The conclusion is the last impression your reader takes with them. It restates what you set out to do, what you found, why it matters, and where the work goes next - in that order, and in fewer words than you'd think.
Most weak conclusions either repeat the introduction word-for-word or wander into new arguments and citations that should have appeared earlier. This guide shows you how to write a conclusion that actually concludes: tight, specific, and accurate to the paper.
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Start WritingWhat is a Research Paper Conclusion?
A research paper conclusion is the closing section that ties the paper together. Its job is not to introduce new evidence but to answer one question for the reader: so what?
A strong conclusion does four things:
- Restates the research question or aim in plain terms
- Summarises the key findings
- States the contribution - theoretical, methodological, or practical
- Points to the next step (future research or application)
It is short. In a typical research paper, conclusions are 5-10% of total word count - sometimes a single tight paragraph.
Conclusion vs Discussion: What's the Difference?
The discussion is where you interpret findings, compare with prior literature, and explore implications in depth. The conclusion sits after the discussion (or merges with it in shorter papers) and crystallises the takeaway.
- Discussion - thinking out loud about what your findings mean.
- Conclusion - the final, distilled answer to "what now?"
If your conclusion contains new arguments or new citations, they probably belong in the discussion.
The 4-Part Structure of a Strong Conclusion
- Restate the research question or aim. One sentence. Do not retype the introduction.
- Summarise key findings. The two or three most important results, in plain language.
- State the contribution. What does the field know now that it didn't before?
- Point forward. Briefly: what should be tested next, or how can the findings be applied?
Conclusion Templates (Copy and Adapt)
Template 1: Short Paper Conclusion (1 paragraph)
Fill-in-the-blanks template
This study set out to [research question or aim]. Drawing on [data / corpus / method], it found that [main finding 1] and [main finding 2]. These results contribute to [field / debate] by [contribution: theoretical, methodological, or practical]. They suggest that [implication], and indicate that future work could usefully examine [next step].
Template 2: Thesis or Long-Paper Conclusion (3-5 paragraphs)
Fill-in-the-blanks template
Paragraph 1 - Restate aim and approach. This thesis examined [research question]. Using [method] with [sample/corpus], it sought to address the gap identified in [section X].
Paragraph 2 - Key findings. Three main findings emerged: [finding 1], [finding 2], and [finding 3]. Together they show that [headline message in one sentence].
Paragraph 3 - Contribution. The contribution of the work is [theoretical / methodological / practical]. The findings extend [prior work] by [extension] and challenge [prior assumption] by [evidence].
Paragraph 4 - Limitations and future work. The study was constrained by [limitation 1] and [limitation 2]. Future research could address these by [direction]. Beyond addressing limitations, productive next steps include [direction].
Paragraph 5 - Closing. One sentence stating why the work matters and how the field should view the question now.
Full Conclusion Examples (Strong vs Weak)
Example 1: Psychology - Mindfulness and Exam Anxiety
Weak version:
In conclusion, this paper looked at mindfulness and student stress. Stress is a big problem in universities. We found that mindfulness can help. There are some limitations to the study but overall it was successful. More research is needed in this area in the future.
Why it's weak: Generic opener ("In conclusion"), vague restating of the topic, no specific findings, no contribution, and a closing line that says nothing ("more research is needed").
Strong version:
This study examined whether a brief, in-person mindfulness program could reduce exam anxiety in undergraduates. Across 118 participants, the four-week intervention produced a substantial reduction in state anxiety relative to a wait-list control (d = 1.04), with effects emerging within four weeks. The study contributes to the small evidence base on short-form mindfulness in higher education by showing that gains comparable to longer programs can be achieved with limited contact time. Practically, this suggests that university wellbeing services could deliver brief mindfulness modules during exam periods without the resource demands of full MBSR. The findings should be tested with longer follow-up windows to assess durability beyond the immediate exam period.
Why it works: Names the question, gives the headline finding with effect size, identifies the contribution, points to a specific practical use, and a concrete future-research direction (not "more research is needed").
Example 2: History - Wartime Propaganda
Weak version:
To sum up, propaganda during the First World War was very important and shaped public opinion in lots of ways. Many forms of propaganda were used. Recruitment posters, newspapers and films were all examined. Overall, propaganda played a key role in the war effort. This paper has hopefully shown that.
