclusion paragraphs

No cost tutoring services

Online degrees at UMGC

Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center .

Personal Information

Contact information, additional information.

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you intend to sign this form electronically and that your electronic signature is the equivalent of a handwritten signature, with all the same legal and binding effect. You are giving your express written consent without obligation for UMGC to contact you regarding our educational programs and services using e-mail, phone, or text, including automated technology for calls and/or texts to the mobile number(s) provided. For more details, including how to opt out, read our privacy policy or contact an admissions advisor .

Please wait, your form is being submitted.

By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our  Privacy Policy .

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Conclusions

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Conclusions wrap up what you have been discussing in your paper. After moving from general to specific information in the introduction and body paragraphs, your conclusion should begin pulling back into more general information that restates the main points of your argument. Conclusions may also call for action or overview future possible research. The following outline may help you conclude your paper:

In a general way,

• Restate your topic and why it is important,
• Restate your thesis/claim,
• Address opposing viewpoints and explain why readers should align with your position,
• Call for action or overview future research possibilities.

Remember that once you accomplish these tasks, unless otherwise directed by your instructor, you are finished. Done. Complete. Don't try to bring in new points or end with a whiz bang(!) conclusion or try to solve world hunger in the final sentence of your conclusion. Simplicity is best for a clear, convincing message.

The preacher's maxim is one of the most effective formulas to follow for argument papers:

Tell what you're going to tell them (introduction).

Tell them (body).

Tell them what you told them (conclusion).

• Walden University
• Faculty Portal

Writing a Paper: Conclusions

Writing a conclusion.

A conclusion is an important part of the paper; it provides closure for the reader while reminding the reader of the contents and importance of the paper. It accomplishes this by stepping back from the specifics in order to view the bigger picture of the document. In other words, it is reminding the reader of the main argument. For most course papers, it is usually one paragraph that simply and succinctly restates the main ideas and arguments, pulling everything together to help clarify the thesis of the paper. A conclusion does not introduce new ideas; instead, it should clarify the intent and importance of the paper. It can also suggest possible future research on the topic.

An Easy Checklist for Writing a Conclusion

It is important to remind the reader of the thesis of the paper so he is reminded of the argument and solutions you proposed.

Think of the main points as puzzle pieces, and the conclusion is where they all fit together to create a bigger picture. The reader should walk away with the bigger picture in mind.

Make sure that the paper places its findings in the context of real social change.

Make sure the reader has a distinct sense that the paper has come to an end. It is important to not leave the reader hanging. (You don’t want her to have flip-the-page syndrome, where the reader turns the page, expecting the paper to continue. The paper should naturally come to an end.)

No new ideas should be introduced in the conclusion. It is simply a review of the material that is already present in the paper. The only new idea would be the suggesting of a direction for future research.

Conclusion Example

As addressed in my analysis of recent research, the advantages of a later starting time for high school students significantly outweigh the disadvantages. A later starting time would allow teens more time to sleep--something that is important for their physical and mental health--and ultimately improve their academic performance and behavior. The added transportation costs that result from this change can be absorbed through energy savings. The beneficial effects on the students’ academic performance and behavior validate this decision, but its effect on student motivation is still unknown. I would encourage an in-depth look at the reactions of students to such a change. This sort of study would help determine the actual effects of a later start time on the time management and sleep habits of students.

Related Webinar

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

• Previous Page: Thesis Statements
• Next Page: Writer's Block
• Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

• Academic Residencies
• Academic Skills
• Career Planning and Development
• Customer Care Team
• Field Experience
• Military Services
• Student Success Advising
• Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

• Center for Social Change
• Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
• Office of Degree Acceleration
• Office of Research and Doctoral Services
• Office of Student Affairs

Student Resources

• Doctoral Writing Assessment
• Form & Style Review
• Quick Answers
• ScholarWorks
• SKIL Courses and Workshops
• Walden Bookstore
• Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
• Student Safety/Title IX
• Legal & Consumer Information
• Website Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Accessibility
• Accreditation
• State Authorization
• Net Price Calculator
• Contact Walden

Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV © 2024 Walden University LLC. All rights reserved.

17 Essay Conclusion Examples (Copy and Paste)

Essay conclusions are not just extra filler. They are important because they tie together your arguments, then give you the chance to forcefully drive your point home.

I created the 5 Cs conclusion method to help you write essay conclusions:

I’ve previously produced the video below on how to write a conclusion that goes over the above image.

The video follows the 5 C’s method ( you can read about it in this post ), which doesn’t perfectly match each of the below copy-and-paste conclusion examples, but the principles are similar, and can help you to write your own strong conclusion:

💡 New! Try this AI Prompt to Generate a Sample 5Cs Conclusion This is my essay: [INSERT ESSAY WITHOUT THE CONCLUSION]. I want you to write a conclusion for this essay. In the first sentence of the conclusion, return to a statement I made in the introduction. In the second sentence, reiterate the thesis statement I have used. In the third sentence, clarify how my final position is relevant to the Essay Question, which is [ESSAY QUESTION]. In the fourth sentence, explain who should be interested in my findings. In the fifth sentence, end by noting in one final, engaging sentence why this topic is of such importance.

Remember: The prompt can help you generate samples but you can’t submit AI text for assessment. Make sure you write your conclusion in your own words.

Essay Conclusion Examples

Below is a range of copy-and-paste essay conclusions with gaps for you to fill-in your topic and key arguments. Browse through for one you like (there are 17 for argumentative, expository, compare and contrast, and critical essays). Once you’ve found one you like, copy it and add-in the key points to make it your own.

1. Argumentative Essay Conclusions

The arguments presented in this essay demonstrate the significant importance of _____________. While there are some strong counterarguments, such as ____________, it remains clear that the benefits/merits of _____________ far outweigh the potential downsides. The evidence presented throughout the essay strongly support _____________. In the coming years, _____________ will be increasingly important. Therefore, continual advocacy for the position presented in this essay will be necessary, especially due to its significant implications for _____________.

Version 1 Filled-In

The arguments presented in this essay demonstrate the significant importance of fighting climate change. While there are some strong counterarguments, such as the claim that it is too late to stop catastrophic change, it remains clear that the merits of taking drastic action far outweigh the potential downsides. The evidence presented throughout the essay strongly support the claim that we can at least mitigate the worst effects. In the coming years, intergovernmental worldwide agreements will be increasingly important. Therefore, continual advocacy for the position presented in this essay will be necessary, especially due to its significant implications for humankind.

As this essay has shown, it is clear that the debate surrounding _____________ is multifaceted and highly complex. While there are strong arguments opposing the position that _____________, there remains overwhelming evidence to support the claim that _____________. A careful analysis of the empirical evidence suggests that _____________ not only leads to ____________, but it may also be a necessity for _____________. Moving forward, _____________ should be a priority for all stakeholders involved, as it promises a better future for _____________. The focus should now shift towards how best to integrate _____________ more effectively into society.

Version 2 Filled-In

As this essay has shown, it is clear that the debate surrounding climate change is multifaceted and highly complex. While there are strong arguments opposing the position that we should fight climate change, there remains overwhelming evidence to support the claim that action can mitigate the worst effects. A careful analysis of the empirical evidence suggests that strong action not only leads to better economic outcomes in the long term, but it may also be a necessity for preventing climate-related deaths. Moving forward, carbon emission mitigation should be a priority for all stakeholders involved, as it promises a better future for all. The focus should now shift towards how best to integrate smart climate policies more effectively into society.

Based upon the preponderance of evidence, it is evident that _____________ holds the potential to significantly alter/improve _____________. The counterarguments, while noteworthy, fail to diminish the compelling case for _____________. Following an examination of both sides of the argument, it has become clear that _____________ presents the most effective solution/approach to _____________. Consequently, it is imperative that society acknowledge the value of _____________ for developing a better  _____________. Failing to address this topic could lead to negative outcomes, including _____________.

Version 3 Filled-In

Based upon the preponderance of evidence, it is evident that addressing climate change holds the potential to significantly improve the future of society. The counterarguments, while noteworthy, fail to diminish the compelling case for immediate climate action. Following an examination of both sides of the argument, it has become clear that widespread and urgent social action presents the most effective solution to this pressing problem. Consequently, it is imperative that society acknowledge the value of taking immediate action for developing a better environment for future generations. Failing to address this topic could lead to negative outcomes, including more extreme climate events and greater economic externalities.

See Also: Examples of Counterarguments

On the balance of evidence, there is an overwhelming case for _____________. While the counterarguments offer valid points that are worth examining, they do not outweigh or overcome the argument that _____________. An evaluation of both perspectives on this topic concludes that _____________ is the most sufficient option for  _____________. The implications of embracing _____________ do not only have immediate benefits, but they also pave the way for a more _____________. Therefore, the solution of _____________ should be actively pursued by _____________.

Version 4 Filled-In

On the balance of evidence, there is an overwhelming case for immediate tax-based action to mitigate the effects of climate change. While the counterarguments offer valid points that are worth examining, they do not outweigh or overcome the argument that action is urgently necessary. An evaluation of both perspectives on this topic concludes that taking societal-wide action is the most sufficient option for  achieving the best results. The implications of embracing a society-wide approach like a carbon tax do not only have immediate benefits, but they also pave the way for a more healthy future. Therefore, the solution of a carbon tax or equivalent policy should be actively pursued by governments.

2. Expository Essay Conclusions

Overall, it is evident that _____________ plays a crucial role in _____________. The analysis presented in this essay demonstrates the clear impact of _____________ on _____________. By understanding the key facts about _____________, practitioners/society are better equipped to navigate _____________. Moving forward, further exploration of _____________ will yield additional insights and information about _____________. As such, _____________ should remain a focal point for further discussions and studies on _____________.

Overall, it is evident that social media plays a crucial role in harming teenagers’ mental health. The analysis presented in this essay demonstrates the clear impact of social media on young people. By understanding the key facts about the ways social media cause young people to experience body dysmorphia, teachers and parents are better equipped to help young people navigate online spaces. Moving forward, further exploration of the ways social media cause harm will yield additional insights and information about how it can be more sufficiently regulated. As such, the effects of social media on youth should remain a focal point for further discussions and studies on youth mental health.

To conclude, this essay has explored the multi-faceted aspects of _____________. Through a careful examination of _____________, this essay has illuminated its significant influence on _____________. This understanding allows society to appreciate the idea that _____________. As research continues to emerge, the importance of _____________ will only continue to grow. Therefore, an understanding of _____________ is not merely desirable, but imperative for _____________.

To conclude, this essay has explored the multi-faceted aspects of globalization. Through a careful examination of globalization, this essay has illuminated its significant influence on the economy, cultures, and society. This understanding allows society to appreciate the idea that globalization has both positive and negative effects. As research continues to emerge, the importance of studying globalization will only continue to grow. Therefore, an understanding of globalization’s effects is not merely desirable, but imperative for judging whether it is good or bad.

Reflecting on the discussion, it is clear that _____________ serves a pivotal role in _____________. By delving into the intricacies of _____________, we have gained valuable insights into its impact and significance. This knowledge will undoubtedly serve as a guiding principle in _____________. Moving forward, it is paramount to remain open to further explorations and studies on _____________. In this way, our understanding and appreciation of _____________ can only deepen and expand.

Reflecting on the discussion, it is clear that mass media serves a pivotal role in shaping public opinion. By delving into the intricacies of mass media, we have gained valuable insights into its impact and significance. This knowledge will undoubtedly serve as a guiding principle in shaping the media landscape. Moving forward, it is paramount to remain open to further explorations and studies on how mass media impacts society. In this way, our understanding and appreciation of mass media’s impacts can only deepen and expand.

In conclusion, this essay has shed light on the importance of _____________ in the context of _____________. The evidence and analysis provided underscore the profound effect _____________ has on _____________. The knowledge gained from exploring _____________ will undoubtedly contribute to more informed and effective decisions in _____________. As we continue to progress, the significance of understanding _____________ will remain paramount. Hence, we should strive to deepen our knowledge of _____________ to better navigate and influence _____________.

In conclusion, this essay has shed light on the importance of bedside manner in the context of nursing. The evidence and analysis provided underscore the profound effect compassionate bedside manner has on patient outcome. The knowledge gained from exploring nurses’ bedside manner will undoubtedly contribute to more informed and effective decisions in nursing practice. As we continue to progress, the significance of understanding nurses’ bedside manner will remain paramount. Hence, we should strive to deepen our knowledge of this topic to better navigate and influence patient outcomes.

See More: How to Write an Expository Essay

3. Compare and Contrast Essay Conclusion

While both _____________ and _____________ have similarities such as _____________, they also have some very important differences in areas like _____________. Through this comparative analysis, a broader understanding of _____________ and _____________ has been attained. The choice between the two will largely depend on _____________. For example, as highlighted in the essay, ____________. Despite their differences, both _____________ and _____________ have value in different situations.

