What is the Difference Between Summary and Conclusion?

The main difference between a summary and a conclusion lies in their purpose and content. Here is a comparison of the two:

Summary:

• Purpose: Provide an overview of the main points or content of a text.
• Content: Condenses the entire text, focusing on the main points, facts, or elements.
• Position: Often placed at the beginning of a document, such as in an executive summary.
• Connection: A summary should not include personal opinions, criticisms, comments, or interpretations.
• Length: Typically 5% to 15% of the original work.

Conclusion:

• Purpose: Offer closure and final thoughts, often wrapping up the content and leaving the reader with a final impression.
• Content: Draws from the main points and arguments, often introducing new outlooks, proposing courses of action, providing solutions, making suggestions for further study, and making deductions based on the argument.
• Position: Usually placed at the end of a document.
• Connection: A conclusion can include a summary of the main points, but it should also go beyond the summary by providing a final statement or judgment.
• Length: Constitutes only about 10% of the original work.

In academic papers, research reports, or articles, summaries and conclusions serve distinct purposes and are used in different sections of the text. Summaries help readers quickly understand the main points without reading the entire text, while conclusions provide a final perspective and may offer recommendations or insights for future research.

Comparative Table: Summary vs Conclusion

A summary and a conclusion are both important components of a well-structured text, but they serve different purposes. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:

In summary, a summary provides a condensed version of the main points, while a conclusion offers a final assessment or decision based on those points.