Provide Concluding Statement for Argument

Why Conclusions Matter: A Brief History

People have been writing arguments for thousands of years. From ancient Greek philosophers to modern newspaper writers, every strong argument needs a strong ending. A concluding statement (the final sentences or paragraph that wraps up your argument) is like the final buzzer in a basketball game — it signals that you're done and reminds everyone of the score.

Throughout history, the best writers have known one thing: if your ending is weak, your whole argument feels weak. So how do you write a conclusion that leaves your reader convinced? That's exactly what this lesson will teach you.

Core Principles of a Strong Conclusion

A conclusion is not just repeating everything you already said. It has a specific job: to tie your argument together and leave the reader with a clear understanding of your position. Let's look at the key principles that make a conclusion work.

Visualizing the Argument Essay Structure

Before we dig deeper into conclusions, it helps to see where the conclusion fits within the bigger picture of an argument essay (an essay where you pick a side and try to convince the reader). The diagram below shows the whole structure, with the conclusion highlighted at the bottom.

As you can see, the conclusion doesn't come out of nowhere. It "follows from" everything above it. The word "follows" is important in the Common Core standard — it means your ending should feel like it naturally grows out of the argument you already made.

How a Conclusion Works: The Three-Part Formula

Writing a conclusion can feel tricky, but there's a formula you can follow. Think of it as three building blocks that stack on top of each other. Let's break each one down.

Part 1: Restate the Claim

Your claim (your main argument or opinion) was stated in your introduction. Now you need to say it again, but in a fresh way. If your original claim was "Schools should serve healthier lunches," your conclusion might say "It's clear that healthier lunch options would benefit every student." Same idea, different words.

Part 2: Sum Up Your Reasons

You don't need to repeat every detail from your body paragraphs. Just quickly remind the reader of your strongest points. Think of this like a movie trailer — you're showing the highlights, not the whole film. One or two sentences is usually enough.

Part 3: Leave a Lasting Impression

This is your chance to make your reader feel something or think about your topic after they stop reading. You have several tools for this. You can use a call to action (tell the reader what to do), a thought-provoking question, or a big-picture connection that shows why your topic matters beyond your essay.

Conclusion Strategies: Choosing the Right Ending

Not all conclusions look the same. There are different strategies you can use for that final lasting impression. The diagram below shows four popular strategies, along with examples of what they look like in practice.

You can mix and match these strategies. For example, you could circle back to your introduction and add a call to action. The key is to choose a strategy that fits your topic and makes your reader feel like your argument is complete.

Worked Example: Writing a Conclusion Step by Step

Let's walk through writing a conclusion for a real argument essay. Imagine you wrote an essay arguing that students should have longer recess. Your claim was: "Elementary schools should extend recess to at least 30 minutes every day." Your body paragraphs covered two reasons: (1) longer recess improves focus in class, and (2) it helps students stay physically healthy.

Dos and Don'ts of Concluding Statements

Now that you know what to include in a conclusion, let's look at common mistakes students make — and what you should do instead. The table below compares strong conclusion moves with weak ones.

Beyond 6th Grade: How Conclusions Grow Up

The skills you're learning now will keep growing with you. As you move through middle school and into high school, conclusions get longer and more complex. Here's a peek at how conclusions change as you advance.

Don't worry about getting to that advanced level right now. If you can master the three-part formula — restate your claim, summarize your reasons, and leave a lasting impression — you'll have a strong foundation for every argument essay you write in the future.

Practice Problems

Now it's your turn! Try these five problems. They get harder as you go. For each one, think about the principles you learned: restate the claim, summarize reasons, and leave a lasting impression.

Summary: Wrapping Up Your Argument with Confidence