Why it's weak: "To sum up" filler, repeats the introduction, no specific argument, no contribution, ends on a hedge ("hopefully shown").
Strong version:
This paper has argued that British propaganda between 1914 and 1918 succeeded less by manufacturing belief than by tightening pre-existing pressures around masculinity, class, and family duty. Reading recruitment posters, leading newspaper coverage, and government-sponsored film together reveals a coherent rhetorical move: appeals to values the public already held, repackaged with urgency. The argument complicates accounts that treat wartime propaganda as top-down persuasion and contributes to recent historiography that locates persuasive force in the cultural materials audiences bring to the message. Future work could test the same framework against later conflicts in which the British state again relied on social rather than coercive levers, particularly the Second World War home-front campaigns.
Why it works: Restates the specific argument, names the evidence, identifies a contribution within historiography, and proposes a focused next step rather than a generic gesture.
Common Conclusion Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
Mistake 1: Repeating the Introduction
Problem: The conclusion paraphrases the same sentences that appeared in the introduction, sometimes near-verbatim.
Fix: The reader has already read the introduction. The conclusion should reflect what they now know after reading the paper. Restate the question briefly and then move directly to findings and contribution.
Mistake 2: Introducing New Evidence or Citations
Problem: A new study or quote appears in the conclusion that wasn't discussed earlier.
Fix: If a source is important enough to cite, it belongs in the literature review or discussion. Conclusions synthesise; they do not introduce.
Mistake 3: Generic Closers
Problem: "More research is needed." "This is an important area." "The findings have many implications."
Fix: Be specific. "Replicating these findings with a longitudinal design would help establish whether effects persist beyond the exam period." Specific beats grand every time.
Mistake 4: Hedging Away the Findings
Problem: "The results may possibly suggest that there could be an effect, although this cannot be confirmed."
Fix: State your findings plainly with calibrated language. "The results indicate a substantial effect within the studied population. Generalisation beyond this population requires replication."
Mistake 5: No Contribution Statement
Problem: The conclusion summarises findings but never says what the field gained from the paper.
Fix: Add one sentence answering: What does the field know now that it didn't before? "This paper contributes the first quantitative test of [X] in [population]."
Mistake 6: Padded with Filler Phrases
Problem: "In conclusion," "To sum up," "All things considered," "It can therefore be said that..."
Fix: Cut every one of those openers. Start the conclusion with the substantive sentence: "This study examined..." or "This paper argued..."
How to Write the Conclusion: A 4-Step Process
Step 1: Re-read Your Introduction and Discussion
Pull the research question from the introduction and the headline findings from the discussion. These two together are 80% of your conclusion.
Step 2: Draft One Sentence per Part of the Structure
Write four sentences: aim, findings, contribution, future direction. This is your zero draft.
Step 3: Expand Only Where Needed
For a short paper, the four sentences may already be enough. For a thesis, add a short paragraph per part. Do not pad.
Step 4: Cut, Then Read Aloud
Remove every "in conclusion", "this paper has shown that", and "more research is needed". Read the result aloud. If it sounds like the introduction, rewrite.
FAQs About Research Paper Conclusions
How long should the conclusion be?
Roughly 5-10% of total word count. For a 5,000-word paper that's 250-500 words. Theses get a longer concluding chapter, usually 5-10% of the thesis.
What tense should I use?
Past tense for what your study did and found. Present tense for stable claims about the field. Future-pointing language for next steps.
Should I include limitations in the conclusion?
Briefly, yes - especially if they shape what the findings can be used for. Detailed limitations belong in the discussion.
Can I begin with "In conclusion"?
You can, but you do not need to. The reader knows it is the conclusion - it is the last section. Cutting the phrase usually makes the opening stronger.
Should I cite sources in the conclusion?
Avoid it where possible. If you must reference earlier sources, keep it minimal and never introduce a new source.
How is a thesis conclusion different from a paper conclusion?
A thesis conclusion is longer (often a full chapter) and expands each part of the structure into its own short section. The skeleton is the same.
A good conclusion lets the reader leave with a clear answer to "what now?". Write it last, write it tight, and it earns the rest of the paper its impact.