While both macrosociology and microsociology have similarities such as their foci on how society is structured, they also have some very important differences in areas like their differing approaches to research methodologies. Through this comparative analysis, a broader understanding of macrosociology and microsociology has been attained. The choice between the two will largely depend on the researcher’s perspective on how society works. For example, as highlighted in the essay, microsociology is much more concerned with individuals’ experiences while macrosociology is more concerned with social structures. Despite their differences, both macrosociology and microsociology have value in different situations.

It is clear that _____________ and _____________, while seeming to be different, have shared characteristics in _____________. On the other hand, their contrasts in _____________ shed light on their unique features. The analysis provides a more nuanced comprehension of these subjects. In choosing between the two, consideration should be given to _____________. Despite their disparities, it’s crucial to acknowledge the importance of both when it comes to _____________.

It is clear that behaviorism and consructivism, while seeming to be different, have shared characteristics in their foci on knowledge acquisition over time. On the other hand, their contrasts in ideas about the role of experience in learning shed light on their unique features. The analysis provides a more nuanced comprehension of these subjects. In choosing between the two, consideration should be given to which approach works best in which situation. Despite their disparities, it’s crucial to acknowledge the importance of both when it comes to student education.

Reflecting on the points discussed, it’s evident that _____________ and _____________ share similarities such as _____________, while also demonstrating unique differences, particularly in _____________. The preference for one over the other would typically depend on factors such as _____________. Yet, regardless of their distinctions, both _____________ and _____________ play integral roles in their respective areas, significantly contributing to _____________.

Reflecting on the points discussed, it’s evident that red and orange share similarities such as the fact they are both ‘hot colors’, while also demonstrating unique differences, particularly in their social meaning (red meaning danger and orange warmth). The preference for one over the other would typically depend on factors such as personal taste. Yet, regardless of their distinctions, both red and orange play integral roles in their respective areas, significantly contributing to color theory.

Ultimately, the comparison and contrast of _____________ and _____________ have revealed intriguing similarities and notable differences. Differences such as _____________ give deeper insights into their unique and shared qualities. When it comes to choosing between them, _____________ will likely be a deciding factor. Despite these differences, it is important to remember that both _____________ and _____________ hold significant value within the context of _____________, and each contributes to _____________ in its own unique way.

Ultimately, the comparison and contrast of driving and flying have revealed intriguing similarities and notable differences. Differences such as their differing speed to destination give deeper insights into their unique and shared qualities. When it comes to choosing between them, urgency to arrive at the destination will likely be a deciding factor. Despite these differences, it is important to remember that both driving and flying hold significant value within the context of air transit, and each contributes to facilitating movement in its own unique way.

See Here for More Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

4. Critical Essay Conclusion

In conclusion, the analysis of _____________ has unveiled critical aspects related to _____________. While there are strengths in _____________, its limitations are equally telling. This critique provides a more informed perspective on _____________, revealing that there is much more beneath the surface. Moving forward, the understanding of _____________ should evolve, considering both its merits and flaws.

In conclusion, the analysis of flow theory has unveiled critical aspects related to motivation and focus. While there are strengths in achieving a flow state, its limitations are equally telling. This critique provides a more informed perspective on how humans achieve motivation, revealing that there is much more beneath the surface. Moving forward, the understanding of flow theory of motivation should evolve, considering both its merits and flaws.

To conclude, this critical examination of _____________ sheds light on its multi-dimensional nature. While _____________ presents notable advantages, it is not without its drawbacks. This in-depth critique offers a comprehensive understanding of _____________. Therefore, future engagements with _____________ should involve a balanced consideration of its strengths and weaknesses.

To conclude, this critical examination of postmodern art sheds light on its multi-dimensional nature. While postmodernism presents notable advantages, it is not without its drawbacks. This in-depth critique offers a comprehensive understanding of how it has contributed to the arts over the past 50 years. Therefore, future engagements with postmodern art should involve a balanced consideration of its strengths and weaknesses.

Upon reflection, the critique of _____________ uncovers profound insights into its underlying intricacies. Despite its positive aspects such as ________, it’s impossible to overlook its shortcomings. This analysis provides a nuanced understanding of _____________, highlighting the necessity for a balanced approach in future interactions. Indeed, both the strengths and weaknesses of _____________ should be taken into account when considering ____________.

Upon reflection, the critique of marxism uncovers profound insights into its underlying intricacies. Despite its positive aspects such as its ability to critique exploitation of labor, it’s impossible to overlook its shortcomings. This analysis provides a nuanced understanding of marxism’s harmful effects when used as an economic theory, highlighting the necessity for a balanced approach in future interactions. Indeed, both the strengths and weaknesses of marxism should be taken into account when considering the use of its ideas in real life.

Ultimately, this critique of _____________ offers a detailed look into its advantages and disadvantages. The strengths of _____________ such as __________ are significant, yet its limitations such as _________ are not insignificant. This balanced analysis not only offers a deeper understanding of _____________ but also underscores the importance of critical evaluation. Hence, it’s crucial that future discussions around _____________ continue to embrace this balanced approach.

Ultimately, this critique of artificial intelligence offers a detailed look into its advantages and disadvantages. The strengths of artificial intelligence, such as its ability to improve productivity are significant, yet its limitations such as the possibility of mass job losses are not insignificant. This balanced analysis not only offers a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence but also underscores the importance of critical evaluation. Hence, it’s crucial that future discussions around the regulation of artificial intelligence continue to embrace this balanced approach.

This article promised 17 essay conclusions, and this one you are reading now is the twenty-first. This last conclusion demonstrates that the very best essay conclusions are written uniquely, from scratch, in order to perfectly cater the conclusion to the topic. A good conclusion will tie together all the key points you made in your essay and forcefully drive home the importance or relevance of your argument, thesis statement, or simply your topic so the reader is left with one strong final point to ponder.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

And in Conclusion: Inquiring into Strategies for Writing Effective Conclusions

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

As part of the drafting and revision process for a current literary analysis essay (or another type of argument), students first participate in initial peer review to improve the argument in their essay. Then they inquire into published tips and advice on writing conclusions and analyze sample conclusions with a partner before choosing two strategies they would like to try in their own writing, drafting a conclusion that employs each.  After writing two different conclusions and conferring with a peer about them, they choose one and reflect on why they chose it, as well as what they learned about writing conclusions and the writing process more broadly.  Though this lesson is framed around an argumentative literary essay, its structure could be easily adapted to other written forms.

Featured Resources

List of Online Resources for Writing Conclusions :  Organized in two parts, these resources allow students to inquire into different published advice on writing conclusions to academic essays and then offer students sample essays to review and critique.

Conclusion Inquiry Guide :  Students use these prompts to guide their inquiry into advice on writing conclusions and sample argumentative essays.

From Theory to Practice

The conclusions to student essays are often formulaic restatements of the key ideas of their introductions.  While there is fairly wide agreement on strategies for constructing and improving introductions, there are fewer resources investigating “how to conclude,” partly perhaps because of the very context- and piece-specific nature of what a conclusion might do.

This lesson, then, draws heavily on two ideas from the more foundational NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing to guide students through inquiry into the genre of the argumentative essay and what function the conclusion can serve:

“Developing writers require support. This support can best come through carefully designed writing instruction oriented toward acquiring new strategies and skills.”

“As is the case with many other things people do, getting better at writing requires doing it -- a lot. This means actual writing, not merely listening to lectures about writing, doing grammar drills, or discussing readings. The more people write, the easier it gets and the more they are motivated to do it.”

Students participating in this lesson are supported in the specific task of drafting multiple conclusions to an essay to determine which is most effective, a process that itself involves significant writing to achieve.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.

Materials and Technology

• Access to Internet-connected computers
• Peer Response Sheet
• Conclusion Inquiry Guide
• Conclusion Peer Response Guide

Organized in two parts, these resources allow students to inquire into different published advice on writing conclusions to academic essays and then offer students sample essays to review and critique.on

Preparation

A student recently pointed out that essay expectation sheets and rubrics often give detailed descriptions of or advice about how to approach the introduction and body paragraphs, and then offer very brief attention to the conclusion.  She noted that they might say something along the lines of “Bring your paper to a close without restating the introduction directly.”  This seems to be a symptom of teachers ourselves under-thinking what can make a conclusion effective.  To prepare for this lesson, first reflect on your own assignment sheets, rubrics, and beliefs about what a conclusion does in an argumentative essay.  Are there principles that cross multiple types of writing (bridging the reader from the specifics of the essay back to the general world)?  Are there some that are more specific to certain types of essays (the call for social action, for example)?  As part of this work, preview the Online Resources for Writing Conclusions and consider how some of the suggestions align with your own thinking about effective conclusions.

• This lesson assumes some familiarity with essay writing and works best when students have drafted most of an essay except for a conclusion.  Consider using the Essay Map to facilitate this process.
• This lesson assumes some familiarity with effective peer response practice  Consider using ideas and strategies from Peer Edit with Perfection: Effective Strategies or Peer Review .
• Make copies of all necessary handouts.
• Arrange for access to Internet-connected computers for Sessions Two and Three, ideally one computer for every two students.
• Check links in the List of Online Resources for Writing Conclusions to ensure students can access all necessary resources.

Student Objectives

Students will

revise an existing essay in preparation for writing a conclusion.

develop through inquiry a repertoire of strategies for concluding a literary analysis essay.

draft multiple conclusions and select one based on peer conferring.

• reflect on their choice of submitted conclusion and learning throughout the lesson.

Session One

• Begin the lesson by eliciting from students various advice they have gotten in the past about writing conclusions, as well as strategies they have used before to conclude their academic writing.  If students have access to their writing folders or digital portfolios, give them time to scan over conclusions of past essays.
• As students share, record or project their responses and ask them to reflect on how useful that advice has been or how successfully those strategies have served them.  Be sure to encourage discussion of what students think of as “bad conclusions,” even when those conclusions seem to be following advice that they have gotten.  Discussion will likely generate a shared understanding that writing conclusions is a common challenge, and that no certain approach or advice always works all the time.
• Explain that in this lesson, students will inquire into different approaches they might take to conclude their current essay with an eye toward building a larger repertoire of strategies they might use in crafting conclusions in the future.  Emphasize that the goal of this lesson is not to develop “one right way” to conclude a paper or essay, but to increase possibilities for and flexibility in  their writing.
• Share with students that a conclusion is typically only as effective as the argument that comes before it, so they will first participate in a peer response activity in this session to improve the existing draft of the essay.
• Explain the expectations for peer revision using the Peer Response Sheet to guide the conversation.  After trading essays and first reading drafts in their entirety, students should answer the questions on the Peer Response Sheet to provide feedback to their partner.
• Give students time to read and respond to a partner’s essay and then share and clarify feedback before asking students to set three revision goals for the next session at the bottom of the Peer Response Sheet .
• Set or agree upon a date for the next session (probably not the next day) and share the expectation that students come to class with a revised essay that works toward the goals they set in this session.

Session Two

• Inform students that in the next few sessions, they will be investigating some Online Resources for Writing Conclusions to generate new ideas and analyzing sample essays for their effectiveness.
• Share the link to the List of Online Resources for Writing Conclusions and distribute copies of the Conclusion Inquiry Guide , explaining how they will use the two together: first to investigate advice for writing conclusions, and then to read sample essays to evaluate in light of that advice (in the next session).
• Direct students, perhaps in their peer response pairs from the previous session, to investigate the Online Resources for Writing Conclusions and complete the Conclusion Inquiry Guide .
• Depending on your students’ levels of independence, you may wish to provide additional guidance in investigating the Online Resources for Writing Conclusions .  You might, for example, set a timer for each of the sites in the Tips/Advice section and after students have investigated, facilitate a full class discussion about what they noticed or will put on their Conclusion Inquiry Guide .  Also consider asking them to talk through with their partner some of the strategies on their current essay.  The strategies on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center: Conclusions website lend themselves particularly well to this kind of work.
• If time permits after pairs have finished, ask them to find another pair with whom to share their impressions, findings, and ideas.
• Collect the Conclusion Inquiry Guide to return to students in the next session for analyzing sample essays.

Session Three

• Open this session by returning students’ Conclusion Inquiry Guides and drawing their attention to the second half of the guide, which prompts students to choose and critique two of the essays from the Online Resources for Writing Conclusions .
• Point students to the Online Resources for Writing Conclusions and be sure they understand the expectations for the activity: to read the essays in light of the tips and strategies they developed in the previous session and to point out the strengths and weaknesses of the conclusions.
• Depending on your students’ level of independence, consider reading and analyzing one of the four essays together as a class before asking pairs to evaluate and analyze.  Adaptations to this part of the activity might include projecting the essays, but covering the conclusion.  Then have student pairs brainstorm possible ways they might conclude before comparing their conclusions to what was written. Or, ask student pairs to rewrite one of the conclusions based on the feedback they offer.  Regardless, remind students to note their impressions in the spaces provided on the Inquiry Guide .
• Near the end of the session, bring the class back together to debrief what they noticed and learned, focusing specifically on generating ideas that they might try in their own writing.
• Ask students to re-read and bring with them their essay drafts before the next session.

