How to write the perfect conclusion to an essay

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So, you’ve almost finished writing your term paper. You’ve carefully worked out the structure, defined the goal and objectives, prepared the title page and the list of references, and logically arranged the content. It seems like you can finally take a breath — just one step remains: writing the conclusion.

 

However, don’t relax just yet. It’s no secret that the conclusion is one of the most commonly returned sections of a paper for revision. And once that happens, other parts of the paper may also be sent back for correction. That’s why it’s better to do everything right from the start.

 

So let’s figure out how to write a proper conclusion, why it matters, and what the requirements are.

 

What is a conclusion in a term paper?

 

The conclusion is a summarizing section that should indicate whether the goals of the paper were achieved and the tasks were fulfilled. Simply put, the final part focuses on the results of the research, logically completes the paper, and demonstrates the path from problem statement to analysis and proposed solutions.

 

Even if the work is not very lengthy, it still needs to end with a set of conclusions. This demonstrates the author’s ability to analyze information and draw logical generalizations. Without a conclusion, a paper risks looking like a disjointed collection of facts with no coherent picture. Finally, writing the conclusion will help you structure your own understanding of the topic — useful during your oral presentation.

 

Formatting rules for the conclusion

 

The conclusion must follow the rules of DSTU 3008:2015 — the official Ukrainian standard for academic and research papers. It sets requirements for structure, font, spacing, formatting of tables, references, and other elements. Most Ukrainian universities use this standard when formatting term papers.

 

The conclusion should follow the same formatting rules as the main body:

• Font: Times New Roman
• Font size: 14 pt
• Line spacing: 1.5
• Margins: top and bottom – 2 cm, left – 3 cm, right – 1 cm

 

The length of the conclusion should not exceed the length of the introduction — usually one A4 page, or slightly more in rare cases. In relation to the entire paper, it typically makes up 5–10%. Avoid artificially inflating the volume with empty or meaningless phrases.

 

Section-level conclusions: an important nuance

To make your paper coherent and logically structured, it is important to summarize each section properly. Ideally, you should summarize every major paragraph or key idea.

 

There are three main approaches to writing conclusions:

1. Deductive method. Start with general statements and move toward specific conclusions. This method is usually considered the most logical and precise.
2. Inductive method. Begin by gathering specific facts and then derive a general conclusion. You may use additional sources.
3. Relying on existing conclusions.** This approach involves summarizing the findings of others and writing a brief synthesis. It’s acceptable but shouldn’t be used too frequently.

 

Each paragraph should ideally end with 1–2 brief conclusions:

• one that addresses specific issues mentioned in the paragraph
• another that generalizes and leads into the logic of the entire section.

 

A conclusion for a section usually takes up 1–2 paragraphs and does not exceed one-third of a page.

 

Common phrasing for writing conclusions:

• “Thus, we can conclude that…”
• “Based on the above, it becomes clear that…”
• “To summarize, it should be noted that…”

 

Examples of summary phrases after a section:

• “So, as a result of the analysis, the following conclusions can be made…”
• “The aspects considered in this chapter allow us to assert that…”
• “Summarizing what has been said, the following trends can be highlighted…”

 

Such structured conclusions help make the term paper logical, coherent, and complete. However, it’s worth noting that DSTU 3008:2015 does not require conclusions after each chapter — including them is optional but improves the overall quality of the paper. It reflects the author’s engagement, opinion, and personal view on the subject matter.

How to write the conclusion: tips and strategies

 

After finishing the main body of the paper, gather the paragraph-level conclusions, organize them, rephrase if needed, and eliminate any contradictions. If the text is too short, add clarifying information related to the topic and research objectives. The conclusions must correspond to the overall direction of the work — they should be concise, logical, and stay within the topic’s boundaries.

 

If the instructor does not require separate conclusions for each chapter, the conclusion should serve as the logical summary of the entire work. To write it, reread the main body and try to retell the key points as concise theses. These theses will form the basis of the conclusion. It’s not necessary to summarize each section individually — what matters is that the conclusion reflects the topic, objectives, and goals stated in the introduction.

 

Avoid unnecessary words, repetition, and using related-root words in close proximity. It is acceptable to reuse phrases from the main text. The writing style should be semi-formal with elements of academic tone.

 

Useful phrases for writing the conclusion:

• “In conclusion, we can state that…”
• “From the analysis, we can conclude…”
• “The research results allow us to state that…”
• “We have come to the conclusion that…”
• “To summarize, we can highlight the following…”
• “Based on the above, it can be concluded that…”

 

No new information should be introduced in the conclusion. Its purpose is to summarize the conducted work and record the obtained results.

 

Example of a properly written conclusion

 

Summing up the material reviewed, we can note that the conclusion in a term paper plays an important role as the logical completion of the entire work. It summarizes the key ideas, formulates the final findings, and shows how successfully the research goals were achieved. A well-written conclusion not only reflects the content of the main part but also helps the reader better understand the essence of the work done. Thus, the ability to clearly and structurally express conclusions is an important component of academic writing and a sign of a student’s level of preparation.

 

In fact, this is a conclusion that itself serves as an example of a term paper ending — a “conclusion about the conclusion.” We wish you the best of luck in preparing your paper for submission and hope you get an excellent grade.