Standard: 9-10.W.1e – Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.
Grade level: Grade 9-10
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the importance of crafting a strong conclusion that supports and follows from the argument presented. It is crucial as it helps students to effectively close their essays, reinforcing their arguments and leaving a lasting impression on the reader. Students should understand the basic structure of an essay, including how to formulate a thesis, present supporting evidence, and develop coherent paragraphs.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to craft strong, persuasive conclusions in their writing, enhancing their overall argumentative skills.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that a conclusion is simply a summary of the main points. This is incorrect because a strong conclusion should synthesize the argument, reinforcing the thesis and providing a sense of closure.
Intervention 1
Use examples of strong conclusions and have students practice writing their own, focusing on synthesis rather than summary.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that introducing new information in the conclusion is effective. This is incorrect because new information should be introduced in the body of the essay, and the conclusion should focus on reinforcing the existing argument.
Intervention 2
Teach students to review their conclusions to ensure they are not introducing new information, but rather reinforcing their main points.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should understand the basic structure of an argument, including how to formulate a thesis, present evidence, and develop coherent paragraphs.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will be able to refine their argumentative writing skills, enhance their ability to persuade, and apply these skills in more complex writing tasks and real-world scenarios.
Instructional Activities
- Analyzing sample conclusions from famous speeches and essays
- Writing practice conclusions for different types of arguments
- Peer review sessions focusing on the effectiveness of conclusions
- Creating graphic organizers to plan out conclusions
