How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper
Knowing how to write a conclusion for a research paper is very important for any student. This is because you will be required to write a research paper at some point during your studies. The conclusion of a research paper is a last paragraph or part of the paper- crlsresearchguide.org. The conclusion acts like a final chord of a song. After reading the conclusion of your research paper, the reader should feel that your work was completed properly. The conclusion should show that the stated thesis has been supported by the work. If the conclusion of a research paper serves the intended purpose, readers are likely to read your future papers.
How to write a conclusion for a research paper and satisfy your readers
Readers should feel satisfied by your conclusion. This implies that your conclusion should provide an answer to the “so what?” query. The conclusion should wrap up the discussion of a research paper. Once you have moved from the general information of the introduction as well as the body paragraph, the conclusion ought to pull back to general information by restating the major points that form the argument. The conclusion can also give an overview of the future studies or a call to action- owl.english.purdue.edu.
A guide on how to write a conclusion for a research paper
There are different ways of writing a conclusion for a research paper. Here is a guide on how to write a conclusion for a research paper using five different techniques.
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Reiterate the main ideas
The conclusion should summarize the ideas that the research paper has covered in a brief manner. The reiteration should not merely state the thesis or topic sentence of the paper but a properly condensed topic, purpose or argument’s version.
Example
Thesis statement: As a country, it is important to re-evaluate different offshore drilling operations while banning deep water oil drilling until a technology for stopping and cleaning oil spills has been discovered. Although some people can argue that this drilling has economic advantages especially lessening the dependence of the country on the foreign oil supplies, the economic and environmental consequences of oil spills outweigh such advantages.
Reiteration in a conclusion: Ideally, banning offshore drilling operations can help in solving the culminating and devastating environmental concerns of oil spills. Considering the catastrophic events of oil spills, the economic and environmental effects that offshore drilling has should be obvious.
In this example, economic and environmental concerns that relate to oil drilling have already been discussed in the body and therefore they should not be asserted further in the conclusion. Instead, they are stated in a condensed version.
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Call to action
Perhaps, this is one of the most important things that you should master while trying to know how to write a conclusion for a research paper. You can use a call to action in different research papers. However, it is the most ideal way of writing conclusions for papers that start with problem statement and then provide a solution. Such papers are aimed at changing the mind of the readers so that they can take the desired action. Basically, a conclusion that has a call to action is drawn after taking the reader through a coherent and brilliant argument that compels them into believing in something.
Example
There is innovative technology that allows for offshore deep water drilling. However, there is no technology that can manage oil spills effectively. Therefore, until prevention and cleanup technology is available, the country should ban any offshore drilling operation.
In this case, the call to action is banning offshore drilling. It does not matter whether the aim of the author is to get support from the reader or to compel them to enact a ban on offshore drilling. The fact is that the author tries to convince the reader that a ban on offshore drilling is necessary.
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Contextualization
With contextualization, a purpose, topic or argument is placed within a global context. This enables the readers to view the broader essence of the argument- gallaudet.edu. Although while writing a research paper you conduct research and engage in specific conversations, you can give your readers a contextualization in the conclusion in order to acknowledge the broad dialogue about the topic.
Example
Topic: Should children be beaten?
Conclusion: In a nutshell, physical punishment may be used in disciplining children. Nevertheless, it ought to be the last resort for parents. For a world that has less violence to be established, initiatives should start at home and therefore children should be taught to always be responsible.
In this example, the author gives a broader view of the essence of disciplining children by showing that it can contribute in establishing a less violent world. Thus, the conclusion has answered the “so what?” question because it has shown why the topic, which is, beating children is important.
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The Twist
Using a twist in the conclusion gives contracting ideas to the readers.
Example
Topic: The media is responsible for poor adolescent females’ body image
Conclusion: Although the media can be blamed for most issues of body image among the American girls, parents also affect how these girls see themselves than the media.
Although this conclusion does not completely negate the original argument, it presents a contrasting idea that should be weighed against it. After reading such a conclusion, the reader will agree that there is a contrasting notion of the topic or argument that should be considered.
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Suggest future research
If you want to turn the study into an ongoing, larger project, you need to know how to write a conclusion for a research paper by suggesting future research- classroom.synonym.com. This is very important especially when you are writing a paper for an audience that is interested in your topic. Writing such a conclusion entails pointing different perspectives of the topic to show why future research is necessary. Nevertheless, the conclusion should fit in the conversation of the research paper.
Example
Topic: Drivers aged below 16 years are the most dangerous
Conclusion: There are statistics that indicate that drivers aged below 16 years are very dangerous. However, some statistics indicate that drivers aged between 16 and 25 years are the most dangerous. Therefore, the topic on whether drivers aged below 16 years are the most dangerous requires further research.
In such a conclusion, the author indicates that there are two different perspectives about the topic. For this reason, the writer suggests that future research should be conducted on this topic.
Additional tips on how to write a conclusion for a research paper
Regardless of the approach or technique that you choose to use in writing the conclusion of your research paper, make sure that you have summarized the whole paper without appearing vague- assignmentwritinghelp.net.
These tips should enable you to write a good conclusion for your research paper:
- Start by stating the main findings of the research paper clearly
- Be brief while stating the conclusions and also stick to your main points
- Restate the topic of the research paper and show the reader its importance
- Restate the claim or thesis of the research paper
- Address all opposing viewpoints while explaining why your readers should take your stance
- Give an overview of the future studies or a call to action
- Make your conclusion accurate and original
Make your conclusion systematic and brief and use it to demonstrate how different sections of the paper relate to each other. Ensure that the conclusion adds quality to your research paper- 2.tku.edu.tw.
Things to avoid when writing the conclusion
To write a good conclusion for your research paper:
- Avoid rewriting the abstract
- Avoid introducing new evidence, arguments, information or ideas that are not related to the research paper’s topic
- Avoid apologizing for a poor job that you may have done while presenting information or material of the research paper
- Avoid including evidence like statistics or quotations that ought to be included in the body part of the paper in the conclusion.
The conclusion should act as the link for all sections of your paper. It should also comment about the meanings that you express in different sections. To do this, the conclusion should demonstrate the integration and synthesis of various issues that the paper raised while showing their relationship with the objectives and thesis statement of the paper- bestessayservices.com.
From the above guidelines, we hope that you will be able to write good conclusions for your research papers. However if you are having difficulties, get in touch with us today for assistance in writing research papers or visit our homepage for more information about our custom writing services. Alternatively you can continue reading more essay writing guidelines and samples on our blog.
Online Sources:
http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/18_Writing_Conclusion.asp
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/04/
http://www.gallaudet.edu/tip/english_center/writing/guide_to_writing_introductions_and_conclusions.html
http://classroom.synonym.com/write-conclusion-science-research-paper-5659.html
http://www2.tku.edu.tw/~tfst/048FST/book/048article1.pdf
http://www.assignmentwritinghelp.net/blog/writing-a-conclusion-for-a-research-paper/
http://www.bestessayservices.com/blog/writing-a-research-paper-conclusionresearch-writing/