A research paper’s conclusion is not merely a summary of the main topics covered or a re-statement of your thesis, but an element that merits equal attention to the rest of your paper in terms of structure and thoughtfulness. The conclusion leaves the reader with a final impression, and as such, it should tie together all the completed elements of your research and analysis in a complete but concise manner while leaving the reader with a takeaway message. As such, the conclusion of a research paper is an opportunity to not just wrap up your argument but also to recommend potential extensions or implications of your work. Presenting recommendations in the conclusion section allows readers to understand how your research has applicability or calls for further investigation.
There are a few key aspects to keep in mind when including recommendations in your conclusion:
Connect your recommendations directly back to your thesis and analysis. Do not introduce entirely new topics, but rather frame recommendations as logical extensions of your central argument and findings. For example, you may conclude that based on your analysis of student performance and curriculum, the school would benefit from implementing tutoring programs, thereby directly connecting to your research topic.
Limit your recommendations to two or three key points at most. Too many recommendations risk overwhelming the reader at the end or diluting your message. Stick to only the most high-impact or feasible suggestions given the scope of your paper.
Justify your recommendations with clear rationale based on evidence from your paper. Do not just state recommendations as suggestions but rather explain why certain actions or areas of further study are warranted given what your analysis has uncovered. Refer back to specific examples, data trends, problems uncovered through your research to support why the recommendations are valid proposals.
Consider different categories or types of recommendations. You may have recommendations for policy changes, practical applications, further research questions, potential pilot programs or experiments based on limitations in existing data. Having a variety of recommendation types shows a nuanced understanding of your topic area.
Use a clear format to introduce each recommendation with a statement, justification and proposed next steps if possible. For example:
“Based on the relationship found between teacher experience and student test scores, the district should implement a mentoring program pairing new teachers with veteran instructors. As the data showed…”
Qualify your recommendations as needed by acknowledging limitations or obstacles. If data or scope was limited, note that recommendations would need further testing or review. Communicate that recommendations are proposals rather than definitive solutions.
Weigh recommendations against alternatives or other viewpoints discussed in your paper. Show that recommendations are the most constructive ways forward given the complexity of issues explored. Consider discussing brief counterarguments or alternative solutions as well.
End with a final message of importance. Restate why your topic merits attention and why the recommendations, if considered, could have meaningful impact or advance understanding of the issues in a productive manner. This leaves the reader with positive momentum regarding implications of your work.
The recommendations section of a conclusion is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate applied thinking and offer full closure to your research argument. By directly connecting insightful, well-justified proposals back to content, analysis and limitations addressed earlier, recommendations can transform an otherwise retrospective conclusion into a forward-looking wrap-up that leaves both researchers and readers with pathways for potential next steps. With careful attention to format, evidence, and qualifying language, recommendations should round out the conclusion in a thoughtful, impactful manner.