1. Writing a conclusion The R-R-R Method
7th Grade
Writing a conclusion The R-R-R Method
Remember there are three things that should be included in a conclusion:
1. Reworded thesis/claim
--Restate your thesis/claim from your introductory paragraph in an interesting way using different words.
2. Restate your reasons
--Restate your reasons or examples that you used in your topic sentence. Summarize and show how all
reasons fit together.
3. Wrap it up
--Wrap it up with your final thoughts and/or clincher
that leaves the reading thinking “Wow!” Try to tie
your clincher back to your grabber/hook.

2. Concluding paragraph
Restate
thesis/
claim
Restate reasons
Wrap it up
with a clincher that ties back to your grabber/hook
Clearly, Houston follows most of Zinsser’s advice. She uses her own voice and she “speaks freely” about the people in her memoir. However, Houston does not follow Zinsser’s recommendation to “think small” because the story encompasses an entire year of Emma’s life. Ultimately, this narrative doesn’t need to follow all of Zinsser’s advice to be a touching memoir that brings the issue of childhood hunger out of the darkness and into the light.

3. Editing/revising on your own:
1. Re-read your introduction, body paragraph, and
conclusion, marking any changes you think should be
made such as:
Spelling errors
Punctuation
Textual evidence not cited properly
Re-wording or deleting confusing sentences
Adding more detail to your paragraphs
Deleting personal pronouns I, me, or my
Adding a concluding sentence to each body paragraph
Deleting “This shows that…”
2. A paper is stronger when opinion words are not
present. Go back through your paragraphs and cross out
anytime you see “I think”, “I believe”, or “maybe”.
(make sure your final draft does not include the opinion
words you crossed out).
3. Finally, you will exchange papers within your seating group and complete the peer editing activity. These papers will be collected and returned to you tomorrow.