Writing a Good
Conclusion
STAAR PREPARATION
In a conclusion paragraph,
You summarize what you’ve written about in your paper.
To be effective:
othink about the main point that you want to get across and be
sure it’s included
oUse your introductory paragraph as a guide
oThesis says: "There are three classes at school that I absolutely can’t wait to
go to every day."
oConclusion says: "Gym, Math, and Art are the three classes I try to never
miss."
Structure
oA conclusion is the opposite of the introduction
oThe introduction begins general and ends specific
oThe conclusion begins specific and moves to the general
Introduction
Structure
Hook
Thesis statement (Your Answer)
Body Paragraph(s)
Strong examples/supports
Rephrase of Thesis Statement
Conclusion
What to Include
oYour topic sentence should summarize what you said in your thesis
oDo NOT simply restate you thesis statement
oRephrase the thesis statement with fresh and deeper
understanding
oProvide consistent information; do NOT bring up new ideas in your
conclusion
oYour topic/idea for each body paragraph should be included in your
conclusion
oYour closing sentence should be your “clincher” (it’s your last word)
The 3 Must Haves
1. Restated answer/thesis statement
2. Connection to image(s)/theme(s)/examples used
in introductory paragraph and body paragraph(s)
Use key words, or parallel concepts and images that
you also used in the introduction
3. Closing sentence
How to Get There
Play the "So What" Game.
When you read your restated thesis, ask yourself, "So
what?" or "Why should anybody care?"
 Ponder that question and answer it
 This will guide the final sentence of your conclusion
paragraph
Conclusion Strategies that Do NOT Work
Beginning with an unnecessary, overused phrase
These come across as wooden and trite in writing
"in conclusion“, "in summary“, "in closing“, "as shown in the essay"
Stating the thesis for the very first time
Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion
Making sentimental, emotional appeals that are out of character with
the rest of the paper
Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the
body of the paper
Examples of Strong Conclusions
These two innovative pioneers of the world of
technology demonstrated the truth that failure
leads to success and strengthens you. They
achieved the incomprehensible idea of may flying,
even when they failed over and over again. Because
they found the capabilities to learn and adapt to
failure, they became stronger. This message they
left behind in the legacy urges all of us to not use
our shortcomings as excuses , but to be
strengthened by them and overcome challenges.
Examples of Strong Conclusions
We don’t want to accept our faults. We don’t want to
admit that we did something wrong. But if you have the
strength to recognize your imperfections and then
change them to better yourself, that is what learning
from your mistakes is about. Don’t be ashamed of the
chances you took that might not have turned our so
well. Push yourself to take away a lesson from those
chances, do it better next time, and try to live by the
phrase “Live and lean.”