The conclusion is one of the most important sections of a research paper. It’s your last chance to summarize your main points, tie your ideas together, and leave a lasting impression on the reader. Before selecting an assignment writing service, it’s prudent for students to conduct a thorough assignment writing services review, ensuring that they make an informed choice based on the experiences and feedback of previous users. A strong conclusion brings closure and drives home the importance of your research.
When writing the conclusion, keep a few key things in mind:
Briefly Summarize Your Main Points
Don’t restate every detail and finding from your paper. Simply summarize the major points covered in each section. Refresh the reader’s memory on your purpose, research questions, methodology, and key findings. This helps tie the paper together nicely.
For example: “In this paper, I examined the relationship between social media usage and symptoms of depression in teenagers. My survey of 500 high school students found a significant positive correlation between time spent on social media and depressive symptoms. Students who used social media for more than 2 hours a day were twice as likely to exhibit signs of depression compared to those who spent less than 30 minutes on social media.”
Synthesize and Connect Ideas
Show how your findings and ideas fit together as a whole. Demonstrate the importance of connecting insights from multiple sections or viewpoints. This gives the conclusion more depth and critical thinking.
For example: “Individually, the survey results, interviews, and prior research pointed to the risks of social media overuse. Collectively, the evidence indicates a clear need for greater awareness of social media’s mental health impacts and more tools to help teenagers manage screen time.”
Address Significance and Implications
Discuss the meaning, relevance, and impact of your findings. Consider theoretical and practical implications as well as limitations and areas for future research. Show readers why this research is important and how it can be built upon. In the pursuit of academic excellence, students often turn to UK dissertation writing services to access specialized expertise and support in crafting meticulously researched and well-structured dissertations tailored to the high standards of UK institutions.
For example: “This study fills a gap in understanding social media’s effects on teenage mental health. The results indicate a need for age-appropriate screen time guidelines and greater mental health resources for high-risk students. More research is needed on potential interventions for teen social media addiction and underlying causes.”
Close with a Memorable Final Thought
End your paper with a statement that wraps up your ideas and leaves a lasting impression. This could be a call to action, compelling question, reflection on meaning, look to the future, or other thought-provoking idea to drive your message home.
For example: “As social media continues to evolve and occupy more of teenagers’ time, we have a responsibility to closely monitor its mental health effects and ensure the well-being of our youth.”
Keep Conclusion Length in Check
Don’t make your conclusion overly long. As a general guideline, your conclusion should be:
- 10% of the total paper length for short papers under 10 pages
- 5% of the total length for longer papers
- No more than 1-2 paragraphs for typical college research papers
A long, drawn-out conclusion usually isn’t necessary. Stick to 1-2 paragraphs that powerfully summarize your paper and reinforce your main point.
Tips for a Strong Research Paper Conclusion
Here are some additional tips for writing an effective conclusion for your research paper:
- Don’t simply restate your introduction. The conclusion should complement, not copy, your introduction.
- Avoid repeating exact phrases or sentences from the body of your paper. Paraphrase key points instead.
- Don’t introduce any major new ideas, arguments, evidence, or sources. Bring closure rather than opening up new discussions.
- Check that your conclusion properly aligns with the rest of your paper. The tone and content should match.
- Tie back to your introduction if relevant. Briefly remind readers of important intro points related to the conclusion.
- Address any counterarguments or limitations if not already covered. This adds honesty and depth.
- Revise your draft conclusion to reduce wordiness, improve clarity and flow, and check for proper grammar and spelling.
- Ask someone else to read your conclusion and give feedback. Does it bring proper closure?
Proofread and Refine the Final Draft
Be sure to carefully proofread your entire research paper, including the conclusion, before turning in the final draft. Check for:
- Spelling and grammar errors
- Unclear language
- Awkward phrasing
- Run-on sentences
- Repeated information
- Facts/statistics errors
- Inconsistent tone or style
- Problems with flow or transition
- Missing information
- Anything that needs more explanation or citation
Take time to refine and polish your conclusion to ensure it meets all requirements and connects powerfully back to the rest of your paper. This gives your work an authoritative, coherent close.
Following these tips and techniques will help you craft a strong, engaging conclusion for your research paper. Summarize key points, synthesize ideas, address significance, end with impact, and proofread rigorously. Your conclusion is what readers remember most, so make it count.
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