The conclusion of a research paper should 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 in order to prevent yourself from weakening your papers conclusion.
To write a strong conclusion for your research paper, start by restating your thesis statement. This will remind the reader of your main argument and show how you proved it. Then, briefly summarize the key points you made throughout your paper, which will help remind your readers of everything they learned. Finally, end your conclusion with a call to action, suggestion, or prediction that will encourage your readers to think more deeply about your topic.
Avoid simply restating your introduction or summarizing your paper in your conclusion. Instead, focus on the key highlights and takeaways that you want your readers to remember. Additionally, try not to introduce any new ideas in your conclusion, as this can leave your readers feeling confused. Finally, avoid ending your paper with an overly simplistic sentiment such as In conclusion, this paper was about
as this can make your paper feel unfinished or underdeveloped.