Writing for

Engineering
Week 10
Session 28
 Learning Outcomes
Session 25
Students will be able to identify similarities between the
INTRODUCTION and the CONCLUSION section in an engineering
report so as to produce one for their own. Also, they will revise
and use modals, orally and in written form, to establish reasons,
interpretations and implications which can be used in the results
section.
• Correct sentences
• Analyse an example
• Complete statements
• Identidy MODALS and use them in context.
•
Professional learning outcome: The interpretation of results towards the production of
the conclusion is key to back up the whole report. It is crucial that this part of the
report makes the right impact.

Virtual Campus Further Practice Material: Power Point Presentation summary +

weblinks for language use + worksheet and key.

References:
Bailey, S. (2011) Academic Writing, A Handbook for International Students. Third
Edition. London & New York. Routledge.
Glasman – Deal H. ( 2013) Science Research Writing. UK. London. Imperial College
Press.
 Let´s compare…..
INTRODUCTION CONCLUSION
Establish the importance of your field.
Revisit previous sections of report.
Provide background facts.
Summarizing/ revisiting general or key
Define terminology
results.
Present problem.

Mapping (relationship to existing

Previous and /or current research.
research).

Locate a gap in the research.

Describe the problem you will address. Achievement /contribution .
Present a prediction to be tested. Refining the implications.

Limitations.
Current and future work.
Describe the present paper.
Applications.
Let´s look at one example.

• Read the conclusion section of case study 3

Transport Engineering and reduction in crime: the
Medellin case.

• Try to get a general understanding and familiarize

yourself with the purpose of each sentence /
paragraph.
Revisit previous sections of report.
Summarizing/ revisiting general or key
results.

Mapping (relationship to existing

research).

Achievement /contribution .
Refining the implications.

Limitations.
Current and future work.
Applications.
Language for CONCLUSIONS
Speculating : Conditionals and modals.
• When we draw conclusions based on evidence,
or the application of a theory, you often need to
make statements about your assessment of the
likelihood that something …….

• is true now.
• will happen in the future
• happened in the past.
One of the most useful resources for expressing
varying degrees of certainty in English is the
system of MODAL VERBS.

• MIGHT • SHOULD
• WOULD • WILL
• COULD • MUST
• MAY
Match those seven modal verbs with their
function (two are very similar)
FUNCTION MODAL VERB
Firm prediction
Confident conclusion – no
other explanation possible
Confident assumption,
depending on things
according to plan
Describing a hypothetical
situation
Possibility
Weaker possibility
I. Drawing conclusions using Modal verbs. In
pairs, compare these statements and match
them to the boxes.
1. The drop in pressure was due to a crack in the
pipe.
2. The drop in pressure may have been caused
due to a crack in the pipe.
3. The drop in pressure must have been due to a
crack in the pipe.
Modals are particularly useful for

• Writing about reasons, interpretations and

implications of your results and you need to
communicate that something is a possible
reason, or an obvious interpretation or a
probable implication.

The kinetics can be described by these equations, suggesting

that the electrons are transferred directly. This might involve a
supercharge mechanism, but the data could also be described
by electron transfer via hopping mechanism.
Look at this chart.
CAN ABLE/ CAPABLE (he can collect the date by himself)
MAY POSSIBLE /OPTIONAL
MIGHT (he might be able to collect the date by himself)
COULD CAN – OPPORTUNITY
CAN COULD - SUGGESTION
MIGHT – TENTATIVE /POLITE SUGGESTION
SHOULD PROBABLE /LIKELY/FIRM ADVICE
OUGHT TO (He should /ought to collect the data by himself)
MUST VIRTUALLY CERTAIN/ABSOLUTE OBLIGATION /DUTY
HAVE TO (He must/has to collect the data by himself)

