4.3 Solutions & Conclusions

Proposing solutions

Many Seminar tasks ask you to propose a solution or resolution. Ground it in your evidence, and explain how it addresses the issue you investigated.

Evaluating solutions

Weigh a solution's feasibility, benefits, and drawbacks. Acknowledging limitations makes your conclusion more credible, not weaker.

A meaningful conclusion

A strong conclusion does more than restate — it synthesizes your findings, states their significance, and may point to further questions or next steps.

Key terms

Proposing solutions

grounded in evidence, addressing the issue

Evaluating solutions

weigh feasibility, benefits, drawbacks

Acknowledging limits

makes a conclusion more credible

Meaningful conclusion

synthesizes findings; states significance

Next steps

conclusions may point to further questions

Try an AP-style question

A proposed solution should be…

1. unrelated to the problem
2. feasible and supported by evidence
3. as extreme as possible
4. without limitations