Your research paper conclusion is important because it summarizes the purpose and content of your entire paper. You have a variety of options when it comes to crafting a solid conclusion. All of these can be effective and you can simply choose the one that works best for your writing style.
What to Avoid
When you are writing your conclusion there are a few things that you want to avoid. These are common mistakes, but they can make your conclusion appear weak and not planned well. According to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, you should avoid the following:
• Restating your thesis
• Starting with phrases like “in summary” or “in conclusion.”
• Introducing a new idea
• Making emotional or sentimental appeals
• Including evidence that should be stated elsewhere
Your conclusion needs to be a bit broad and not contain any specific information. Specific information should be included in the body of your paper. Your conclusion must also be neutral and simply sum things up.
What to Include
In a nutshell, the conclusion is where you tell the reader what you already told them. You will want to use the same order you did in your introduction. To ensure that this is done, have your introduction right on front of you as you write your conclusion. According to St. Cloud State University, the following should be included in your conclusion:
• Discuss how important your thesis was without restating it
• Give your paper a sense of ending and completion
• Give your reader a last impression
When you are reading your conclusion, you should feel complete. It should make you feel as though the paper thoroughly answered all of your questions. If you still have questions after reading it, you should consider a revision.