Session Four

Ask students to get out their essay drafts and review their Inquiry Guides .  Explain that in this session, they will choose two techniques they are interested in “trying on” to conclude their essay.  Point out that many of the strategies will require additional revision to the body of the essay (particularly the introduction).

Give students a few minutes to talk through their ideas with their peer response partners or another nearby classmate.

Have students get out two sheets of paper or open two documents and give them time to draft a conclusion that tries each of the strategies.  Circulate the room to assist students in decision making and drafting, and encourage students to continue to confer with their peer review partner as necessary.

• As students complete drafting their two conclusions, ask them to bring a copy of both versions of their essay to the next session, one with each possible conclusion.

Session Five

• Explain to students that in this session, they will meet again in their peer response pairs to provide one another feedback on their current essay drafts and conclusions.
• Share the Conclusion Peer Response Guide and explain its expectations and how it will shape their interaction in the pair.
• Give students time to read each other’s essays, with particular attention paid to the conclusions, and provide one another feedback on their conclusions using the  Conclusion Peer Response Guide .
• Close the lesson by asking students to share with the full group ideas, strategies, and questions they still have about writing effective conclusions, both for this essay and for academic writing in general.
• Explain that students should select a conclusion and make any necessary revisions to it and to the rest of the essay before submitting it.  On the day papers are due, also consider having students respond to the reflection questions in the Assessment section below.

Have students develop a Web resource of their own, similar to those in the lesson, to share their learning about effective conclusions.  Include links to their essays, with multiple versions of conclusions and commentary about their effectiveness.

• Use this inquiry model to support students in working through other trouble spots in academic writing, including introductions, transitions, developing support, or writing in different genres/styles.

Student Assessment / Reflections

When students submit their essays, ask them to reflect on their learning by responding to questions such as these:

How do the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion work together to make a coherent argument?

Why did you choose to submit this conclusion rather than the other?

What did you learn about writing conclusions through participation in this activity?

What did you learn about your writing process (and yourself as a writer) by participating in this activity?

• Student Interactives
• Lesson Plans
• Strategy Guides
• Professional Library

The Essay Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to organize and outline their ideas for an informational, definitional, or descriptive essay.

Students prepare an already published scholarly article for presentation, with an emphasis on identification of the author's thesis and argument structure.

This strategy guide clarifies the difference between persuasion and argumentation, stressing the connection between close reading of text to gather evidence and formation of a strong argumentative claim about text.

This strategy guide explains the writing process and offers practical methods for applying it in your classroom to help students become proficient writers.

With full recognition that writing is an increasingly multifaceted activity, we offer several principles that should guide effective teaching practice.

• Print this resource

Explore Resources by Grade

• Kindergarten K

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

Natural Resources Essay

Introduction

Natural resources and their relevance to human life are a major concern for all people on the planet. It is now important to have knowledge of the need for and value of natural resources, as well as to spread full awareness of the dangers associated with their scarcity. We have provided both long and short natural resources essays for students of Class 1 to 12.

Long and Short Essay on Natural Resources

Long natural resources essay in english.

Natural resources are priceless gifts to us that are necessary for our survival on this planet. Air, water, ground, trees, wood, soil, minerals, petroleum, metals, and sunlight are all examples. These resources cannot be generated or developed by humans; instead, they can be changed in various ways so that we can make better use of them.

Natural Resources are Classified into Two Types:

1. Renewable - Water, air, sunshine, ground, wood, soil, plants, and animals are examples of renewable resources that can be reclaimed and reformed after use. Water, plants, livestock, and fresh air are examples of scarce resources. Without a well-managed mechanism for consuming these renewable resources, we will not be able to bring them back in the future for future generations to use.

2. Non-Renewable - Non-renewable natural resources are those that cannot be duplicated and are only available in finite amounts on the globe. Minerals, Metals, petroleum, and coal are located under the earth's surface. Both of these items are in short supply and are extremely useful and valuable in everyday life.

Other categories of natural resources, in addition to these two, are specified as:

1. Biotic - These are natural resources derived from the global environment and include life-like plants, trees, and animals.

2. Abiotic - These resources include non-living natural resources such as air, water, ground, soil, minerals, and metals.

Both Renewable and Non-Renewable resources are used for various purposes:

Wind energy is produced by the movement of air.

Water is used for drinking and hydroelectric energy production.

Plants and trees provide us with vegetables, fruits, cotton, and wood, which we can use to make paper, furniture, and houses.

Animals provide us with milk, and their skin is used to make soap, shoes, purses, belts, and other products.

Solar energy is generated by the sun, which is used to keep us warm.

Oil is used to power vehicles and generates electricity.

Coins, steel, and jewelry are all made from minerals and metals.

Electricity is generated using coal.

What Causes the Depletion of These Resources?

Over-Population: When the world's population grows at an exponential pace, so does the demand for natural resources.

Urbanization: More cities and towns are springing up to meet the ever-increasing demand for housing and other necessities. Some resources have been exhausted as a result of this.

Industrialization: Several new industries are springing up in both rural and urban areas to create jobs and manufacture consumer goods for everyday use. As a result, our natural resources have been over-exploited.

Deforestation: Deforestation is the degradation of trees on a wide scale. Forest degradation has resulted in a reduction in other natural resources such as soil, water, and wildlife.

Mining and Quarrying: Resources have also been exhausted as a result of unscientific mining and quarrying for the production of minerals and ores.

Overgrazing: Soil erosion is exacerbated by overgrazing by cattle in general, and sheep and goats in particular.

Intensive Agriculture: Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as cultivating the same crop year after year, decreases soil fertility and leaves the soil sick.

Insecticides: Insecticides and industrial waste products have depleted biodiversity in the forest, rivers, wetlands, dams, and oceans.

Soil Erosion: Soil erosion is the process of water or wind transporting nutrient-rich topsoil away. This harms both the soil and the plants.

Let us take a look at the Natural Resources Short Essay.

Short Essay on Natural Resources

Natural resources are those that we receive naturally from the Earth. Natural resources include the flora and fauna in our local area, as well as air, water, and sunshine. Natural resources are classified into two groups. They are renewable natural resources, such as solar energy, as well as non-renewable natural resources, such as fossil fuels.

Renewable natural resources do not deplete and are replenished over time, while non-renewable resources deplete as their use increases. Natural resources are a gift to humanity that must be used responsibly and protected for future generations.

Even though the majority of these natural resources are sustainable and plentiful, human activities do misuse some of them. It takes millions of years for all of those non-renewable resources to form. Unauthorized and irresponsible use of these natural resources would lead to a scarcity of these resources in the future.

The key cause of this threat of natural resource extraction can be identified as population growth. When the world's population increases, so does the need for more natural resources. This involves the over-consumption of lands by sacrificing their true natural value to create massive structures, industrialisation, and so on.

The increased use of new technology and requirements has contaminated our natural resources, such as air, water, and soil, by exposing them to more chemically hazardous wastes. Owing to overuse, raw materials derived from fossil fuels, such as petroleum products, are in danger of becoming extinct.

Many of these risks can be avoided if we use our natural resources more wisely and don't take them for granted. Humans should adopt a more sustainable lifestyle to preserve nature's gifts for future generations.

The above material contained an essay on Natural Resources which had a lot of information about the topic. 

It outlined the ways to write an essay, both, long and short. But, writing is all about creative ideas and is considered to be the most loved form of expression. 

Students shall keep exploring more about the art of writing. The best way to do so is by putting their hands on different topics and trying to describe them in different ways. 

Let us get to know more about the essays, their types, formats, and some of the tips that the students shall be using while writing any piece of content.

What is an essay? 

An essay is a kind of writing piece that is usually short and describes the perspective of a writer. It may showcase an argument, tell a story, highlight an issue or simply, describe a topic. They are very personalized and talk about personal opinions and viewpoints. Since writing is a form of expression and a lot of people love to own their thoughts, essay writing is a skill that everyone should possess.

What is the Format to write an Essay? 

It doesn’t follow a very rigid format. However, it consists of three main parts. 

First, the introduction, which talks about an overview of the prompt that you’ve been given. 

Second, the body, which talks in detail or gives a response to the argument which has been stated in the topic.

Third, is the conclusion, which generally contains the ending lines. It can contain a moral, quote or suggestion. 

Students shall note that since writing is a creative process, there’s no need to confine it within some boundaries. You shall write according to the topic and your flow of ideas. However, an important point that you shall keep in mind is that the content of the writing piece should be organized and easy to understand. If there’s a relatability factor to it, the audience would find it appealing and this way, you can connect with more people.

How many Types of Essays are There? 

There are mainly 4 types of essays. However, it depends on the writer, how and what they want to deliver to their audience. 

Narrative Essay

Descriptive Essay

Persuasive Essay

Expository Essay

What are Short Essays? 

Short essays are generally the kind of essays which doesn’t offer too many details about the prompt but surely highlights all the important points linked to it. 

These kinds of essays are considered to be more interesting and easy to read, because of the length of the content.

What are Long Essays?

Long Essays are generally longer than the others as it contains a lot of information. These are considered to be the ones that have all the details. They may be written in an informal way or even a formal way, depending on what the prompt is.

Tips for Writing Essays

Select a captivating title for it. 

Divide the content into small paragraphs so that it looks more organized. 

Make sure that your content grabs the attention of the reader. 

Your words should give a sense of curiosity in the reader’s mind. 

The essay should be well-paced. 

Avoid using jargon and focus more on simple words. 

Focus on the structure of your essay. 

Avoid making grammatical errors. 

Use correct spellings and punctuations. 

Before writing, you may consider making a rough draft so that it becomes easier for you to organize your points later. 

Understand your topic well so that you can provide only relevant information and don't present an unorganized mess. 

Brainstorm your topic, ask yourself questions, research extensively so that before you start, you get a clearer idea of what your content should be like. 

You may use resources and cite research to make it more interesting for the readers.

FAQs on Natural Resources Essay

1. How can we Conserve/Avoid Water Pollution?

There are two ways to conserve water:

Maintenance of Water Cycle:

In many areas of the world, healthy forests are important for promoting rainfall. As a result, the water cycle would be dependent on tree maintenance and planting.

Swamps, marshes, tanks, and reservoirs must all be closely controlled. Wetland areas, which play an important role in the water cycle, should not be filled with mud and reclaimed as land.

Prevention of Water Pollution:

It is recommended that industrial wastes not be dumped directly into lakes and rivers. If sewage is to be dumped into rivers or streams, it must first be cleaned and filtered.

Oil should not be dumped in the seas by ships or oil tankers.

Cities' organic wastes (sewage) should not be permitted to pollute the water supply. To achieve sewage oxidation, special sewage plants should be built. Finally, sewage-free water can be discharged into rivers and reservoirs.

2. What are Some of the Ways in Which we can Preserve Soil Fertility?

Following are the ways in which we can preserve soil fertility:

It is not advisable to cultivate the same crop year after year. As a consequence, basic elements of a specific kind are depleted in the soil. Different crops should be planted at different times of the year. Crop rotation is a good idea to pursue. It entails rotating between growing a pulse crop or a leguminous crop and some other crop. This is due to the presence of the bacteria rhizobium in the root nodules of leguminous plants, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen.

To substitute what is taken up as nutrients by plants, green manure or synthetic fertilisers should be applied to the soil.

The type of fertiliser to be used for different crops should be addressed with an Agriculture Development Officer or Gram Sevak.

3. How many words long should an essay be? 

An ideal essay should be 400-500 words unless otherwise stated. The words also depend on what you have been asked to write for. Often, the topic is too lengthy and it becomes difficult for you to organise it. While writing, you shall only keep your reader in the mind and then let the ideas flow on a paper.

4. How should an essay be concluded?

The best way to conclude an essay is by presenting your viewpoints or suggestions and ending it with a quote or something similar. However, there is no rule attached to it and students shall rely the most on their creative skills and let the ideas flow as they come.

5. From where can we get to read some of the samples of essays?

Vedantu provides you with a heck of sample essays. You shall simply visit their website or download their mobile app and get access to it. By reading more and more samples, your brain will give you more ideas, and this way your writing skills will improve over time. Remember, the way to write is always reading.

Natural Resources Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on natural resources.

Mother Nature has given us many wonderful gifts that not only help us to survive but also to live one life in a prosperous way. One of these gifts is a natural resource. Besides, these natural resources help us to make our life easy and comfortable. In addition, they are present in nature in abundance but many of them take time to regenerate.

Meaning of Natural Resources

A natural resource is not a complex thing basically we can say that everything that we get from nature is a natural resource. Whether it is the sunlight, water, coal, natural gases, minerals, and air. All these things come under natural resources.

Types of Natural resources

The categories and use of every natural resource are different but on a broader level, they are categorized into two categories namely renewable and non-renewable .

