Yes, literature reviews end with a concluding section that synthesizes insights, flags gaps, and may note brief implications for research.
Writers often wonder how far the final section should go. The short answer: finish with a tight wrap-up that answers “what does this body of work add up to?” without repeating the whole review. This closing segment gives readers a clear take-away, helps them see the state of knowledge, and points to what comes next. Below, you’ll see what goes into a strong finish, how it differs by assignment type, and practical checklists you can copy into your draft.
Why A Review Benefits From A Clear Ending
A research survey organizes many sources. Without an explicit capstone, readers might leave with scattered notes instead of a message. A short, well-structured end section solves that problem by pulling threads together, showing what holds, and marking limits. It does not add new studies; it distills the message of the works you already evaluated.
In typical coursework and publishable surveys, the last part often carries one of these labels: “Conclusion,” “Concluding Remarks,” “Implications,” or “Recommendations.” The name can vary, but the job is the same—synthesize, not summarize. You’re giving readers the meaning of the map, not a second tour of every road.
Should A Review Of Sources End With A Closing Section?
Yes. Most writing hubs teach the classic three-part frame: an introduction that sets scope, a body that clusters and evaluates sources, and a final section that states what the overall evidence says. One widely used guide spells it out as intro, body, and a final wrap-up with recommendations where fit; see the UNC Writing Center overview for a clear model. The ending can be a single paragraph in a short assignment or a couple of focused paragraphs in a longer manuscript.
What The Final Section Should Deliver
- Answer the guiding question: State the main message that emerges from the sources you reviewed.
- Show where scholars agree and disagree: Name the stable points and the contest points.
- Mark gaps and limits: Point out thin evidence, common biases, or under-studied groups.
- Offer concise implications: One or two lines on practice, policy, or theory only when the scope warrants it.
- Set up next steps: Propose a few targetable research moves, not a wish list.
What The Final Section Should Avoid
- New data, new methods, or unvetted claims.
- Point-by-point summaries of every article you already covered.
- Vague fluff like “more research is needed” without naming what kind and why.
Common Labels, Length, And Scope
Different fields and assignments vary. A short undergraduate paper may close in one paragraph. A master’s-level survey might use two or three tight paragraphs. A formal evidence synthesis will separate “Discussion,” “Conclusions,” and, at times, “Implications for practice” or “Implications for research.” Use the label your instructor, journal, or style guide prefers, then match the substance described below.
| Context | What The Ending Does | Label Often Used |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework/Thesis Chapter | Synthesizes themes, names gaps, links back to the research question. | Conclusion |
| Narrative Review (Journal) | Condenses the message, notes strengths/limits, flags directions. | Concluding Remarks |
| Systematic Review | Summarizes findings and certainty, separates practice and research notes. | Discussion + Conclusions |
Structure: From Last Paragraph Backwards
Draft your last paragraph first. When you know the message, the body becomes easier to shape. The sequence below works across disciplines and keeps you from repeating.
1) One-Sentence Synthesis
Start with a single sentence that captures the answer your sources give. Keep verbs direct and concrete. Stay neutral. Avoid hype words.
2) Two To Four Sentences Of Support
Back the claim with two to four tight sentences. Name the strongest clusters of evidence and note a key limitation that bounds the claim.
3) Short Note On Implications Or Use
If your brief allows it, add one sentence on practical or theoretical use. Keep it cautious and tied to the evidence base you just reviewed.
4) One Line On What’s Next
End with one closing line that proposes the most promising next study or the single biggest data gap. Make it specific enough that a reader could design a project from it.
Style Tips That Keep The Ending Tight
- Prefer synthesis verbs: “converges,” “diverges,” “corroborates,” “remains uncertain.”
- Quantify where you can: Mention sample sizes, time spans, or effect directions if those are consistent across sources.
- Use plain transitions: “next,” “also,” “but,” “so.”
- Trim hedges: Cut fillers like “it seems that” and “somewhat.”
How Long Should The Final Part Be?
Match length to scope. One paragraph is enough for a short assignment that synthesizes six to ten core sources. Two paragraphs fit a larger review with multiple clusters. A journal-ready narrative survey often uses a short “Concluding remarks” section of 150–250 words. Evidence syntheses that rate certainty may need a little more space to state both the finding and the strength of that finding.
Placement And Headings
The closing section sits at the end of the chapter or article. Keep the heading parallel with others in your outline. If your template already prints a large article title, stick with a simple “Conclusion” subhead to keep scan-readability clean.
