How to Write a Research Essay Conclusion

Writing a conclusion for a research paper.

Sometimes writing a conclusion seems like the most difficult part of the research paper. You have done careful research, introduced your topic with a strong thesis statement, and supported your thesis with details and examples in your body paragraphs. Now it is time to write a conclusion for your research paper, and fortunately there are rules and guidelines you can follow that make the task easier.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Folder
• Notes
• Library resources

Instructions

Writing a Conclusion

1. Look back at your introduction, and read your thesis statement. This is what you set out to “prove.” In your conclusion, you should restate the thesis in such a way that it shows that you proved your point.

2. Write a summary statement, mentioning the ideas that you used to support your thesis in the research paper. This must be done without being repetitive, so use other words and put the ideas in context. You gave specific details, facts and statistics in your body paragraphs, and now you must make a more generalized statement in the conclusion to impress the reader.

3. Address opposing viewpoints, if necessary. This strengthens your position by assuring your reader that you took other points of view into consideration.

4. Connect the topic with your audience. The conclusion is the place to show readers why they should care about the topic, and how the topic affects them.

5. Call for action on the part of the reader, or refer to future research of your topic. For example, if your research paper is about the need for energy efficiency, implore your reader to take steps toward a smaller “footprint,” and/or mention green solutions that are now being investigated.

6. End your research paper with a clincher. The clincher can be a prediction based on your research, a quotation that relates to the topic or a startling fact or statistic that supports your thesis statement.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not introduce new ideas in your conclusion. Important ideas should be included in the body paragraphs of your essay and supported by details.

References

• Purdue Owl: English
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Conclusions