Renewable Natural Resources – These are those natural resources that are present in abundance and also renew easily. These include sunlight, water, air, soil, biomass, and wood. But among them, some resources take time to renew like the wood and soil .

In addition, they are derived from living things as well as non-living things. Those resources that we derive from living things are organic renewable resources and those, which we derive from non-living things, are inorganic renewable resources.

Non-Renewable Natural Resources – As the name suggests these resources do not get renewed easily like renewable resources. Also, they take many years to regenerate. These resources include coal, petroleum, natural gases, etc.

Besides, we also categorized into two groups organic and inorganic. The organic non-renewable resources form from the dead bodies of living things and include fossil fuel. While inorganic non-renewable resources form with the non-living things like the wind , minerals, soil, and land.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Distribution of natural resources

The natural resources are unevenly distributed on the surface of the earth. In addition, the different regions of the surface are rich in different varieties of minerals or natural resources. While there are areas that receive an abundance of sunlight, on the contrary, there are areas that receive very little sunlight.

Similarly, some region has a lot of water bodies while others have minerals rich land . Above all, the main factor that influences the uneven distribution of resources is the land type and climate.

This uneven distribution is the major link that connects different countries and facilitates international trade between them. Moreover, it has some bad effects too because the countries rich in fossil fuels control and exploit the market as well as other countries that depend on them for the supply of fuel. Due to this, the rich countries are getting richer and poor countries are getting poorer.

In conclusion, we can say that the earth has a huge stock of natural resources and if we use them sustainably then we can easily save them as well as the planet for some extra time till we completely start using renewable resources. This will also reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources.

Besides, they are important for us because our existence depends on them. Also, we should use them wisely and avoid any 0kind of their wastage.

FAQs about Natural Resources Essay

Q.1 Name a renewable natural resource that we can use for many purposes? A.1 Sunlight is the renewable natural resource that we can use for many purposes like for making electricity, for cooking, heating, making salt from seawater, drying clothes and many more.

Q.2 What is the conservation of natural resources? A.2 Conservation of resources means saving the resources and using them sustainably. Also, it encompasses the quality and quantity of natural resources.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

• Engaging With Sources Effectively

by acburton | Apr 30, 2024 | Resources for Students , Writing Resources

We’ve talked about the three ways to integrate sources effectively that allow writers to provide evidence and support for their argument, enter the scholarly conversation, and give credit to the original authors of the work that has helped and informed them. Sources also encourage writers to share their own knowledge and authority with others, help readers find additional sources related to the topic they are interested in, and protect you by giving credit where credit is due (thus avoiding plagiarism). In other words, sources are much more than just something we add on at the end of our writing!

When writing about a source or simply referencing it, we are positioning ourselves in response to, or in conversation with that source, with the goal of focusing our writing on our own argument/thesis. Sources do not stand on their own within a piece of writing and that is why, alongside finding strong and reputable sources worth responding to and making sure that we fully understand sources (even before writing about them), it is critical to engage with our sources in meaningful ways. But how exactly do we effectively engage with our sources in our writing?

Joseph Harris, in How To Do Things with Texts , presents four different ways of “rewriting the work of others”, three of which provide insight into the how of engaging sources. When a writer forwards the work of another writer, they are applying the concepts, topics, or terms from one reading, text, or situation to a different reading, text or situation. By countering the ideas found in source material, a writer argues “against the grain of a text” by underlining and countering ideas that a writer may be in disagreement with. Taking an approach is the adaptation of a theory or method from one writer to a new set of issues or texts. Harris’ book provides a thorough classification of methods to engage with a source. For something a little simpler, here are three basic ways you can get started effectively engaging with sources (Harris 5-7).

3 Basic Ways to Engage with Sources Effectively

• Disagree and Explain Why. Persuade your reader that the argument or information in a source should be questioned or challenged.
• Agree, But With Your Own Take. Add something new to the conversation. Expand a source’s insights or argument to a new situation or your own example. Provide new evidence and discuss new implications.
• Agree and Disagree Simultaneously. This is a nuanced approach to complex sources or complex topics. You can, for example, agree with a source’s overall thesis, but disagree with some of its reasoning or evidence.

Remember that this is not an exhaustive list. When engaging with others’ sources as a way to support our own ideas and argument, it is crucial that we engage with critical thinking, nuance, and objectivity to ensure that we are constructing unbiased, thoughtful, and compelling arguments.

Some of the different areas throughout your essay that will benefit from effective engagement with source material include: your thesis statement, analysis, and conclusion.

• Thesis Statement. The argument that you make in your thesis statement can challenge, weaken, support, or strengthen what is being argued by your source or sources.

Analysis. Thorough analysis in your body paragraphs emphasize the role of your argument in comparison to that found in your source material. Bring your analysis back to your thesis statement to reinforce the connection between the two.

• Conclusion. Consider the “big picture” or “takeaways” to leave your reader with.

There are many other, sometimes optional, essay sections or writing styles that benefit from critical engagement with a source. These can include literature reviews, reflections, critiques, and so on.

Strategies for Engaging Critically From Start to Finish

• Aim to dig deeper than surface level. Ask the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of a source, as well as ‘how’ and ‘why’ it is relevant to the topic at hand and the argument you are making.
• Ask yourself if you’ve addressed every possible question, concern, critique, or “what if” that comes to mind; put yourself in the place of your readers.
• Use TEAL body paragraph development as a template and guide for developing thorough analysis in your body paragraphs. Effectively engaging with your sources is essential to the analysis portion of the TEAL formula and to creating meaningful engagement with your sources.
• Visit the Writing Center for additional support on crafting engaging analyses and for other ways to engage with your source material from thesis to conclusion.

Our Newest Resources!

• Revision vs. Proofreading
• The Dos and Don’ts of Using Tables and Figures in Your Writing
• Synthesis and Making Connections for Strong Analysis
• Writing Strong Titles

Additional Resources

• Graduate Writing Consultants
• Instructor Resources
• Student Resources
• Quick Guides and Handouts
• Self-Guided and Directed Learning Activities

< Main ILO website

Introduction

Principles of the “high road”, the return of theory x using artificial intelligence, the pluses and minuses of ai in the workplace, managing the transition: why the “wrong” choices are made, policy responses to the ai-related and other technological challenges.

See all ILO working papers

Artificial intelligence in human resource management: a challenge for the human-centred agenda?

(no footnote loaded)

Peter Cappelli

Nikolai Rogovsky

The ILO human-centred agenda puts the needs, aspirations and rights of all people at the heart of economic, social and environmental policies. At the enterprise level, this approach calls for broader employee representation and involvement that could be powerful factors for productivity growth. However, the implementation of the human-centred agenda at the workplace level may be challenged by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in various areas of corporate human resource management (HRM). While firms are enthusiastically embracing AI and digital technology in a number of HRM areas, their understanding of how such innovations affect the workforce often lags behind or is not viewed as a priority. This paper offers guidance as to when and where the use of AI in HRM should be encouraged, and where it is likely to cause more problems than it solves.

Sustainable development is at the core of national and international discussions on development issues. At the enterprise level, the ILO defines sustainability as “operating a business so as to grow and earn profit, and recognition of the economic and social aspirations of people inside and outside the organization on whom the enterprise depends, as well as the impact on the natural environment” (ILO 2007). According to the ILO, “sustainable enterprises should innovate, adopt environmentally friendly technologies, develop skills and human resources, and enhance productivity to remain competitive in national and international markets” (ILO 2007).

The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work emphasizes “the role of sustainable enterprises as generators of employment and promoters of innovation and decent work” and, in this regard, underlines the importance of “supporting the role of the private sector as a principal source of economic growth and job creation by promoting an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and sustainable enterprises […] in order to generate decent work, productive employment and improved living standards for all”. Creating “productive workplaces” and “productive and healthy conditions” of work are critical in achieving this goal (ILO 2019a).

At both the macro- and micro-levels, the ILO promotes the “high road” approach to productivity which “seeks to enhance productivity through better working conditions and the full respect for labour rights as compared to the “low road” which consists of the exploitation of the workforce” (ILO, n.d.). The “high road” is related to the ILO’s “human-centred agenda,” which is a key part of the ILO human-centred approach to the future of work highlighted in the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work and described in-depth in the related Work for a brighter future – Global Commission on the Future of Work report. This approach puts “workers’ rights and the needs, aspirations and rights of all people at the heart of economic, social and environmental policies” (ILO 2019a) and calls for investments in people’s capabilities, institutions of work and in decent and sustainable work (ILO 2019b). It is expected that such investments would be combined with people-centred approach to business practices at the workplace level.

This paper is aimed at exploring when and how AI is used in HRM, and when its impact on firm and individual performance is positive, negative or cannot be properly accessed. We start by looking at the principles of high road approach and how these principles are related to the use of AI in HRM. Then we specifically look at the pluses of minuses of AI in the workplace focusing on such aspects of HRM as hiring and work organization. We conclude with a brief overview of some possible policy responses to the AI-related and other technological challenges.

Since the Western Electric studies that were carried out in the 1920s and 1930s (Landsberger 1958), evidence has accumulated year-by-year about the advantages of taking employee management seriously: look after employees, and they will look after the employer’s interests; empower employees to make decisions, from quality circles to lean production to agile management, and performance and quality improves.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Douglas McGregor described the developing literature on the effectiveness of management practices as “Theory Y” and contrasted it with “Theory X” which essentially views employees as simply another factor of production like raw materials in manufacturing (McGregor 1960). Frederick Taylor and his scientific management approach were arguably the originators of a sophisticated view of Theory X, which is rooted in a simple, conservative (with a small “c”) notion that employees are mainly motivated by money, need to be told what to do by experts, and will shirk their responsibilities if not watched closely. Theory Y has the much more complex but more accurate assumption that employees have many complicated motivations and if managed correctly would do the right thing for the employer even if they are not monitored or incentivized by financial rewards and punishments. The contemporary incarnation of Theory X and Y with a few new twists is the idea of a “high road” approach for Theory Y practices and a “low road” for Theory X.

In recent decades, evidence has accumulated about the advantages of Theory Y approach of taking employee management seriously and the most fundamental element of that approach, reciprocity: if employers look after the interests of their employees, then the employees in turn will be inclined to look after the interests of their employer.

The ILO data from the Better Work and Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) programmes 1 provides evidence of the positive effects of such an approach, showing that “improved workplace cooperation, effective workers’ representation, quality management, clean production, human resource management and occupational safety and health, as well as supervisory skills training, particularly among female supervisors, all increase productivity”. Moreover, “better management also helps to lower accidents at work 2 and employee turnover and reduces the occurrence of unbalanced production lines (where work piles up on one line while other workers are sitting idle)”. Evidence also points to “increased productivity and profitability associated with a reduction in verbal abuse and sexual harassment.” 3

Evidence has even moved past showing reductions in turnover and improvements in individual and organizational productivity to financial performance. The strongest of these studies is arguably Edmans (2011) which finds that companies making the “best places to work” ranking have higher than anticipated share prices in future years. A different study finds a similar market-beating performance for companies that have greater managerial integrity and ethics (Guiso, Sapienza and Zingales 2015). Another global study shows that companies that have better management (including more sophisticated human resource practices) perform better on a wide range of economic dimensions (Bloom and Van Reenen 2010).

None of this is to suggest that tracking employee performance, setting standards for their work efforts, and rewarding and punishing are irrelevant. However, relying solely on those tactics is not enough.

At the same time, it is important to note that at least in the short term the “low road” approach to management can allow firms to break-even or even improve economic performance (but not social outcomes) where the initial practices are simplistic. In those countries and sectors where labour standards and laws are not always respected and workers are often not organized and represented, the “low road” approach to productivity is still common, in part because it is simpler for management and may appeal to their world view that focuses on their roles. However, the “low road” approach is seeing something of a resurgence even in the most sophisticated sectors of the world leading economies as we note below.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in HRM can challenge the implementation of the ILO-led human-centred agenda at the workplace level. While firms are enthusiastically embracing artificial intelligence and digital technology in a number of their HRM areas, their understanding of how such innovations affect the workforce is often not viewed as a priority or lags behind (Rogovsky and Cooke 2021).

Many enterprises in both developing and developed countries are replacing the employee empowerment approach, such as quality circles and lean production, with an “optimization” approach where experts and the algorithms associated with artificial intelligence (AI) they create take back the decision-making that empowerment had created. Optimization seems to appeal to many managers as it sounds per se to be more efficient. As a result, the evidence of employee empowerment as a productivity driver is largely ignored (Cappelli 2020).

The application of data science as well as an increase in computer power in worker-related questions have spawned a huge number of applications, indeed an entire industry of vendors, offering solutions to virtually every human resource question. It takes the decision-making out of the hands of employees and their supervisors as well, turning it over to the software and ultimately the vendors and their programmers who generate answers to human resource problems. In 2020, 28 per cent of US employers report that they were using data science tools to “replace line manager duties in assigning tasks and managing performance.” 39 per cent were planning to start doing so the following year (Mercer 2020).