Grading Rubrics And Reviewer Expectations
Instructors and reviewers look for a clear answer to the guiding question, visible synthesis across sources, and a sense of the limits of what can be claimed. They pay special attention to fit: your end section should match the evidence body you presented, not jump to claims you didn’t establish. They also want concision; a tight 150–250 word ending beats a long recap of the body.
Field-Specific Notes
Humanities And Social Sciences
These fields favor thematic clustering. The ending often returns to the guiding concept or debate. The close typically names where the consensus sits, where the debate remains live, and what kind of primary work would settle it.
STEM Fields
STEM readers expect methodological clarity. The final part may briefly note common design limits across studies, ranges of effect sizes, and the most promising experimental or data-collection next step.
Health And Clinical Fields
When patient care is at stake, authors separate what current evidence supports in practice from what should remain in trials. Many methods guides formalize this into a “Discussion” followed by a labeled end section with two short notes: one for practice and one for research. See the Cochrane Handbook’s “Conclusions” guidance for a widely used model.
Template Paragraphs You Can Adapt
Single-Paragraph Ending (Short Assignment)
The studies reviewed here point to [core claim]. Across the most rigorous work, findings are consistent on [one or two converging points], with disagreement on [named debate]. Evidence remains thin on [gap]. A clear next step is [specific study or dataset].
Two-Paragraph Ending (Longer Chapter)
Paragraph 1: State the main message and the strongest support. Note one boundary condition or sampling limit that narrows the claim.
Paragraph 2: Name one to two precise practice or theory uses tied to the evidence, then point to the most actionable next step a team could take.
Common Pitfalls At The End
- Re-summaries: If a sentence starts naming one source after another, move it to the body.
- Scope creep: Don’t shift your research question in the last paragraph.
- Hype language: Keep claims neutral. Avoid superlatives.
- Vague calls for “more research”: Specify the design, population, measure, or comparison.
Examples Of Closing Moves
These short samples show how to land the plane with purpose while staying concise.
Example A: Education
Across randomized and quasi-experimental studies, tutoring programs with trained tutors deliver stronger reading gains than unstructured homework clubs. Benefits cluster in early grades and fade without sustained contact. Work in middle grades is mixed. One next step is a large multi-site trial that separates contact time from curriculum quality.
Example B: Public Health
Observational studies link green-space access to lower stress reports, but experimental evidence is limited and measures vary. Urban interventions that add parks show modest, localized gains. The field needs randomized and blinded designs with consistent biomarkers across cities.
Example C: Software Engineering
Studies of code review show consistent links to defect reduction, though effect sizes vary with team size and tool setup. Evidence is thin on long-term costs. A targeted longitudinal design would clarify net value beyond the first release cycle.
Second-Order Choices: Tone, Tense, And Citations
Write in the present tense when you state what the literature shows. Use past tense only when you refer to a specific study’s action. Keep citation density light in the final paragraph; you already supported claims in the body. If a key point could be read as your opinion, anchor it with one representative citation.
Ethics And Balance
Endings should reflect the weight of the evidence. If the field is split, say so. If all studies share the same flaw, say that too. Neutral, transparent language builds trust with instructors and peer reviewers.
Self-Edit Checklist For Your Ending
| Item | What To Write | Quick Self-Check |
|---|---|---|
| Guiding Answer | One clear sentence that answers your review question. | Would a skim-reader catch it? |
| Synthesis | Two to four sentences that combine the strongest evidence. | No source-by-source recap? |
| Limits | One bounded note on sample, design, or measure limits. | Free of speculation? |
| Implications | One sentence on practice, policy, or theory when warranted. | Tied to stated evidence? |
| Next Step | One specific study idea or data need. | Actionable in one line? |
Where To Learn The Expected Form
Writing centers and methods handbooks publish clear models. Many guides describe the three-part frame and show sample endings in context. Styles used in health research also spell out separate “Discussion/Conclusions” sections with brief “Implications” notes for real-world use. When in doubt, check your assignment sheet or the target journal’s author page.
Quick Start: Draft Your Ending In Ten Minutes
- Write one sentence that answers your guiding question in plain words.
- List two to four strongest strands of evidence that point to that answer.
- Name one clear limit to temper the claim.
- Add one precise use case or theory note if your scope allows it.
- Finish with one specific research next step.
Clean, Linked Examples You Can Consult
University writing hubs outline the expected parts of a research survey, including the final section. Evidence synthesis manuals in health sciences also show a standard “Discussion/Conclusions” pair, with short notes for practice and for research. Those models reinforce the advice in this guide. For a broad skills refresher on synthesis itself, see Purdue OWL’s guidance on writing a literature review and their page on synthesizing sources.