I struggled with conclusions until I learned the 'circle technique' from a writing workshop. The idea is to return to something you mentioned in your introduction—a question, an anecdote, a statistic—and show how your paper has transformed or answered it.
For a paper on climate anxiety, I opened with a story about a student afraid to have children because of environmental collapse. In my conclusion, I returned to that student and showed how my research offered hope through collective action frameworks.
The paper felt whole, like a circle closing. This technique works because it gives readers a sense of completion. They're not just left with information; they're left with a feeling of resolution. If you're stuck on how to end your research paper powerfully, look back at your introduction.
Find an opening thread and weave it through to the end. It makes your writing feel intentional and satisfying.
For a paper on climate anxiety, I opened with a story about a student afraid to have children because of environmental collapse. In my conclusion, I returned to that student and showed how my research offered hope through collective action frameworks.
The paper felt whole, like a circle closing. This technique works because it gives readers a sense of completion. They're not just left with information; they're left with a feeling of resolution. If you're stuck on how to end your research paper powerfully, look back at your introduction.
Find an opening thread and weave it through to the end. It makes your writing feel intentional and satisfying.