The use of AI in the form of data science in workforce management is not per se a bad thing. As with AI in other contexts, it may allow us to answer questions that have not been addressed before: not every AI solution is taking decisions away from humans. For example, advice to employees about possible career paths can be generated for them by machine-learning algorithms based on what has been best in the past for other workers like them. Rigorous advice on questions like this has simply not been available before. It is also the case that decisions currently made by managers and supervisors are often so poor, driven by subjectivity and bias, which makes it easier for data science solutions to do better. In hiring, for example, it is easier for data-based algorithms to do a better job than line managers who have no relevant training and base their decisions largely on subjective opinion. More generally, the lag in productivity growth across most industrialized countries has been caused, at least in part, because not enough investment was made in solutions where “capital,” which includes software, takes over tasks from workers and perform them at less cost. Consider, for example, what it would cost for a large employer that receives thousands of job applications every year if it had to do the initial classification of applications by hand instead of by applicant tracking software.

The issue in terms of guidance is knowing when the application of these AI techniques is useful (i.e. they solve new problems and handle tasks better than humans do) and where they are counterproductive (i.e. they offer no advantage over human decisions and may actually make employment relationships worse).

Finding such a mix is a challenge that involves managerial as well as moral dimensions. At the very least, we believe that when there is a choice between options that are equal in terms of organizational outcomes, employers should choose the one that is better for employees. This principle coincides with standard utilitarian views of ethics and with economic interpretations of Pareto improvements. 4 Perhaps more importantly, it draws on the legal principle in civil law of “abuse of right”, which means that simply because one party has the legal right to do something does not create the right to do it if by doing so it damages other parties without creating benefits (Mughal, unpublished).

There are still very few studies that examine the implications of artificial intelligence for corporate HRM. Tambe, Cappelli and Yakubovich (2019) noted “a substantial gap between the promise and reality of artificial intelligence” in the area of HRM. They identified four major challenges in using artificial intelligence as part of HRM:

complexity of HR phenomena, which make it difficult to model;

limitations of small data sets;

accountability issues associated with fairness and other ethical and legal constraints when decisions are made by algorithms; and

potentially negative employee reactions to managerial decisions taken based on data-based algorithms.

In particular, from both economic and social points of view there is a growing concern over the use of artificial intelligence algorithms for hiring (Cappelli 2019) and for work organization (Cappelli 2020). These issues will be considered next.

It may be easiest to grasp the general principles behind the use of AI through some common examples. Before we look into the “optimization” policies and practices per se , let us focus on hiring which is perhaps the most basic, time-consuming, and important of the employee management questions. The evidence increasingly points to the fact that we do not handle this process well even without AI: we rely on ad hoc methods of finding recruits, mainly just hoping that the right ones come to us, and then we hope that hiring managers, typically untrained in the process who rely on off-the-cuff interviews, will somehow find the best candidates to hire. Then we do not check to see whether the ones we have hired are good or bad so we do not learn from the process. What we do know is that this process gives ample room for biases to influence decisions: my personal views on what constitutes a good cultural “fit” shape who gets hired as does how much I like candidates, which is strongly correlated with how similar they are to me.

Hiring is actually a context where the prospects for algorithms are best. The way data science ideally works starts with machine learning, where the software (the “machine” in this case) looks at the attributes of as many current and past employees as possibly to see how their attributes relate to their quality as employees. The software is agnostic as to what should matter and how it should matter: relationships could be non-linear, simultaneous, in any form. It generates a single equation to measure the attributes that are associated with a good performer, not as with prior “best practice” approaches where there is one score for say IQ, one for prior experience, one for interviews, and so forth. The machine learning algorithm looks at any potential candidate and tells you how similar they are to those in the past who were your best performing employees.

The plus of this approach is that it is objective. Unlike human assessors, it will not give higher scores to more attractive applicants or those most similar to us. Algorithms have the advantage of treating all similar observations the same way: if it is counting a college degree a certain way, it does not give extra credit to the college where the boss is an alumnus. Cowgill (2020) finds that an algorithm used to predict who should advance to short-list status did a better job than human recruiters did in part because it did not over-value credentials that had higher social status such as degrees from elite universities. 5 An algorithm will also find factors that predict that humans with our more limited experience would never find. Another plus is that once set up, using algorithms to hire is remarkably cheaper than relying on humans.

The downside that is common to human assessors is that if prior experience was shaped by bias, then the algorithm will be as well. Amazon’s hiring algorithm, for example, gave higher scores to men because in the past Amazon managers had given higher scores to male employees (Cappelli 2019). Another downside is the issue now known as “explainability”: can we explain to the candidates why they were not hired when they ask why their scores were low? It is difficult for machine learning algorithms to address those questions. Complaints from gig workers that the algorithms managing them are biased have led organizations like the UK-based Workers Info Exchange to press those gig companies to explain to their contractors why and how their algorithms made the decisions they did (Murgia 2021). It also takes very large data sets to generate machine learning algorithms, and few employers hire enough employees to build their own. They are likely as a result to rely on the algorithms produced by vendors with no guarantee or even reason to believe that the vendor’s algorithm will predict hiring success for their jobs.

A related issue is that some of the factors that have been used in generating these algorithms might give us qualms. For example, the commuting distance from one’s home to a job has been shown to be a good predictor of turnover and some aspects of performance. Where one lives, therefore, shapes the likelihood of getting a job. Social media postings are sometimes used in building hiring algorithms as well. Most employers would probably want limits placed on the kind of information on which the algorithms are based, something that is not possible when one uses algorithms produced elsewhere.

From the human-centred point of view, these practices are not only potentially discriminatory as Amazon case shows, but they also prevent decent candidates getting the jobs they deserve.

If hiring is amongst the most promising uses of AI, perhaps the most troublesome is the use of software to determine workers’ schedules. This is not a new idea, but its use has expanded considerably to a wide range of jobs. 6 42 per cent of US companies now use it (Harris and Gurchensky 2020). The goal is a sensible one, to “optimize” work scheduling process in order to minimize total amount of labor needed to cover assignments and make sure that everyone is doing roughly the same amount of work allocated across similar schedules. The reason this approach is troublesome, though, is because we have other approaches that work even better where the employees themselves work out schedules through a process of negotiations and social exchange: I’ll cover for you this weekend if you take my shift next week, for example. Scheduling algorithms cut both employees and supervisors out of the process and end up being quite rigid and unable to respond to last-minute adjustments. 7 A study of optimization approaches in scheduling discovered that it increased turnover and turnover costs while adding nothing to performance outcomes (Kesavan and Kuhnen 2017). The effort to cut costs in one category (headcount) increased them in another (turnover).

The evidence that the flexible approach works is, by the standards of rigorous research, about as good as it gets. It improves a range of outcomes for employees, such as better job attitudes (Baltes et al. 1999), as well as better accommodation of life challenges outside of work including evidence that it is worth extra salary to employees (Kelly et al. 2008). For employers, it leads to higher productivity 8 . Software, in contrast, assumes that the workers are interchangeable, it imposes schedules without any consideration as to the varying needs of individual employees, and it is not at all flexible when last-minute problems pop up. As with many of these new practices, the question is, what problem is it really solving, and is the solution worse than the original problem?

Then we have situations where existing practices that involve empowering employees have worked extremely well yet there is a push to replace them with software. Beginning in the 1970s, efforts to involve employees in solving workplace problems borrowed from Japan by North American and West European companies worked so well that they spread systematically throughout industrialized countries and beyond, starting union-based cooperative programmes on safety problems, to quality circles where workers identified the causes of quality problems, and then to lean production where workers took over some of the tasks of the industrial engineers, redesigning their own jobs to improve productivity and quality. The evidence that lean production in the form of Toyota’s operating model worked so much better than anything else, especially the efforts at GM and Volkswagen to deal with productivity and quality problems with automation, was so clear that it was impossible to ignore (MacDuffie and Pil 1997). Lean production spread from there to other industries including healthcare.

Recently, though, we have seen efforts to replace the employee involvement that was at the heart of lean production with machine learning software. The new approach is called “machine vision.” Rather than having employees figure out what is wrong with their work processes, it captures what employees are doing now with cameras. Some of the new software ends there, monitoring assembly line workers constantly to make sure that they perform the tasks exactly as designed. Another software called Robotic Process Automation takes those video images and figures out how to redesign tasks to make them more efficient. In other words, it takes over the tasks the workers used to do in lean production (Simonite 2020). Other vendors reassemble jobs to push simpler tasks down to cheaper labour, 9 the classic “deskilling” practice with the classic pushback, that the narrow, simple tasks that result are so boring that engagement, commitment, and performance ultimately decline. They are performing the same tasks that workers had done before with the difference being that now, the most and possibly only interesting part of those jobs is gone. That control is what made the boring jobs tolerable.

More generally, it is also difficult to argue that paying vendors to take over a task that employees either were already doing or could do – updating the performance of tasks through lean production - is going to be cheaper, especially because lean production is a never-ending process that has to be recalibrated whenever there are changes anywhere in the system.

A final especially illustrative example comes from earlier days in IT technology and the introduction of numerically controlled machines in machining work. Here the question was, who will perform the tasks of setting up and programming those machines, something that has to be done frequently, whenever they switch over to a new product or new specifications for it. One option was to hire engineers who were skilled programmers and have them learn the context of machining that was done in different organizations. That would mean getting rid of many of the machinists. The other was to take the machinists who had the knowledge for the latter tasks and teach them programming. It was easier to do the former, but it was far cheaper in the long run to do the latter not only by avoiding the churning costs of laying off one group of workers and hiring in another or even because machinists were paid less than engineers but because the employer then created a cadre of employees with skills unique to them: unlike the programming engineers, who could easily leave for jobs elsewhere, these machinist-programmers now had the best jobs they likely could find anywhere (Kelley 1996).

There is sometimes a view stemming from simple economic assumptions that “firms” always make the most efficient choices because if they do not, they go out of business. But most businesses do fail, and it is possible for larger companies to make the wrong decisions for some time and yet stay in business. There are also so many decisions to be made in businesses that it is inevitable that we will make the wrong ones in some area.

Employers are not rational calculating machines, they are humans with the same limitations in ability to make decisions as all of us have. In the workplace, though, there are systematic reasons why employers might choose the “low road” approach even when alternatives objectively make more sense. One reason is that high road approaches that require engaging employees and soliciting their best efforts are not easy to pursue. They require sustained efforts at communication, building trust, and so forth. Not every business leader has the inclination to pursue that path. Nor do they have the knowledge base to do so. Leaders who come from engineering backgrounds are taught optimization approaches to business problems that, when focused on worker issues, come down to minimizing the costs of using them. That approach per se is not the issue as long as we have complete and accurate measures of costs and benefits 10 . But few if any employers have those measures.

Consider, for example, the cost of turnover, which is one of the most basic facts necessary to operate efficiently. Organizations that are focused on making money need to know what those costs are in order to determine how much investment is efficient to head them off. We also need to know where those costs occur. It is common if they are measured at all to simply count the administrative costs of hiring a replacement. A very careful look at these costs found that even in front-line retail jobs, two-thirds of the costs of turnover come between the time when the employee gives their notice to leave and before they actually depart. That happens in part because of negative effects on peers who remain, in part because of the demands on them of recruiting, hiring, and onboarding replacements. Those costs are massively greater than the administrative costs (Kuhn and Yu 2021). What most employers do instead is use a rough measure of the administrative costs of hiring a new worker as a proxy, which vastly undercounts the true costs. Why employers had not calculated them is in part because it is difficult to do but ultimately because of the unspoken assumption that, unlike say the costs of missing inventory, they are not big enough to bother.

At the same time, employers’ incorrect assumptions can also be explained by a lack of understanding about how humans actually behave. Many employers are simply convinced that in order to be productive the employees must be tightly controlled and refuse to accept the notion that the employees can contribute more when they are given freedom to express their views, contribute to the decision making process and are expected to take initiative 11 .  Another reason, which is investor driven, is the quirkiness of financial accounting: Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are more likely to invest in software but not in employees because software is an asset that can be depreciated – paid off over time – whereas training and other investments in employees are current expenses that must be paid off completely in the year they are “purchased” (Cappelli 2023). 

To summarize, we offer some practical suggestions on the use of AI in corporate HRM (see Box 1). The choices as to whether to use AI tools or rely on employees depend in part – but only in part - on the nature of the tasks in question. The traditional view that we should automate the simplest tasks is not necessarily the right advice as we saw earlier with lean production where simple tasks were bundled together into jobs that workers largely controlled. There they were able to take over supervisory tasks and proved more adaptable (e.g., they did not need to be reprogrammed) than robots. Beyond the nature of the tasks, the context also determines the choice of using AI or humans.

