Checklist for Evaluating Your Conclusions |
|
Does the evidence in my paper evolve from a stated thesis? From
subtheses? From topic sentences? |
|
Do all of my sources for evidence agree with each other? Are there
conflicts, and have I identified them as conflicts? If I have presented conflicting
opinions, have I distinguished them clearly? |
|
Have I offered enough evidence for every conclusion I have drawn?
Are my conclusions based on empirical studies, expert testimony, or data, or all
of these? Have I included any unsubstantiated opinions or hearsay as the basis
for my conclusions? |
|
Are all of my sources credible? Is anyone in my audience likely to
challenge them? |
|
Have I presented circular reasoning or illogical conclusions? |
|
Am I confident that I have covered most of the major sources
of information on my topic? If not, have I stated this as a limitation of my research? |
|
Have I discovered further areas for research and identified them in my paper? |
|
Have others to whom I have shown my paper perceived the validity of my
conclusions? |
|
Are my conclusions strong? If not, what causes them to be weak? Do I myself
believe them to be true? |