1. Argumentative Writing: Conclusions
Grade 6
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2. Review: Elements of Argumentative Writing
Claim (versus thesis)
Logic (versus emotion in persuasive writing) – based on evidence
Explanation of how evidence supports the claim

3. A Strong Conclusion Should...
reinforce that your claim has been proven
give the essay a sense of completeness and closure
leave an impression on the reader
Your conclusion should reflect why the reader should care about your topic. What is the significance of your claim? Why is it important to you? What information should the reader take away from this?

4. Conclusion – WHAT NOT TO DO
DO NOT simply summarize what has already been said—especially in shorter essays. Synthesize YES, Summarize NO
DO NOT simply rephrase the thesis.
DO NOT introduce a new subtopic

5. Conclusion Techniques:
Note the different kinds of conclusions:
A Look to the Future based on your argument
A Provocative Question or Statement
A Shocking Statistic or Fact

6. Conclusion Techniques:
  Assume the following examples are various possible conclusions for an argument essay against zoos.
Note the three different kinds of conclusions:
A look to the future
A provocative question or statement
A shocking statistic

7. Look Closely at Conclusion Techniques: A Look to the Future
Consider the animals. As they grow older, what will happen to them? Will they remain prisoners in zoos serving life sentences simply for the enjoyment of visitors? It’s time for a change. Zoos need to go.

8. Look Closely at Conclusion Techniques:
Ask a Provocative Question or Make a Surprising Statement
Is a civilized society one that places value on holding animals hostage? Zoos are little more than pretty prisons. It’s time we did ourselves and the animals a favor by changing our mindsets about zoos.

9. Look Closely at Conclusion Techniques: Shocking Statistic or Fact
Some sources claim that there are nearly five million vertebrate animals held in zoos. Five million! It’s time to lower the number of animal captives held by zoos. It’s time to stop supporting zoos through ticket sales. Only then will the captors listen.

10. Read (or reread) the articles “The Benefits of Year-Round School” and
“The Disadvantages of Year-Round School.”

11. Write a Conclusion
If you’ve completed the body paragraphs on year-round school, you’ll write your conclusion.
If you haven’t written the body paragraphs, assume you’re writing a conclusion that supports year-round school and uses the following claims:
Year round school helps students remember better.
Year round school improves students’ ability to focus.
Year round school improves teaching.

12. After You’ve Written… Double Check your Conclusion. Does it:
reinforce that your claim has been proven?
give the essay a sense of completeness and closure?
leave an impression on the reader?
Which technique or techniques did you use in your conclusion?

13. Look Closely at Conclusion Techniques:
The following examples are various possible conclusions for a year-round school argumentative essay .

14. Look Closely at Conclusion Techniques: Shocking Statistic or Fact
In places where this year-round school initiative has been popular originally, polls show that years later more than 50% of those same advocates want to go back to longer summers. Let’s not make their same mistake.

15. Look Closely at Conclusion Techniques:
A Look to the Future based on your argument
Think about it. When our schools are all year-long what will happen to summer camps, long family vacations, or just that much-needed time at home relaxing? Two or three weeks is not truly enough time for these events. And these are really important memories that build children.

16. Look Closely at Conclusion Techniques:
Ask a Provocative Question or Make a Surprising Statement
Mark Twain once said, “I never let schooling interfere with my education.” By losing our summer vacations, we will limit so much learning that takes place outside of the school. Do we really believe that the only education one can get is in school?