Box 1. AI and HRM: Q&A

Governments and social partners can come up with a number of policies and practices that help guide corporate HR functions to respond to the AI-related opportunities as well as other technological challenges. Many of them are in line with the ILO-driven human-centred agenda, in particular with its pillars related to “harnessing and managing technology for decent work”, and “universal entitlement to lifelong learning that enables people to acquire skills and to reskill and upskill” 12 (ILO 2019b).

Many governments have been active in promoting a knowledge economy, the development of high-tech firms and technological upgrading in the manufacturing sector through smart manufacturing underpinned by innovations (Cooke, forthcoming). For example, in 2015, the Chinese government launched “Made in China 2025”, which is one of the national strategic initiatives aimed at transitioning China from a “large manufacturing country” to a “strong manufacturing country” through innovations related to digital technology and artificial intelligence (Kania 2019). The success of such a strategic initiative largely depends on the development of a well-educated workforce equipped with the skills and knowledge required by employers. In this case, the industrial policy of making more use of AI went together with upgrading the education and skills of workers.

Technological challenges may imply that workers will experience more transitions – as some jobs get automated. They will need more than ever support to go through a growing number of labour market transitions throughout their lives. In particular, younger workers will need help in “navigating increasingly difficult school-to-work transition” (Cooke, forthcoming). Older workers will need to be able to stay economically active as long as they want. 13 Lifelong learning policies will definitely help to be prepared for these transitions. Interestingly, data science algorithms may actually be useful here first in creating a more efficient labour market for matching workers and jobs and second by making better predictions as to what kind of skills individuals will need next based on their current experiences and jobs.

In this paper we identified some of the key challenges for high-road approach to employee management that are associated with rapid technological development and, in particular, with the use of AI. While the use of AI in HRM, in particular for hiring and work organization, is promising, still low-road approach is rather common and many suboptimal decisions are being made. The situation can be improved by broader employee engagement in HR-related decision-making process, training of managers on the principles and examples of high-road approach, as well as smart government policies. Particular attention should be paid to the development of “knowledge economy”, harnessing and managing technology for decent work, and universal entitlement to lifelong learning that enables people to acquire skills and to reskill and upskill.

As far as research is concerned, we call for more research to be done on:

pluses and minuses of using the AI in HRM;

the “natural boundaries” between the humans and AI;

how to ensure that the AI does not inherit mistakes made by the humans in the past (for example when it comes to hiring);

how AI products can become truly self-learning;

the ways to encourage fruitful collaboration of data scientists and HRM professionals in the development of the AI products; and

the role of policy makers in encouraging the use of “people-friendly” AI and in promoting high-road corporate practices.

Baltes, Boris B., Thomas E. Briggs, Joseph W. Huff, Julie A. Wright, and George A. Neuman. 1999. “Flexible and Compressed Workweek Schedules: A Meta-Analysis of Their Effects on Work-Related Criteria”. Journal of Applied Psychology 84 (4): 496–513.

Bernstein, Ethan, Saravanan Kesavan, and Bradley Staats. 2014. “How to Manage Scheduling Software Fairly”. Harvard Business Review, December 2014.

Bloom, Nicholas, and John Van Reenen. 2010. “Why Do Management Practices Differ across Firms and Countries?” Journal of Economic Perspectives 24 (1): 203–224.

Cappelli, Peter. 2019. “Your Approach to Hiring Is All Wrong”. Harvard Business Review, May–June 2019.

———. 2020. “Stop Overengineering People Management: The Trend toward Optimization Is Disempowering Employees”. Harvard Business Review, September–October 2020.

———. 2023. Our Least Important Asset: Why the Relentless Focus on Finance and Accounting Is Bad for Business and Employees. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Cooke, Fang Lee. Forthcoming. “Towards a Human-Centred Approach to Increasing Workplace Productivity: A Multi-Level Analysis of China”. In The Human-Centred Approach to Increasing Workplace Productivity: Evidence from Asia, edited by Nikolai Rogovsky and Fang Lee Cooke. Geneva: ILO.

Cowgill, Bo. 2020. “Bias and Productivity in Humans and Algorithms: Theory and Evidence from Résumé Screening”. Research paper. Columbia Business School.

Edmans, Alex. 2011. “Does the Stock Market Fully Value Intangibles? Employee Satisfaction and Equity Prices”. Journal of Financial Economics 101 (3): 621–640.

Ghosheh, N.S., Jr., Sangheon Lee, and Deirdre McCann. 2006. “Conditions of Work and Employment for Older Workers in Industrialized Countries: Understanding the Issues”, ILO Conditions of Work and Employment Series No. 15.

Guiso, Luigi, Paola Sapienza, and Luigi Zingales. 2015. “The Value of Corporate Culture”. Journal of Financial Economics 117 (1): 60–76.

Harris, Stacey, and Amy L. Gurchensky. 2020. Sierra-Cedar 2019–2020 HR Systems Survey: 22nd Annual Edition. Sierra-Cedar.

ILO. 2007. Conclusions concerning the promotion of sustainable enterprises. International Labour Conference. 96th Session.

———. 2019a. ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work.

———. 2019b. Work for a Brighter Future – Global Commission on the Future of Work.

———. 2021. Decent Work and Productivity. GB.341/POL/2.

———. n.d. “Productivity”. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/dw4sd/themes/productivity/lang--en/index.htm .

Kania, Elsa B. 2019. “Made in China 2025, Explained: A Deep Dive into China’s Techno-Strategic Ambitions for 2025 and Beyond”. The Diplomat, 1 February 2019.

Kelley, Maryellen R. 1996. “Participative Bureaucracy and Productivity in the Machined Products Sector”. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society 35 (3): 374–399.

Kelly, Erin L., Ellen Ernst Kossek, Leslie B. Hammer, Mary Durham, Jeremy Bray, Kelly Chermack, Lauren A. Murphy, and Dan Kaskubar. 2008. “Getting There from Here: Research on the Effects of Work–Family Initiatives on Work–Family Conflict and Business Outcomes”. The Academy of Management Annals 2 (1): 305–349.

Kesavan, Saravanan, and Camelia M. Kuhnen. 2017. “Demand Fluctuations, Precarious Incomes, and Employee Turnover”. Working paper. Kenan‑Flagler Business School.

Kuhn, Peter, and Lizi Yu. 2021. “How Costly is Turnover? Evidence from Retail”. Journal of Labor Economics 39 (2).

Landsberger, Henry A. 1958. Hawthorne Revisited: Management and the Worker, Its Critics, and Developments in Human Relations in Industry. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University.

Lee, Byron Y., and Sanford E. DeVoe. 2012. “Flextime and Profitability”. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society 51 (2): 298–316.

Liem, Cynthia C.S, Markus Langer, Andrew Demetriou, Annemarie M.F. Hiemstra, Achmadnoer Sukma Wicaksana, Marise Ph. Born, and Cornelius J. König. 2018. “Psychology Meets Machine Learning: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Algorithmic Job Candidate Screening”. In Explainable and Interpretable Models in Computer Vision and Machine Learning, edited by Hugo Jair Escalante, Sergio Escalera, Isabelle Guyon, Xavier Baró, Yağmur Güçlütürk, Umut Güçlü and Marcel van Gerven, 197–253. Cham: Springer.

MacDuffie, John Paul, and Frits K. Pil. 1997. “Changes in Auto Industry Employment Practices: An International Overview”. In After Lean Production: Evolving Employment Practices in the World Auto Industry, edited by Thomas A. Kochan, Russell D. Landsbury and John Paul MacDuffie, 9–44. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University.

McGregor, Douglas. 1960. The Human Side of Enterprise. New York: McGraw‑Hill.

Mercer. 2020. 2020 Global Talent Trends Study.

Mughal, Munir Ahmad. Unpublished. “What is Abuse of Rights Doctrine?” 8 September 2011.

Murgia, Madhumita. 2021. “Workers Demand Gig Economy Companies Explain their Algorithms”. Financial Times, 13 December 2021.

Rogovsky, Nikolai, and Fang Lee Cooke, eds. 2021. Towards a Human-Centred Agenda: Human Resource Management in the BRICS Countries in the Face of Global Challenges. Geneva: ILO.

Simonite, Tom. 2020. “When AI Can’t Replace a Worker, It Watches Them Instead”. WIRED, 27 February 2020.

Tambe, Prasanna, Peter Cappelli, and Valery Yakubovich. 2019. “Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources Management: Challenges and a Path Forward”. California Management Review 61 (4): 15–42.

Van den Bergh, Jorne, Jeroen Beliën, Philippe De Bruecker, Erik Demeulemeester, and Liesje De Boeck. 2013. “Personnel Scheduling: A Literature Review”. European Journal of Operational Research 226 (3): 367–385.

WTW. n.d. “WorkVue”. https://www.wtwco.com/en-ch/solutions/products/work-vue .

Peter Cappelli is the George W. Taylor Professor of Management at the Wharton School and Director of Wharton’s Center for Human Resources, University of Pennsylvania

Nikolai Rogovsky is a Senior Economist, Research Department, International Labour Office

Copyright © International Labour Organization 2023

This is an open access work distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/deed.en ). Users can reuse, share, adapt and build upon the original work, even for commercial purposes, as detailed in the License. The ILO must be clearly credited as the owner of the original work. The use of the emblem of the ILO is not permitted in connection with users’ work.

Translations – In case of a translation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added along with the attribution: This translation was not created by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and should not be considered an official ILO translation. The ILO is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this translation.

Adaptations – In case of an adaptation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added along with the attribution: This is an adaptation of an original work by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Responsibility for the views and opinions expressed in the adaptation rests solely with the author or authors of the adaptation and are not endorsed by the ILO.

This CC license does not apply to non-ILO copyright materials included in this publication. If the material is attributed to a third party, the user of such material is solely responsible for clearing the rights with the right holder.

All queries on rights and licensing should be addressed to ILO Publishing (Rights and Licensing), CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email to [email protected] .

ISBN: 9789220394045

https://doi.org/10.54394/OHVV4382

ILO/International Finance Corporation, “Better Work”. ILO, “Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE): Programme at a Glance”. Cited from ILO (2021).

ILO, “Looking Back to Look Forward – Impact Evaluation of ILO SCORE Training in Peru”, ILO SCORE Impact Study, August 2020. Cited from ILO (2021).

ILO, SCORE (Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises): Phase II Final Report 2017, 2017, 36–37. Cited from ILO (2021).

Pareto improvement occurs when a change in allocation does not harm anyone and helps at least one agent, given an initial allocation of goods for a set of agents.

For a very detailed discussion of how machine learning treats hiring tasks as opposed to the more traditional approach from psychology, see Liem et al. (2018).

For a review of this literature, see Van den Bergh et al. (2013).

Bernstein, Kesavan and Staats (2014) note that it is possible to try to balance the recommendations of the algorithms, but for most employers, the reason for using them is to eliminate the time needed for that process.

See, e.g., Lee and DeVoe (2012).

The software is WorkVue. See WTW (n.d.).

This includes intangible costs (such as workers’ views on firm’s reputation as an employer, job quality or equity in decision-making, etc.) that might not be fully addressed or calculated.

As noted earlier these are the two conflicting views of Theory X and Theory Y by Douglas McGregor in his seminal book The Human Side of Enterprise (1960).

Ghosheh, Lee and McCann (2006) provide an overview of the factors that need to be considered for older workers to effectively and constructively continue to contribute to the labour market.

Subscriber Only Resources

Access this article and hundreds more like it with a subscription to The New York TImes Upfront  magazine.

Article Options

Presentation View

Reading Level

Should A.I. Write Your College Essays?

Cartoon by Dave Granlund

College admissions officers—and high school students—wrestle with A.I.-generated college essays

Ritika Vakharia, a senior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Georgia, says she tried asking ChatGPT to produce ideas for college admissions essays. But she found the responses too broad and impersonal, even after she gave it details about her extracurricular activities, such as teaching dance classes to younger students.

Instead, she worked to come up with a more personal college application essay theme.

“I feel a little more pressure to create, like, this super unique, interesting topic,” Vakharia says, “because a basic one these days could just be generated by ChatGPT.”

The easy availability of A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT, which can manufacture humanlike text in response to short prompts, is upending the undergraduate application process at selective colleges. It’s either ushering in an era of automated plagiarism or of democratized student access to essay-writing help. Or maybe both.

The disruption comes at a turning point for U.S. institutions of higher education. After the Supreme Court ruled last June that race-based university admissions programs were illegal, some institutions hoped to rely more on essay questions about applicants’ upbringing, identities, and communities to help foster diversity on campus.

“It makes me sad,” Lee Coffin, the dean of admissions at Dartmouth College, said in a podcast last year that touched on A.I.-generated application essays. “The idea that this central component of a story could be manufactured by someone other than the applicant is disheartening.”

Ritika Vakharia is a senior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Georgia. She tried asking ChatGPT for ideas for her college admissions essays. She found the responses too broad and impersonal. She had even given it details about her extracurricular activities, including teaching dance classes to younger students.

