Argumentative Writing:

Conclusions
Grade 6

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Review:
Elements of
Argumentative Writing
Claim (versus thesis)
Logic (versus emotion in persuasive

writing) based on evidence

Explanation of how evidence supports the

claim

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?

Conclusion WHAT NOT TO DO

DO NOT simply summarize what has

already been saidespecially in shorter

essays. Synthesize YES, Summarize NO
DO NOT simply rephrase the thesis.
DO NOT introduce a new subtopic

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

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

Look Closely at Conclusion

Techniques:

AConsider
Lookthe
toanimals.
the Future
As they grow older,
what will happen to them? Will they remain
prisoners in zoos serving life sentences
simply for the enjoyment of visitors? Its time
for a change. Zoos need to go.

Look Closely at Conclusion

Techniques:
Ask a Provocative Question

or
Make a Surprising
Is a civilized society one that places value
Statement
on holding animals hostage? Zoos are little
more than pretty prisons. Its time we did
ourselves and the animals a favor by
changing our mindsets about zoos.

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! Its time to lower the number of
animal captives held by zoos. Its time to
stop supporting zoos through ticket sales.
Only then will the captors listen.

Read (or reread)

the articles The
Benefits of YearRound School and
The
Disadvantages
of Year-Round
School.

Write a
Conclusion

If youve completed the body paragraphs on

year-round school, youll write your conclusion.
If you havent written the body paragraphs,
assume youre 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.

After Youve 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?

Look Closely at Conclusion

Techniques:

The following examples are various

possible conclusions for a year-round
school argumentative essay .

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. Lets not make their same mistake.

Look Closely at Conclusion

Techniques:
A Look to the Future based

on
your argument

Think about it. When our schools are all yearlong what will happen to summer camps,
long family vacations, or just that muchneeded 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.

Look Closely at Conclusion

Techniques:
Ask a Provocative Question

or
Make
a
Surprising
Mark Twain once said, I never let schooling
Statement
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?