Endings
1. Writing workshop
mini lesson Types of conclusions
The conclusion (ending or closing) of your writing is what wraps it
all up for the reader. Stop writing when you have said it all, but the
conclusion should tie up all loose ends. Do not leave the reader hanging.
Leave him/her with something to think about. Do not insult the reader
by telling him/her what you have written about. Also, do not use the
lead as the conclusion; you can restate what you wrote in the lead,
but do not just repeat it. NEVER end with "...and it was all a dream."
That has been overdone. Below are some ideas on how to write a good
conclusion. Remember that not every type of lead will work for every
writer or for every piece of writing. You'll have to experiment. Be
sure to have a least three sentences in your conclusion, whatever type
it may be.
Question: Close
with a question that involves the reader. You can answer the question,
or leave it for the reader to decide based on what you wrote. The question
must relate to the main idea. Example: It was the worst experience of
his life. Andrew decided that it was the last time he would ever go
on a roller coaster. Who can blame him?
Strong Statement Close with a statement that forcefully states your
opinion. Example: A criminal, no matter his/her age, should be dealt
with according to the crime. The legal system is too lenient when it
comes to juvenile offenders. Laws need to be rewritten immediately so
that no more hard core criminals go free just because they are juveniles.
Summary Close with
a summary of your main ideas. However, do not repeat yourself word for
word; say it in a different way. Also, remember not to insult the reader
by saying, "I wrote about..." The reader is smart enough to know what
he/she just read. Example: As you can see, it is not important to know
everything, but it is important to know how to find the answer. There
will not always be a teacher nearby with the answer. You have to learn
how to research, how to dig through sources to find what you need to
know.
Personal Comment
Close with a personal comment or response to what you have written.
It is not the same thing as an opinion. It is more like a personal conclusion
you have reached or a lesson you have learned because of the experience
you wrote about in your paper. Example: Riding a roller coaster with
someone who is a "chicken" is something I will certainly never do again.
I should have listened when Sheila told me she did not want to ride
it. I should have let her take the "chicken exit." Next time I will
know better.
Mystery Close with
a statement that shows some things will never be resolved. However,
be sure to do this in a way that the reader does not think you just
forgot to end your story or paper. Example: We watched Adam walk down
the road until he became just a tiny speck and then disappeared altogether
into the dust of twilight. Just as he appeared, he was gone. That was
the last time any of us ever saw him.
Beginning of New
Story When writing a story or personal narrative, you can close with
a hint of things to come, or the beginning of a new story--a sequel
of sorts. Example: He was exhausted. It had been a long and difficult
week. Javier closed his eyes and thought of the many other adventures
that lie ahead.
Well Known Quotation
or Quotation from a Famous Person Close with a quotation that is well
known or from a famous person. Be sure to put quotations around the
quotation and give credit to the person who said it if you write it
word for word. Of course, the quotation must be directly related to
your topic. A good source is a book of quotations. Look in the library
or ask your teacher. Example: According to Senator Bob Dole, in order
to be a citizen, all Americans must be able to speak English. In theory
this seems like a good policy. However, what will become of the citizens
who never learn to speak English?
Quotation Not from a Famous Person Close with a quotation from a person
that is not famous. It could be a character from the story or someone
you know personally. You still must put it in quotation marks and give
credit to the person who said it if you write it word for word. Example:
"You're going to regret this." Those were Sheila's last words as I pulled
her into the roller coaster seat. I now know she was not kidding.
Open Conclusion
Close with an ending or statement that lets the reader draw his/her
own conclusion. It is like a "fill in the blank" type of conclusion.
Remember to give the reader enough information in the body of your paper
that he/she can draw a conclusion. Example: Some statistics show that
drivers under the age of 16 are more dangerous. On the other hand, some
statistics show that they are no more dangerous than drivers 16 to 25.
Therefore, whether drivers under the age of 16 are more dangerous than
those over 16 is still debatable.
2. Writing workshop
mini lesson Take a look at endings that don't work
With endings, I find it works best to teach students what not to do.
There are countless wonderful ways to finish a poem, essay, or narrative,
depending on your purpose and audience. But there are three kinds of
horrible endings that rear their heads again and again in writing workshop.
If you teach students to recognize these blunders in their writing,
they are more likely to avoid them and craft more original closings.
Unnecessary repetition:
The first mistake involves not trusting that your writing says what
you want it to say. When this happens, writers repeat their main point,
bludgeoning it in the process. Students who have this tendency often
just need to be reassured that they've done a good job in conveying
their ideas earlier in the piece.
Uninspired chronology:
Students also make the error of reverting to chronology, often ending
their writing with the characters dying or falling asleep. If you ask
students never to end their pieces with phrases such as "...and they
all went to bed," you'll eliminate lots of abrupt conclusions.
The "Dallas Syndrome":
This catchall ending is used when the writing is implausible, or contains
loose ends that the writer can't tie up. In these instances, it's typical
for students to conclude with passages such as, "It was all just a dream,"
or anything that provides an easy return from fantasy to reality. Local
teachers dubbed this tendency the "Dallas Syndrome," a nickname inspired
by the night-time soap opera in which the lame plot device was used
in explaining the absence of Bobby for an entire season. One solution:
Don't allow it.
3. Writing workshop
mini lesson circular ending. (Craft Lessons)
Read the following poem with your students. Then lead a discussion.
The first time we read the first line, "My Grandpa is not around" we
feel a little sad. It's a whole different reaction by the last time
we read, "My Grandpa is not around". We feel real sad because we've
read about all the things the girl had done with her Grandpa. This kind
of ending gives the writing balance by using the same thing at the beginning
and at the end. Keep this in mind when you write the ending to the piece
you're working on.
My Grandpa
Written by Jeanine Cozzens (third grade)
My Grandpa is not around.
I loved him.
He used to give me candy.
He takes me places.
He used to take me swimming.
He delivered me and my sister and brother.
I liked when he held me.
My Grandpa is not around.