So instead of using ChatGPT’s ideas, she decided to come up with a more personal essay theme.

A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT can manufacture humanlike text in response to short prompts. The availability of chatbots is changing the undergraduate application process at selective colleges. It’s either starting a time of automated plagiarism or of universal student access to essay-writing help. Or maybe both.

These technologies come at a turning point for U.S. institutions of higher education. The Supreme Court ruled last June that race-based university admissions programs were illegal. Some institutions hoped to rely more on essay questions about applicants’ upbringing, identities, and communities to help develop diversity on campus.

Alyssa Pointer/The New York Times

“I feel a little more pressure to create, like, this super unique, interesting topic because a basic one these days could just be generated by ChatGPT.” —Ritika Vakharia

New A.I. Tools

The personal essay has long been a staple of the application process at colleges. Admissions officers have often used applicants’ essays as a lens into their unique character, pluck, potential, and ability to handle adversity. As a result, some former students say they felt tremendous pressure to develop, or at least concoct, a singular personal writing voice.

But new A.I. tools now threaten to cast doubt on the legitimacy of applicants’ writing samples as authentic products of their intellect and creativity. That has forced colleges to rethink their admissions processes.

“Students on some level are going to have access to and use A.I.,” says Rick Clark, executive director of undergraduate admission at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “The big question is: How do we want to direct them, knowing that it’s out there and available to them?”

Some teachers are troubled by students using A.I. to write their college essays for deeper reasons: Outsourcing writing to bots could hinder students from developing important critical thinking and storytelling skills.

“Part of the process of the college essay is finding your writing voice through all of that drafting and revising,” says Susan Barber, an Advanced Placement English literature teacher at Midtown High School, a public school in Atlanta. “And I think that’s something that ChatGPT would be robbing them of.”

The personal essay has long been an important part of the application process at colleges. Admissions officers have used essays as a way to see into applicants’ unique character, potential, and ability to handle adversity. As a result, some former students say they felt tremendous pressure. They felt they had to develop, or at least concoct, a singular personal writing voice.

But new A.I. tools now threaten to cast doubt on the validity of applicants’ writing samples as real products of their intellect and creativity. Colleges are forced to rethink their admissions processes.

Some teachers are troubled by students using A.I. to write their college essays for deeper reasons. Using bots to write could keep students from developing important critical thinking and storytelling skills.

Kendrick Brinson/The New York Times

“Part of the process of the college essay is finding your writing voice . . . And I think that’s something that ChatGPT would be robbing them of.”  —Susan Barber, AP English literature Teacher in Atlanta

Last August, Barber asked her 12th-grade students to write college essays. Then she held class discussions about ChatGPT, cautioning students that using A.I. chatbots to generate ideas or writing could make their college essays sound too generic. She advised them to focus more on their personal views and voices.

Yet other educators say they hope the A.I. tools might have a democratizing effect. Wealthy high school students often have access to resources to help brainstorm, draft, and edit their college admissions essays. ChatGPT could play a similar role for students who lack such resources, especially those at large high schools where overworked college counselors have little time for individualized essay coaching.

“It’s free, it’s accessible, and it’s helpful,” says Clark. “It’s progress toward equity.”

At the same time, as colleges wrestle with just how to handle the explosion of literate A.I. bots, some students, like Kevin Jacob, a senior at the Gwinnett School, are unsure how to proceed.

“The vagueness and ambiguity,” Jacob says, “is kind of hard for us.”

Last August, Barber asked her 12th-grade students to write college essays. Then she held class discussions about ChatGPT. She warned students that using A.I. chatbots to generate ideas or writing could make their college essays sound too generic. She advised them to focus more on their personal views and voices.

Yet other educators say they hope the A.I. tools might have an equalizing effect. Wealthy high school students often have access to more resources. They get help to brainstorm, draft, and edit their college admissions essays. ChatGPT could play a similar role for students who lack such resources. It would especially help those at large high schools where overworked college counselors have little time for individualized essay coaching.

As colleges figure out how to handle the explosion of literate A.I. bots, some students, like Kevin Jacob, a senior at the Gwinnett School, are unsure how to proceed.

Natasha Singer writes about technology, business, and society for The New York Times .

Natasha Singer writes about technology, business, and society for  The   New York  Times .

Cookie Preference Center

Your preferences, strictly necessary cookies, functional cookies, targeting cookies.

As described in our Corporate Privacy Notice and Cookie Policy , we use cookies (including pixels or other similar technologies) on our websites, mobile applications and related products (the “services”). The types of cookies we use are described below.​

These are cookies necessary for the services to function and are always active. They are usually only set in response to actions made by the user which amount to a request for services, such as setting privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms. ​

These cookies enable the services to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers we use to provide the services. If you do not allow these cookies to run, then the services may not function properly.​

These cookies may be set through the services by our advertising partners to learn about your interests and present you with relevant advertisements on other sites. These advertising partners may be able to identify you based on your device or other online activity.​

Cookie List

Reimagining Design with Nature: ecological urbanism in Moscow

• Reflective Essay
• Published: 10 September 2019
• Volume 1 , pages 233–247, ( 2019 )

Cite this article

• Brian Mark Evans   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1420-1682 1  

978 Accesses

2 Citations

Explore all metrics

The twenty-first century is the era when populations of cities will exceed rural communities for the first time in human history. The population growth of cities in many countries, including those in transition from planned to market economies, is putting considerable strain on ecological and natural resources. This paper examines four central issues: (a) the challenges and opportunities presented through working in jurisdictions where there are no official or established methods in place to guide regional, ecological and landscape planning and design; (b) the experience of the author’s practice—Gillespies LLP—in addressing these challenges using techniques and methods inspired by McHarg in Design with Nature in the Russian Federation in the first decade of the twenty-first century; (c) the augmentation of methods derived from Design with Nature in reference to innovations in technology since its publication and the contribution that the art of landscape painters can make to landscape analysis and interpretation; and (d) the application of this experience to the international competition and colloquium for the expansion of Moscow. The text concludes with a comment on how the application of this learning and methodological development to landscape and ecological planning and design was judged to be a central tenant of the winning design. Finally, a concluding section reflects on lessons learned and conclusions drawn.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Acknowledgements

The landscape team from Gillespies Glasgow Studio (Steve Nelson, Graeme Pert, Joanne Walker, Rory Wilson and Chris Swan) led by the author and all our collaborators in the Capital Cities Planning Group.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Mackintosh School of Architecture, The Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3 6BY, UK

Brian Mark Evans

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian Mark Evans .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Evans, B.M. Reimagining Design with Nature: ecological urbanism in Moscow. Socio Ecol Pract Res 1 , 233–247 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-019-00031-5

Download citation

Received : 17 March 2019

Accepted : 13 August 2019

Published : 10 September 2019

Issue Date : October 2019

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-019-00031-5

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Design With Nature
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

5 ways AI can help you study for finals - for free

Regardless of major, academic level, or institution, final periods are stressful for students, requiring intense studying and cramming. However, AI can help ease the load. 

Since  generative AI  first surged in popularity, the technology has typically received a bad rap in the education sector, with many believing it would violate academic standards and integrity. However, AI can also be a great assistant capable of helping students optimize their studying.

Also: 7 reasons I use Copilot instead of ChatGPT

The best generative AI tools, such as AI chatbots , are intuitive to use, requiring no knowledge of coding or AI, and many of the most helpful features are free. If you're ready to hand off some tedious studying tasks to AI, I rounded up the best ways you can use AI to study for finals. 

Quick Note: For any of the below tips that include AI chatbots, you can use whichever one you choose, and there are plenty of options to pick from, which we break down here . For the examples below, I used Microsoft Copilot because the free version is connected to the internet, allowing the chatbot to access the latest information on the web, which is crucial for getting accurate information when studying. 

1. Summarize PDFs 

Earning a degree often involves lots of readings, usually in the form of lengthy PDFs. Whether you are a humanities or STEM major, you will be required to read or familiarize yourself with research papers that are loaded with technical jargon and hard to parse through. That's where AI PDF summarizers can help. 

With AI PDF summarizers, you can input your PDF from your computer's files and conversationally ask the AI chatbot to answer any questions about the topic or even generate entire summaries for you. 

Also: How to use ChatPDF: The AI chatbot that can tell you everything about your PDF

There are various different tools you can use to accomplish this task, with the most intuitive being ChatPDF . The free version of ChatPDF allows users to upload two PDFs daily, each up to 120 pages. Using it is easy as all you have to do is visit the site, upload your document, and start chatting away. 

Some free AI chatbots, such as Anthropic's Claude , can accept document inputs and accomplish the same goal. The premium version of OpenAI's chatbot, ChatGPT Plus , can also accept document input but the subscription costs $20 per month. 

2. Break down material 

Sometimes, no matter how many times you read or study certain material, it simply doesn't click. In those instances, you can use an AI chatbot to break down complex terms for you into more digestible parts. 

Also: The best free AI courses (and whether AI certificates are worth it)

For example, you can input a sentence or broader concept you don't understand and ask the chatbot to explain it to a level that would make the material more understandable. My go-to is, "Explain XYZ as if I were a five-year-old," as you can see in the photo below. 

This feature is so useful that I use it often in my everyday workflow. All it does is break the subject using everyday tangible examples and adding context that makes the material much more accessible, cutting through confusing and technical terminology. You can pick any age or grade level you'd like. 

3. Assist with essay prep

As if cramming a semester's worth of material for an exam wasn't difficult enough, many professors also assign end-of-semester papers that either replace or supplement your final exam. Because of how much they are weighted in terms of your grade, they often require high levels of synthesis and research. That's where AI can help. 

You use it for support when writing, including creating outlines for essays, finding sources for you, and brainstorming essay ideas.   

Also: How ChatGPT (and other AI chatbots) can help you write an essay

To have an AI chatbot help out with any of these tasks, all you would have to do is ask it to do so conversationally, such as, "Help me create an outline for an essay regarding the rise and fall of The Wiggles." 

You can also leverage AI chatbots' advanced natural language processing to co-edit essays for you. Unlike your standard spell-check, AI chatbots can understand context, flow, conciseness, and more, making it a superior editor. Just copy and paste your text and ask the chatbot to edit for whatever focus you'd like. 

4. Outline your notes 

In preparation for exams, you have the difficult task of looking through a semester's worth of notes and condensing them to the most important highlights for studying. Instead of doing that yourself, you can ask an AI chatbot to summarize or organize your notes for you.

For example, as a political science major, I had tons of separate Google Doc notes from all the different lectures. I would have been able to copy and paste that text into any AI chatbot and ask it to generate concise summaries with higher-level points of view. 

Also: 35% of college students are using AI tools to help them with their studies

For the sake of this article, I copied and pasted my  latest ZDNET article into Copilot and asked it to write a summary, as seen below. Within seconds, it organized my article into six main points that were accurate, easy to read, and, most importantly, easy to parse through. 

If your professor shares notes, outlines, or other course materials, you can ask an AI chatbot to summarize those too. 

5. Roleplay testing you 

In grade school, my favorite studying technique was having my mom randomly test me on the material I was learning. Now, instead of relying on family or friends being awake during your midnight study sessions, you can use an AI chatbot to do the same thing for you. 

For example, you can ask the chatbot, "Can you test me on my exam material?" Then, the chatbot will ask you what the material is and generate questions based on the topic you share within seconds, as seen in the photo below. 

Once you answer, it can correct you, provide insight into what you said wrong, and even give you resources online to visit to familiarize yourself with the material better. 

If you want to take this feature up an extra notch, you can use a chatbot with PDF reading capabilities, as discussed in the first tip of this article, or paste your notes in, and ask it to generate questions specific to your PDF or notes for you to answer. 

You can also ask the chatbot to generate flashcards based on the material. The chatbot will tell you exactly what to add to the front and the back of the cards, so you can spend less time figuring out what to put on the cards and more time actually using them. 

Good luck with your finals! 

Artificial Intelligence

The best free ai courses (and whether ai 'micro-degrees' and certificates are worth it), google releases two new free resources to help you optimize your ai prompts, what is ai everything to know about artificial intelligence.

Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Travel and Tourism Industry — The History of Moscow City

The History of Moscow City

• Categories: Russia Travel and Tourism Industry

About this sample

Words: 614 |

Published: Feb 12, 2019

Words: 614 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Geography & Travel

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

13 pages / 6011 words

1 pages / 657 words

3 pages / 1208 words

6 pages / 3010 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Travel and Tourism Industry

Traveling is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. It exposes you to new cultures, customs, and ways of thinking. However, it can also be challenging and unpredictable, making it a true adventure. As a college [...]

Exploring foreign lands has always been a fascinating aspect of human curiosity. It is a desire to discover new cultures, traditions, and landscapes that are different from one's own. The experience of traveling to foreign lands [...]

