1. Grade 3 Copyright © 2014 by Write Score LLC

2. We are going to work on one way to improve the conclusion or ending of a piece of writing.

3. When working on our conclusions, we want to: provide a concluding statement or section. provide a sense of closure. leave the reader feeling satisfied. To improve a conclusion or ending, we want to: Use effective techniques and descriptive details.

4. One way to improve the conclusion or ending in an opinion essay, explanatory essay, or narrative story is by revealing a thought and feeling. To show you what I mean, we are going to read an opinion essay together. Notice details about the overall topic in order to write an ending that reveals a thought and feeling related to it.

5. Some schools require students to wear uniforms. Many parents and teachers love this idea. A lot of kids hate this idea. I’m one of those kids. In my opinion, schools should not require students to wear uniforms. Some parents and teachers think that letting kids wear what they want can cause problems. They say some kids are distracted by the clothes some students wear. This means they are not paying attention in class. I disagree with these adult beliefs. Most kids I know don’t even notice what others are wearing. They care more about getting together after school to play sports or do other activities. They pay attention in class when the teacher makes what they are learning interesting and fun.

6. I also think that making kids wear uniforms takes away their individuality. Kids have a right to be themselves. That is impossible to do when everyone looks the same. Imagine if everyone in the world had to wear the same thing every day no matter where they lived? That would make the world a very boring place to live. For these reasons and more, I don’t think that kids should be required to wear uniforms to school. It would make more sense to have a dress code everyone has to follow. This way kids can be themselves and wear whatever they want to school so long as it fits in the code rules.

7. Here’s what I noticed about the overall topic of this essay: The writer believes students should choose what they want to wear to school. The writer thinks that so long as students follow a school’s dress code, they should not be required to wear uniforms. The writer believes it is sad to think about a world where everyone dresses alike.

8. Revised Ending Using a Thought and Feeling: For these reasons and more, I don’t think students should be required to wear uniforms to school. Students need to be themselves and be allowed to wear whatever they want to school so long as it fits in the code rules. Anything else makes me too sad to think about. I have to wonder what the world would be like if everyone dressed alike each and every day.

9. Did you notice how I added a thought? I have to wonder what the world would be like if everyone dressed alike each and every day. Did you notice how I added a feeling? Students need to be themselves and be allowed to wear whatever they want to school so long as it fits in the code rules. Anything else makes me too sad to think about. Wonder

10. You are going to do what I just did. Open to a clean page in your writer’s notebook. Rewrite the conclusion or ending for this same piece of writing. Try to use a different thought and feeling that also relates to the overall topic of the writing.

11.  After you finish writing your revised conclusion or ending, return to a completed piece of your writing. It can be an opinion essay, an explanatory essay, or a narrative story.  Reread it carefully, paying close attention to the details that tell about the overall topic.  Then, write one or more conclusions or endings that reveal a thought and feeling about your topic. Wonder Sad Amazed Happy