Why Do Conclusions Matter?
Have you ever watched a great movie that had a terrible ending? Maybe the hero just walked away and the screen went black. That would be so disappointing! The same thing happens when you write an opinion essay and forget to end it well. Your reader might think, "Wait — that's it?" A concluding statement is the final part of your opinion writing. It wraps up everything you said and leaves your reader feeling satisfied.
People have been thinking about how to end arguments and speeches for thousands of years. Let's look at how the art of a good conclusion has grown over time.
So here is the big question: How do you end your opinion writing in a way that makes your reader nod and say, "Good point!"? That is what this lesson is all about.
Core Principles of a Great Conclusion
A concluding statement is not just repeating your first sentence in different words. It has its own special job. Think of it as the grand finale of a fireworks show — it pulls everything together in one powerful moment. Here are four key principles that every strong conclusion follows.
Restate Your Opinion
Summarize Your Reasons
Leave a Lasting Thought
Stay Connected
Visual Map: The Opinion Essay Structure
Let's look at a picture of how an opinion essay is built. Notice how the concluding statement sits at the very bottom. It is the last thing your reader sees, so it needs to be strong and clear.
As you can see in the diagram, the concluding statement comes after all of your reasons and evidence. It sits at the very bottom because it is the last impression you leave on your reader. Just like the last note in a song, it needs to feel complete and satisfying.
How to Build Your Concluding Statement
Now let's get into the step-by-step process. Writing a conclusion is like following a simple recipe. There are three ingredients you need, and you mix them together in order.
Ingredient 1: Restate your opinion. Go back to your introduction and find the sentence where you told the reader what you believe. Now write that same idea, but in new words. For example, if your introduction said "I believe recess should be longer," your conclusion might say "It is clear that students need more time for recess." Same opinion, different words!
Ingredient 2: Summarize your reasons. Briefly mention the reasons you gave in your body paragraphs. You don't need full sentences for each one — just a quick reminder. For example: "Longer recess helps kids focus, stay healthy, and feel happier."
Ingredient 3: End with a lasting thought. This is the exciting part. You get to leave your reader with something powerful. You might ask a question, paint a picture of the future, or make a bold statement. For example: "Every student deserves the chance to run, play, and come back to class ready to learn."
Follow these three steps, and your conclusion will feel complete. Your reader will walk away knowing exactly what you believe and why.
Types of Lasting Thoughts
Step 3 — the lasting thought — is where you get to be creative. There are several ways to end your conclusion with a bang. Let's explore the different types so you can choose the one that fits your essay best.
| STRATEGY | WHAT IT MEANS | EXAMPLE ENDING |
|---|---|---|
| Ask a Question | End with a question that makes the reader think about your topic. | "Don't all kids deserve a chance to play every day?" |
| Bold Statement | Make a strong, confident claim about why your opinion matters. | "Longer recess is not just fun — it is necessary." |
| Call to Action | Tell the reader to do something based on your opinion. | "Talk to your principal today about adding more recess time." |
| Paint a Picture | Help the reader imagine what the world would look like if people agreed with you. | "Imagine a school where every kid comes back from recess smiling and ready to learn." |
| Connect to the Reader | Make it personal so the reader sees how this topic affects them. | "You probably know what it feels like to need a break — that is exactly why recess matters." |
You can use just one of these strategies, or you can mix two together. For example, you might make a bold statement and then ask a question. The most important thing is that your ending feels connected to everything you wrote before it.
Worked Example: Writing a Conclusion Step by Step
Let's say you wrote an opinion essay about this topic: "Schools should have pet fish in every classroom." Your three body paragraph reasons were: (1) fish are calming, (2) they teach responsibility, and (3) they make the classroom more interesting. Now let's build a conclusion together.
Notice how the conclusion does three things in just three sentences. It restates the opinion, touches on the reasons, and ends with a vivid image. That is a strong concluding statement!
Do's and Don'ts of Concluding Statements
Even good writers sometimes make mistakes in their conclusions. Let's look at what to do — and what to avoid — so you can write the strongest ending possible.
| ✅ DO THIS | ❌ DON'T DO THIS |
|---|---|
| Restate your opinion in new words | Copy and paste your introduction sentence |
| Briefly mention your reasons | Retell every detail from your body paragraphs |
| End with a strong final thought | End with "That is my opinion" or "The end" |
| Stay on topic the whole time | Bring up a brand new reason or idea |
| Sound confident and sure of yourself | Say "I guess" or "Maybe I am wrong" |
| Use signal words like "In conclusion" or "For all these reasons" | Start with "So, yeah" or just stop writing suddenly |
Looking Ahead: Conclusions in Bigger Writing
Right now, you are learning to write a concluding statement — that is usually one to three sentences at the end of your essay. As you grow as a writer, you will learn to write a full concluding section or paragraph. The same skills you are building now will help you later!
| WHAT YOU DO NOW (5TH GRADE) | WHAT YOU'LL DO LATER (MIDDLE SCHOOL & BEYOND) |
|---|---|
| Write 1–3 concluding sentences | Write a full concluding paragraph (5–8 sentences) |
| Restate your opinion in new words | Restate your thesis and connect it to a bigger idea |
| Summarize your reasons briefly | Reflect on how your reasons work together to prove your point |
| End with one lasting thought | End with a call to action, a connection to the real world, or an open question |
| Use signal words like "In conclusion" | Use more advanced transitions like "Ultimately" or "When all is considered" |
The most important thing to remember is this: the skills you practice now are the foundation for everything you will write in the future. A 5th grader who can write a strong concluding statement is already on the path to becoming a great writer.
Practice Problems
Time to practice! Try each problem on your own before clicking "Show Answer." Remember the three ingredients: restate your opinion, summarize your reasons, and leave a lasting thought.
Lesson Summary
A concluding statement is the final part of your opinion essay, and it has an important job: it wraps up your writing and leaves your reader feeling convinced. To write a strong conclusion, follow three steps. First, restate your opinion using different words from your introduction. Second, briefly summarize your reasons so the reader remembers your strongest points. Third, end with a lasting thought — this can be a question, a bold statement, a call to action, a picture of the future, or a personal connection to the reader.
Remember, your conclusion should never introduce a new reason or copy your introduction word for word. It should feel confident, connected, and complete — like the final bow on a beautifully wrapped present. The skills you are building now will help you write powerful conclusions for the rest of your life. Keep practicing, and your conclusions will get stronger and stronger!