Travelling is a topic that has been debated for centuries, with some arguing that it is a waste of time and money, while others believe that it is an essential part of life. In this essay, I will argue that travelling is not [...]

Traveling is an enriching experience that allows individuals to explore new cultures, meet people from different backgrounds, and broaden their perspectives. In the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity to embark on an amazing [...]

When planning a business trip all aspects and decisions rely heavily on the budget set by the company for the trip. Once Sandfords have confirmed the location careful consideration should be used to choose the travel method and [...]

4Sex Tourism in ThailandAs we enter a new millenium the post-colonial nations in the world are still searching for ways to compete in an increasingly globalized, consumption driven economic environment. Many developing countries [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines

Writing advice: the barker underground blog, harvard guide to using sources, advice from the harvard writing center tutors, anthro writes: a guide to writing in anthropology, harvard writes: harvard faculty explain academic writing, science writes: a harvard toolkit for writing in the sciences, harvard library guide to citation management software, chicago manual of style harvard access, apa reference examples.

Moscow, Russia – Architectural Splendor at the Heart of Eurasia

Moscow, Russia – Most Populated Cities in the World

Moscow, the capital city of Russia, stands as an architectural testament to the country’s rich history and cultural legacy. This article explores the architectural landscape of Moscow, uncovering its unique blend of historical monuments, Soviet-era structures, and contemporary designs that define this vibrant metropolis.

Population Dynamics of Moscow

From medieval roots to megacity.

Moscow, with a population exceeding 12 million, has evolved from its medieval roots into a bustling megacity. The city’s demographic dynamism reflects its historical significance as a political, economic, and cultural center. Moscow’s urban growth presents challenges and opportunities for architects and urban planners, requiring a delicate balance between preservation and modernization.

Architectural Diversity in Moscow

Kremlin, red square, and the modern skyline.

Moscow’s architectural diversity is a harmonious blend of historical landmarks and contemporary structures. The iconic Kremlin, with its cathedrals and palaces, dominates the cityscape, while the neighboring Red Square provides a historical focal point. Beyond the historical core, Moscow’s skyline is adorned with modern skyscrapers like the Moscow International Business Center, symbolizing the city’s economic and architectural evolution.

Sustainable Architecture Initiatives

Green innovations amidst urban density.

As Moscow confronts environmental challenges and urban density, architects have championed sustainable solutions. Green building practices, energy-efficient designs, and eco-friendly materials are integral to Moscow’s architectural discourse. The city’s commitment to sustainability is evident in projects like Zaryadye Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city.

Urban Planning and Zoning Strategies

Preserving heritage amidst modernization.

Moscow’s urban planning endeavors to preserve its historical heritage while accommodating modern developments. The preservation of architectural gems like St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Pushkin Museum coexists with contemporary urban projects such as the Moscow City residential complexes. Urban planners in Moscow face the challenge of balancing the demands of a growing population with the need to protect the city’s cultural legacy.

Resilience in the Face of Urban Challenges

Adaptable architecture for harsh climates.

Moscow’s architectural resilience is tested by the city’s harsh climate and urban challenges. Architects prioritize designs that can withstand extreme temperatures and adapt to the evolving urban landscape. The use of durable materials and innovative construction techniques showcases Moscow’s commitment to architectural adaptability.

Technological Integration in Moscow’s Architecture

Smart city initiatives and futuristic designs.

Moscow’s architectural landscape seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology for enhanced urban living. Smart city initiatives, digital infrastructure, and futuristic designs like the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) showcase the city’s commitment to technological innovation. Moscow positions itself as a global hub for modern architectural practices, leveraging technology to improve efficiency and sustainability.

Architectural Icons of Moscow

Kremlin and red square.

The Kremlin and Red Square, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, symbolize Moscow’s historical and political significance. The architectural ensemble, including the iconic St. Basil’s Cathedral and the State Historical Museum, reflects Russia’s cultural and religious heritage.

Moscow International Business Center (Moscow City)

Moscow City, with its futuristic skyscrapers, represents the city’s economic prowess and modern aesthetic. The complex includes iconic structures like the Federation Tower and Mercury City Tower, showcasing Moscow’s status as a global financial and architectural hub.

Moscow’s Future Architectural Landscape

As Moscow continues to evolve, the city’s architectural landscape is poised for further transformation. Urban planners and architects are exploring innovative solutions to accommodate the growing population while preserving the city’s unique identity. Moscow’s commitment to sustainable practices, technological integration, and resilient design will shape its architectural future.

In conclusion, Moscow, Russia, stands as a city where architectural marvels narrate the story of a nation’s history and progress. From medieval fortifications to contemporary skyscrapers, Moscow’s architectural landscape is a testament to its resilience and adaptability. As the city looks toward the future, its architectural canvas promises to be a captivating blend of tradition, modernity, and technological innovation at the heart of Eurasia.

Rethinking The Future (RTF) is a Global Platform for Architecture and Design. RTF through more than 100 countries around the world provides an interactive platform of highest standard acknowledging the projects among creative and influential industry professionals.

Shenzhen, China – The Architectural Marvel of Urban Innovation

Bogota, Colombia – Architectural Marvels in the Andean Capital

Related posts.

Fernandez Architecture: Crafting Elegance and Minimalism in Architectural Excellence

Christ Hospital Joint and Spine Center, USA: Revolutionizing Healthcare Architecture

Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, USA: Elevating Pediatric Healthcare Architecture

The New Hospital Tower at Rush University Medical Center, USA: Redefining Healthcare Architecture Excellence

Teletón Infant Oncology Clinic, Mexico: A Paradigm of Healing Architecture

Pars Hospital, Iran: A Masterpiece of Architectural Ingenuity in Healthcare

• Architectural Community
• Architectural Facts
• RTF Architectural Reviews
• Architectural styles
• City and Architecture
• Fun & Architecture
• History of Architecture
• Design Studio Portfolios
• Designing for typologies
• RTF Design Inspiration
• Architecture News
• Career Advice
• Case Studies
• Construction & Materials
• Covid and Architecture
• Interior Design
• Know Your Architects
• Landscape Architecture
• Materials & Construction
• Product Design
• RTF Fresh Perspectives
• Sustainable Architecture
• Top Architects
• Travel and Architecture
• Rethinking The Future Awards 2022
• RTF Awards 2021 | Results
• GADA 2021 | Results
• RTF Awards 2020 | Results
• ACD Awards 2020 | Results
• GADA 2019 | Results
• ACD Awards 2018 | Results
• GADA 2018 | Results
• RTF Awards 2017 | Results
• RTF Sustainability Awards 2017 | Results
• RTF Sustainability Awards 2016 | Results
• RTF Sustainability Awards 2015 | Results
• RTF Awards 2014 | Results
• RTF Architectural Visualization Competition 2020 – Results
• Architectural Photography Competition 2020 – Results
• Designer’s Days of Quarantine Contest – Results
• Urban Sketching Competition May 2020 – Results
• RTF Essay Writing Competition April 2020 – Results
• Architectural Photography Competition 2019 – Finalists
• The Ultimate Thesis Guide
• Introduction to Landscape Architecture
• Perfect Guide to Architecting Your Career
• How to Design Architecture Portfolio
• How to Design Streets
• Introduction to Urban Design
• Introduction to Product Design
• Complete Guide to Dissertation Writing
• Introduction to Skyscraper Design
• Educational
• Hospitality
• Institutional
• Office Buildings
• Public Building
• Residential
• Sports & Recreation
• Temporary Structure
• Commercial Interior Design
• Corporate Interior Design
• Healthcare Interior Design
• Hospitality Interior Design
• Residential Interior Design
• Sustainability
• Transportation
• Urban Design
• Host your Course with RTF
• Architectural Writing Training Programme | WFH
• Editorial Internship | In-office
• Graphic Design Internship
• Research Internship | WFH
• Research Internship | New Delhi
• RTF | About RTF
• Submit Your Story

Looking for Job/ Internship?

Rtf will connect you with right design studios.

• Ethics & Leadership
• Fact-Checking
• Media Literacy
• The Craig Newmark Center
• Reporting & Editing
• Ethics & Trust
• Tech & Tools
• Business & Work
• Educators & Students
• Training Catalog
• Custom Teaching
• For ACES Members
• All Categories
• Broadcast & Visual Journalism
• Fact-Checking & Media Literacy
• In-newsroom
• Memphis, Tenn.
• Minneapolis, Minn.
• St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Washington, D.C.
• Poynter ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing
• Poynter ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing
• Ethics & Trust Articles
• Get Ethics Advice
• Fact-Checking Articles
• International Fact-Checking Day
• Teen Fact-Checking Network
• International
• Media Literacy Training
• MediaWise Resources
• Ambassadors
• MediaWise in the News

Support responsible news and fact-based information today!

Gannett hits pause button on its promise to restaff its smallest papers

Outlets with few or no staff members likely to stay that way for a while

For most of 2023 year and all of 2024 so far, Gannett has promised that it is working to add hundreds of new editorial positions , backfilling the many openings that were lost after a December 2022 hiring freeze, then growing further.

The pledge includes restaffing many of the chain’s smallest dailies, ones that have been languishing with one or no locally based journalists as more profitable metros get attention and resources.

Chief Content Officer Kristin Roberts said of the new approach in Gannett’s quarterly earnings call with analysts:

“Last year, we launched an initiative with the conviction that putting reporters into our smallest newsrooms was critical, but not enough on its own to be sustainable.

We needed to experiment with new ways of engaging hometown readers at a small-site scale. Our reporters combined first-person voice with a newsletter approach that invited readers to join them in experiencing their community firsthand, the results were remarkable and gave us the confidence to boldly expand this strategy.”

There was a notable omission, though.

Roberts didn’t say that the company hit the brakes on hiring for that key small newsroom position three months earlier.

The people already on board in the beta version of what Gannett calls the I-30 Initiative could stay. Authorizations to proceed with other hires stopped.  Some candidates who were expecting to start soon have had the offer rescinded. According to internal communications, the “pause” has now been rolled over through the second quarter.

Roberts declined my request for an interview. The next quarterly earnings report is Thursday, and she may or may not offer an update.

The I-30 jobs (so called because they were approved for 30 markets) are unusual ones, defined after a protracted planning process through last summer. Journalists, well paid at roughly $50,000, are being hired on one-year contracts rather than as full-time employees. They must physically work in the target communities.

Their job is to establish a local news presence in cities that have been getting only a thin trickle of hometown content. A particular emphasis, as Roberts said, is creating newsletters, now a primary way in the industry to get samples of coverage to the target audience and capture email addresses of potential paid digital subscribers.

A community division editor who alerted me to the pause said it has created chaos for people like her. (She asked for anonymity in hopes of keeping her job).

Editors, spread thin and scrambling to oversee several papers at once, are not getting the relief they’d anticipated, she said. Identifying I-30 candidates in October and November proved difficult, given the lack of assurance they would be hired permanently.

Plus, from the management perspective of regional editors who hire one level down, they cannot be sure that a position that comes open as an editor moves on or is fired can be filled.

With approvals on hold, “the solution for all these ghost newsrooms is put off indefinitely,” my source said.

Though the number of hires involved is modest, and Gannett continues to spend on growing news staff at its metros , I think there is a context that makes it a bigger deal.

For the better part of a decade, Gannett has been open about bigger newspapers, particularly in an era pivoting from print to digital, being the  best prospects for revenue and profit growth.

The metro division used to hold its annual planning retreat at Poynter and  allowed me to sit in to better understand the company’s editorial strategy. I was told on background by one of the participants that even papers with no news staff contributed welcome revenue and a little profit

Continuing to publish papers with next to no local content has seemed like a sham to analysts like me and market-by-market data expert Penny Abernathy. I first wrote specifically about a Gannett ghost newspaper four years ago — this one in Ithaca, New York, a town with two major universities, that was down to a single local reporter. I got the explanation that metros proportionately generate more revenue and profits.

So, it seemed welcome evidence of journalistic commitment when Roberts’  extensive package of initiatives for her first year at Gannett included a good faith effort to put a better news report in front of its small and midsized town readers.

I’m hoping, even betting, that the I-30 program and other reinvestments resume. But for right now, the community papers have again taken their position in the back of the line for Gannett.

Data glitch leads to error and a reminder for journalists

Orlando Sentinel alters restaurant inspection publishing practice after mix-up

Shut Out: How the pandemic and polarization have had chilling effects on good journalism — and our conclusion

Part Four of a report from Poynter's ethics seminar examines effects of pandemic and polarization on journalists

Opinion | High praise for the student journalists at Columbia University

On campuses across the country, young journalists, some reporting assault and threats of arrest, are "a part of history now."

Fact-checking Megyn Kelly’s claim that a Utah Middle school allows students to be ‘terrorized’ by ‘furries’

A district spokesperson said the school has seen no incidents of biting, licking, costumes or animal behavior

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Start your day informed and inspired.

Get the Poynter newsletter that's right for you.