Pointers for Your Research Paper’s Conclusion: Dos and Don’ts
Many students feel a sense of relief as they begin their paper’s Conclusion. As the final part of the paper, just a few more paragraphs will cap many weeks of hard work.
However, because students are so excited to finish, they often make a series of mistakes that compromise the quality of the paper. If you are about to finish your paper and wish to avoid such pitfalls, read on to learn about the dos and don’ts about the research paper’s Conclusion.
What to Do
- Summarize the main points
Because most research papers are quite complex, it helps if there is a very brief summary of the main points. This will allow your reader to appreciate your ending more without having to return to the Body just to recall what was said.
- Include insights and recommendations
The purpose of the research paper is to unlock a current issue so that more understanding can be developed as well as possible solutions. Thus, your reader will expect to see this in the Conclusion. Aside from any personal applications, if any, you should state how your findings may affect the parties you mentioned in the Introduction (significance of the study). You can also include suggestions for what future researchers can look into, such as the variables you did not consider in your study.
- Wrap it up strongly
Just like in a good essay or story, it always helps to end strongly.
This may mean highlighting a particular finding and making a strong call for action. You will know that the ending is good if it stirs something within your reader to seek change or at least rethink their former viewpoint.
What NOT to do
- Avoid repeating all the details
Rather than a summary of the major points, some students end up repeating most of the findings and even some of the theories in their Conclusion. Not only is this unnecessary as the reader can easily return to the earlier parts of the paper, but it will just confuse the reader and even bore them.
- Do not introduce new facts
Sometimes students include something new that was not discussed in the Body. This is a no-no as the reader will be wondering where that came from. This may occur because the person forgot that they left it out in the Body, or they thought it might work as a strong surprise to shock the reader at the end. Regardless, this should not happen in your Conclusion.
- Do not cut it short just to finish
Since many students are already tired of the writing process by the time they reach the Conclusion, there is the very real danger of not addressing all the points brought up in the Introduction or the Body. All issues raised must be settled in the Conclusion for your paper to be a success.
Summary
Be thankful if you are just about to write your paper’s Conclusion. It means you have weathered the storm of research and writing. However, do not be careless as you end as this will destroy all your hard work. Take note of the pointers above to ensure your paper is finished well.