How to Write a Research Paper Conclusion (With Examples)

What Is a Research Paper Conclusion?

A research paper conclusion is the closing section of your academic paper where you bring everything together. It comes after your research paper discussion section and before your references page, and its job is to synthesize your work, not just summarize it.

That's an important difference. A summary just repeats what you said. A conclusion tells readers what it all means.

It also shouldn't be confused with your abstract. The abstract gives readers a preview of your paper before they read it. The conclusion gives them a final take after they've read it. A conclusion doesn't introduce new findings, it tells readers what your findings mean.

What to Include in a Research Paper Conclusion

A strong conclusion covers specific elements in a logical order. Here's what belongs in it:

• Restatement of the research problem:

This reminds readers what question you set out to answer

• Restated thesis:

Rephrase your main argument in fresh language (don't copy from your intro)

• Summary of key findings:

Highlight the most important results without re-explaining everything

• Implications and significance:

Explain why your findings matter beyond the paper

• Limitations:

Briefly acknowledge what your study couldn't cover (mainly for empirical papers)

• Closing statement or future directions: 

End with a thought-provoking point or suggestion for future research

Every strong conclusion covers what you found, why it matters, and what should happen next.

How to Write a Research Paper Conclusion: Step-by-Step

Argumentative and empirical papers follow the same core steps, but the emphasis shifts slightly. Empirical papers spend more time on limitations and data implications. Argumentative papers focus more on the strength of the reasoning and broader significance. Keep that in mind as you work through each step.

Think of it like resetting the scene after a long story, you're reminding the reader of the stakes before you sign off.

Step 2: Revisit Your Thesis Statement

Your thesis from the research paper introduction should come back here, but in different words. By this point, your paper has built the evidence. Your restated thesis should reflect that.

You're not repeating yourself. You're showing how far the argument has traveled.

Step 3: Summarize Key Findings

Don't explain your findings again,  just hit the most important ones. For empirical papers, briefly note what the data showed. For argumentative papers, summarize your strongest arguments.

Keep this section tight. Your reader has already read the body of your paper. They need the takeaway, not a replay.

Step 4: Discuss the Implications

This is where your conclusion earns its place. Why does your research matter beyond this paper?

There are two types of implications to consider:

• Practical implications:

These speak to real-world applications. If you studied sleep deprivation, the practical implication might be that universities should adjust early-morning class schedules.

• Academic implications:

These speak to the field. Your findings might challenge an existing theory, confirm one, or open a new line of inquiry.

Two or three sentences on each is enough. You don't need to write another section, just give your reader a sense of the bigger picture.

Step 5: Address Limitations (Empirical Papers)

This section matters more for empirical research papers than for argumentative ones. Briefly acknowledging what your study couldn't cover actually strengthens your credibility, it shows intellectual honesty.

Keep it brief with two to three sentences. Note constraints like sample size, geographic scope, time limitations, or data availability. Don't apologize for them. Just name them and note how future research could address them.

Argumentative papers can either skip this step or briefly mention the scope of the argument (e.g., that the analysis focused on one policy context).

Step 6: Write a Strong Closing Statement

You have three solid options for your final sentence or two:

• Thought-provoking question:

"If these trends continue, what does this mean for the next generation of students?"

• Call to action:

"Policymakers, educators, and students all have a role to play in addressing this growing gap."

• Future research direction:

"Future studies should examine whether these findings hold across different cultural and institutional contexts."

Pick the one that fits your paper's tone. Empirical papers often close with future research suggestions. Argumentative papers land well with a call to action.

Research Paper Conclusion Examples

Reading an example is often the fastest way to understand what a good conclusion looks like. Here are two real-style examples:

Argumentative Research Paper Conclusion Example

What makes it work: 

It restates the thesis without copying it, points to the types of evidence used, addresses both individual and systemic responsibility, and closes with a challenge to the reader.

Empirical Research Paper Conclusion Example

What makes it work:

It references specific data, connects to broader literature, acknowledges the study's contribution, and closes by pointing toward practical next steps.

For additional full-paper models, browse our research paper examples page.

Research Paper Conclusion Template

Sometimes the hardest part is just getting the words on the page. Use this as your starting point:

A template won't write your conclusion for you, but it will stop you from staring at a blank page.

Adjust the language to fit your discipline and paper type. The structure above works for both empirical and argumentative papers, just swap in your own content.

How Long Should a Research Paper Conclusion Be?

A research paper conclusion is typically 5–10% of your paper's total length. Here's what that looks like in practice:

Quality matters more than hitting a word count. A tight, well-structured 200-word conclusion is better than a padded 500-word one that repeats itself. For full paper length guidelines by academic level and assignment type, see our guide on how long a research paper should be.

Things to Avoid in a Research Paper Conclusion

Getting the conclusion right is partly about knowing what not to do. Here are the most common mistakes:

Introducing new evidence or arguments. 

Your conclusion synthesizes, it doesn't add. If you find yourself wanting to add a new point, it belongs in the body of your paper.

Repeating yourself without adding synthesis.

Summarizing is fine. Copying full paragraphs from earlier sections is not. Each sentence in your conclusion should feel like it's moving toward a larger point.

Starting with "In conclusion" or "To summarize." 

These phrases are overused and signal lazy writing. Instead, try opening with a reference to your core argument, your central finding, or the broader significance of your work.

Making vague or empty statements. 

Phrases like "this topic is very complex and has many dimensions" don't tell your reader anything. Be specific about what your research actually showed.

Apologizing for your limitations. 

Limitations are normal. You can mention them briefly, but framing them as failures weakens your paper. State them neutrally and redirect toward what future research could address.

Opening new debates. 

You can mention implications and future directions, but don't introduce a controversial new question that your paper hasn't addressed at all. It creates confusion rather than depth.

Once you've finished your conclusion, run through our research paper checklist before submitting to make sure the whole paper is ready.

Conclusion

Writing a strong research paper conclusion comes down to six things: restating your problem, revisiting your thesis, summarizing key findings, discussing implications, acknowledging limitations, and closing with purpose. Skip the filler phrases, don't introduce new arguments, and keep it tight.

Your conclusion is the last thing your reader sees. Make it count. If you're short on time or just want it done right, our writers can handle the whole paper from intro to conclusion, so you don't have to stress about any of it.