1. National 5 Added Value
Drawing Conclusions

2. Conclusion Worth 4 marks in N5
You must demonstrate the skills of making decisions, explaining exaggeration or SUOF, or reaching conclusions based upon evidence

3. Writing a Conclusion
You need to make an extended overall judgement of what you have learned from your research findings.
This should not just be a summary of your research findings (though you may wish to include this) – you must give a sense of completeness to your research.
Try giving perspective to the future or try one final challenge to the key points you have made.
You also need to make it clear if you proved or disproved your hypothesis. You should make reference to any other arguments you found.
You need to state which piece of evidence helped you to come to your conclusion.

4. Guidance on conclusions
If you have chosen an issue where there is a difference of opinion, you can say which opinion you agree most strongly with and explain why.
If you have chosen an issue where a decision has to be made, you can say which decision you would make but you must justify this.
You can select one of your research methods and say which is the most trustworthy and explain why.
You must back up your conclusions with evidence

5. For four marks, try this
Make it clear whether you have proved or disproved your hypothesis
You should make reference to any other arguments you found
What is your overall opinion despite the research and say why
Give one final challenge to the points you have made
Give perspective to the future

6. Example conclusion
In my opinion, based on my research findings, I support the lowering of the voting age to 16. My research has proved that some teenagers are more engaged than adults in politics and are therefore capable of making an informed decision (you should make reference to where in your research you have proved/disproved your hypothesis). If you can have a family or fight for your country then you should be able to vote for how you would like the country to be run. Young people in general take an active interest in politics, with 75% of 16 and 17 year olds turning out to vote in the 2014 referendum as shown in …… (quoting from research). We are the future and deserve to have a say and be respected. This view is reflected in my survey.