How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD. Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

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The conclusion of a research paper needs to summarize the content and purpose of the paper without seeming too wooden or dry. Every basic conclusion must share several key elements, but there are also several tactics you can play around with to craft a more effective conclusion and several you should avoid to prevent yourself from weakening your paper's conclusion. Here are some writing tips to keep in mind when creating a conclusion for your next research paper.

Sample Conclusions

Part 1 of 3:

Writing a Basic Conclusion

Step 1 Restate the topic.

Step 2 Restate your thesis.

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Step 3 Briefly summarize your main points.

Step 4 Add the points up.

Step 5 Make a call to action when appropriate.

Step 6 Answer the “so what” question.

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Making Your Conclusion as Effective as Possible

Step 1 Stick with a basic synthesis of information.

Step 2 Bring things full circle.

Step 3 Close with logic.

Step 4 Pose a question.

Step 5 Make a suggestion.

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Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Step 1 Avoid saying

Step 2 Do not wait until the conclusion to state your thesis.

Step 3 Leave out new information.

Step 4 Avoid changing the tone of the paper.

Step 5 Make no apologies.

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Community Q&A

What is an ideal length for an introduction and a conclusion? Community Answer

Intros should be about 5-8 sentences long, you want to pose and start your point but don't go into scrutinizing detail. Conclusions should be around 3-6, you are basically wrapping everything up so you want it short and sweet.

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How do I make a hypothesis in a research paper? Community Answer

State your viewpoint on the main idea of your research paper. For example, if your paper is about endangered species and why they are becoming endangered and you feel it's due to neglect by world citizens, then that's your hypothesis: the increasing numbers of endangered species is due to failure on the part of citizens of the world to care for the environment.

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How do I write a conclusion if my thesis is to prove or disprove something? Community Answer

You should acknowledge the other side of the argument and discuss how your side is the "correct" one in the dispute; think of it like an "honorable mention." Reaffirm the conclusions you came to during your thesis as a review.

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  1. ↑http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/04/
  2. ↑http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/18_Writing_Conclusion.asp
  3. ↑http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/18_Writing_Conclusion.asp
  4. ↑http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/04/
  5. ↑http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/PlanResearchPaper.html#conclusion
  6. ↑http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/conclusions/

About This Article

Co-authored by: English Professor

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD. Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been viewed 2,263,739 times.

441 votes - 83% Co-authors: 75 Updated: July 8, 2024 Views: 2,263,739 Categories: Essays | Research Papers

To write a conclusion for a research paper, start by restating your thesis statement to remind your readers what your main topic is and bring everything full circle. Then, briefly summarize all of the main points you made throughout your paper, which will help remind your readers of everything they learned. You might also want to include a call to action if you think more research or work needs to be done on your topic by writing something like, "Despite efforts to contain the disease, more research is needed to develop antibiotics." Finally, end your conclusion by explaining the broader context of your topic and why your readers should care about it, which will help them understand why your topic is relevant and important. For tips from our Academic co-author, like how to avoid common pitfalls when writing your conclusion, scroll down!