How do you write a
powerful closing statement?
In this lesson, you will learn
how to conclude your
response by referring to the
prompt and the “big ideas” of
your response.
Let’s
Review
Let’s Review
Identify the Question and Type of
Writing
Plan Your
Response
Write Your
Response
Revise Your
Response
Let’s
Review
Let’s Review
Opening
Body 1
Body 2
Closing
Body 3
Let’s
Review
Let’s Review
Dear Principal,
I know there’s lots of fighting and lots
of work to do, but is stopping recess the
answer? I disagree with your decision to stop
having recess. Recess gives us needed
exercise, helps us get along together and
gives us an important break in the school
day.
Let’s
Review
Let’s Review
Recess shouldn’t be stopped because
children need exercise to stay healthy.
Children need to build up their bodies as they
grow. For many children in this school,
recess is the only time they have for
exercise. If we are unhealthy, we can’t
focus on our learning. To keep our children
healthy, we need to keep recess.
Let’s
Review
Let’s Review
Without recess, children wouldn’t learn
how to get along together. The best way to
stop fighting is to let kids try to solve their
own problems as a community. Recess is
the only time when we can be together
without teachers. If we don’t learn how to
get along, it will be very difficult in high
school and college. Recess is important for
kids in learning how to get along.
Let’s
Review
Let’s Review
Stopping recess would end an
important break in the school day. Our day
is over 6 hours long. During a test, my
classmate could barely stay awake in the
afternoon. Recess gives us a break so that
we can be ready for the afternoon’s work.
We just can’t finish our work during the day
without recess.
A
Common
Mistake
Let’s Review
Writing a closing paragraph that
doesn’t refer to the original prompt
or question.
Opening
Body 1
Body 2
Body 3
?
A
Common
Mistake
Let’s Review
Your school principal has decided to stop
having recess. Write a letter to your principal
telling him why you agree or disagree with his
decision.
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
1
Re-write your thesis statement.
2
Summarize your most important
supporting details.
3
End with a strong sentence telling
why your idea is important.
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
1
Re-write your thesis statement.
I disagree with your decision to stop having
recess.
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
2
Summarize your most important
supporting details.
1. Kids need exercise.
2. Helps kids get along.
3. Need a break in the school day.
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
1. Kids need
exercise.
2. Helps kids get
along.
3. Need a break
in the school
day.
Recess is an
important
break in the
day when kids
get exercise
and learn to
get along
together.
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
3
End with a strong sentence telling
why your idea is important.
Who will be
reading this?
Your principal
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
3
Your
principal
The “hook”
I know there’s lots of fighting and lots of
work to do, but is stopping recess the
answer?
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
I know there’s lots of fighting and lots of
work to do, but is stopping recess the
answer?
There are ways to improve our learning and
to stop fighting, but stopping recess isn’t
one of them.
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
I disagree with your decision to
stop having recess. Recess is an
important break in the day when kids get
exercise and learn to get along together.
There are ways to improve our learning
and to stop fighting, but stopping recess
isn’t one of them.
Sincerely,
Core
Lesson
Let’s Review
1
Re-write your thesis statement.
2
Summarize your most important
supporting details.
3
End with a strong sentence telling
why your idea is important.
In this lesson, you have
learned how to conclude
your response by referring to
the prompt and the “big
ideas” of your response.
Guided
Practice
Let’s Review
Using the steps in this lesson, write a
closing paragraph for the following
prompt:
The movie theater has decided to not show scary
movies anymore. Write a letter to the theater manager
telling him why you agree or disagree with his
decision..
Extension
Activities
Let’s Review
Look at the closing paragraph from the
lesson. Can you write a different closing
paragraph using different reasons?
Extension
Activities
Let’s Review
Look at the closing paragraph. How
would this paragraph change if the reader
was NOT the principal? Choose a person
below. Change the paragraph for that
reader.
(a) Your parents
(b) Your best friend
Extension
Activities
Let’s Review
I disagree with your decision to
stop having recess. Recess is an
important break in the day when kids get
exercise and learn to get along together.
There are ways to improve our learning
and to stop fighting, but stopping recess
isn’t one of them.
Sincerely,
Quick
Let’s
Quiz
Review
Write a closing paragraph for your
response to the prompt below.
The cafeteria decided to stop serving pizza on
Fridays. Write a letter to the head chef
explaining why you agree or disagree with this
decision.