Standard: 3.W.1d – Provide a concluding statement or section.
Grade level: Grade 3
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on teaching students how to effectively conclude their writing pieces. Providing a strong conclusion helps to summarize the main ideas and give closure to the reader. It’s an essential skill that contributes to the overall coherence and impact of the writing. Students should be comfortable writing complete sentences and organizing their thoughts into coherent paragraphs before tackling this standard.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to write more structured essays with clear introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that a conclusion is merely a repetition of the main points. This is incorrect because a conclusion should synthesize the information and provide a final perspective.
Intervention 1
Use graphic organizers to help students identify the key points of their writing and then guide them in rephrasing these points in a concluding statement.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that short pieces of writing do not need a conclusion. This is incorrect because every piece of writing, regardless of length, benefits from a concluding statement that provides closure.
Intervention 2
Provide examples of short writing pieces with and without conclusions, and discuss how the conclusion enhances the reader’s understanding and satisfaction.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of writing complete sentences and paragraphs, and be able to organize their thoughts in a logical sequence.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop skills in writing more complex essays, including introductions and transitions, and will learn to connect their conclusions to the main points of their writing.
Instructional Activities
- Have students write a short story and then draft a concluding paragraph.
- Use graphic organizers to outline the main points and then create a conclusion.
- Practice writing conclusions for different types of writing, such as narratives, informative texts, and persuasive letters.