SHOULD ADVISABLE
OUGHT TO (he should /ought to collect the data by himself)
MUST NECESSARY
NEED TO (he must /needs to collect the data by himself.)
HAVE TO
Exercises.
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY
1. Perhaps the damage was caused by heat
exposure.
The damage ….
2. We felt sure that the damage was caused by
heat exposure.
The damage. …….
3. No way was the damage caused by heat
exposure.
The damage…….
4. We don´t expect heat exposure to cause any
damage.
Heat exposure…..
Evaluation: Now you do these three on
your own.
5. It is possible that the damage wasn´t caused
by heat exposure.
The damage….
6. I advise you to heat it.
It ……
7. I don´t think it was a good idea to expose it
to heat.
It. …….
 Writing for
Engineering
Week 10
Session 29
 Learning Outcomes
Session 25
Students will be able to use different conditional to establish
interpretations and/or implications that could be used to refer
to the conclusion. This will be done orally and in written form.

Identify the language of conclusions.

Complete sentences
Fill in a dialogue to further practice conditionals.
Identify vocabulary for conclusions
Write the draft of the CONCLUSION
Professional learning outcome: The language of conclusion aims at rounding off you
report. Key language is paramount in order to support the whole report.

Virtual Campus Further Practice Material: Power Point Presentation summary +

weblinks for language use + worksheet and key.

References:
Bailey, S. (2011) Academic Writing, A Handbook for International Students. Third
Edition. London & New York. Routledge.
Glasman – Deal H. ( 2013) Science Research Writing. UK. London. Imperial College
Press.
II. Drawing CONCLUSIONS using conditionals.
In pairs, discuss the differences.
1. If Dr.Sotil wins the Nobel prize, it will enhance the
University´s reputation.

2. If Dr. Sotil won the Nobel Prize, it would enhance

the University´s reputation.

3. If Dr. Sotil had won the Nobel Prize, it would have

enhanced the University´s reputation.
 Complete these sentences using the
words in brackets.
1. The tests won´t be continued unless …
(there/be/better safety measures)
2. He wouldn´t have been injured if .. (he /follow/the
correct procedures)
3. In the event of a collision, .. (the airbag/inflate)
4. If all vehicles were fitted with a catalytic converter,
… (there /be /less/pollution)
5. If heat is applied, .. (substance /decompose)
6. As long as disinfectant is used, .. (infections /not
be/pass on)
 Solo work. Two site workers are discussing the weather.
Complete the conversation with the correct form of the verbs
in brackets.
A. We´ll carry on with the work when the conditions (a) … (improve)
B. If we´d known the weatehr was going to be this bad, we (b) ..
(delay) the start of the Project.
A: Well, if the rain ©... (stop) soon, we´ll get the foundations laid by
evening.
B: It could have been worse. Do you remember building that bridge
last year ? If (d) … (not build) the dike of sandbags, the river would
have flooded the town.
A: And if we hadn´t brought in that earthmover, we (e ) .. (not make)
it in time.
B: If we get any more rain here, we (f)… (have to) repair the
potholes in the road before we can use it.
A: Provided it (g) … (stop) soon, we´ll be able to start preparing the
timber. If they´d chosen anothe time of year, we (h)… (not have) these
problems. It would be much nicer if (i) .. (have) indoor jobs at this time
of the year.
Vocabulary for the CONCLUSION

Look at the handout, check any new words.

• Complete these statements:
1. Our results provide compelling evidence that
…..
2. This finding is promising and should be
explored……
3. This could eventually lead to…..
4. A straightforward analysis was presented which
enables…….
5. Future work should……..
Look at your handout

• Analize the simple and the language used.

CONCLUSION DRAFT
• Take out your notes and write down the draft of this
part of the report.
• Important: underline the key phrases you use (look
at your handout)
• Look at the organisation of ideas on the next slide.
• Hand it in for correction.
Let´s compare…..
CONCLUSION
Revisit previous sections of report.
Summarizing/ revisiting general or key
results.

Mapping (relationship to existing

research).

Achievement /contribution .
Refining the implications.

Limitations.
Current and future work.
Applications.