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As the final paragraphs of academic papers, conclusions provide closure while reminding readers of the paper’s main argument.

Tips for Writing an Academic Conclusion

Here are four tips for writing an effective conclusion.

Restate Your Thesis

Without repeating your thesis statement verbatim, your conclusion should remind readers of your paper’s central argument. 

Recap Main Points 

In recapping the main ideas of your paper, focus on their connection to your larger thesis. In other words, how have you proven what you set out to prove in your thesis?

Remind Readers of Your Topic’s Importance

Be sure to highlight the importance of your topic, placing your findings within the context of meaningful change: Why does your research matter? How can your findings be applied to a real-world problem?

Provide a Sense of Closure

The final sentences of your conclusion should leave readers with a distinct sense that the paper has come to an end. If you’ve used your conclusion to tie together your argument and main ideas, you have likely achieved this sense of closure.

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Quick Tip

Avoid Presenting New Information: Introducing new information, such as evidence or a main point, can be confusing to readers, as conclusions are meant to review content that has already been presented. There is one exception to this guideline: if your research revealed the need for additional study, you might conclude by suggesting a new direction for future research.

Sample Conclusion Paragraph

Click each link to learn more about each element of an academic conclusion.

The advantages of a later starting time for high school students significantly outweigh the disadvantages [] . A later starting time would allow teens more time to sleep—something that is important for their physical and mental health—and ultimately improve their academic performance and behavior [] . While moving school start times back could add to transportation expenses, these costs would be offset by energy savings. The beneficial effects on the students’ academic performance and behavior validate the shift to a later starting time, though the impact this move might have on student motivation is still unknown [] . I would encourage an in-depth look at the reactions of students to such a change. This sort of study would help determine the actual effects of a later start time on the time management and sleep habits of students [] .

Explanation

Click each link in the sample conclusion to display the explanation.

Restate Your Thesis

The opening sentence of this conclusion reiterates the paper’s thesis or central argument.

Remind Readers of Your Topic’s Importance

While recapping the main points that support the argument, this sentence also emphasizes the topic’s importance—shifting to a later start time would have a real-world, positive effect on students’ health and academics.

Recap Main Points

The writer continues to recap main points.

Provide a Sense of Closure

As a whole, the paragraph provides a sense of closure by avoiding the introduction of new evidence or information, recapping main ideas, and highlighting the topic’s significance. These two final sentences are an appropriate wrap-up to the paper because they suggest potential next steps (that is, where the reader or next researcher might build on this writer’s work).

Key Takeaways

As the final paragraph of your academic paper, conclusions provide a recap of your thesis and main ideas. They also emphasize the significance of your paper’s focus and provide a sense of closure by tying together your argument. While they don’t introduce new evidence or information, they may suggest future directions for research.

Check Your Understanding

Related Resources

Do you need more practice with academic introductions and paragraphs? Try the Organize and Develop Paragraphs Module.