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In Conclusion . . .

What's the best way to end an opinion essay?

Goal:

Goal:

If you did all of the steps for the worksheet on the previous page, then you have written a short opinion essay. One more piece is needed, though, to make your essay complete--a strong finish.

Your essay should include not just a claim that states your opinion, but also reasons and examples to support that claim. By the time your readers get to the end of the essay, some of them will have forgotten what your claim was, though! That's one reason why a conclusion is important--it reminds readers of the essay's main idea, or claim.

Read along as Sam shares his opinion essay about myths. Then, answer the questions beneath the example to help Sam choose a good conclusion sentence.

sam

Myths are not a good way to teach children about the world, even if they help share a culture's traditions. Children believe whatever adults tell them. If they hear that the earth used to be covered with just children, they will believe that there were children before there were adults, and that's the opposite of what's true! Also, myths can confuse children and make it hard for them to learn science. If they think that North America came on the back of a turtle, how will their teachers teach them how the continents got where they are? Finally, children may feel tricked when they grow up and find out that the myths were just stories, not facts. If children become scientists later, they may not respect the elders who told them that sea animals carried the first humans to land.

 

What is the main idea of Sam's essay?

  1. Sharing myths is a good way for people in the same culture to connect.
  2. It's not a good idea to use myths to teach children about the world.
  3. We should use myths to help children appreciate the world we live in.

Sam states his main idea at the beginning of his essay.

Sam states his main idea at the beginning of his essay.

Sam states his main idea at the beginning of his essay.

In general, what do Sam's reasons say about myths?

  1. Myths will scare children and cause them to fear the outdoors
  2. Myths help children understand the difference between truth and fiction.
  3. Myths teach children the incorrect information about the world.

All of Sam's examples support this main idea.

All of Sam's examples support this main idea.

All of Sam's examples support this main idea.

Which statement includes Sam's main idea AND sums up his reasons? (That's a good start on a conclusion.)

  1. Adults should be careful about telling myths to children because kids need to learn the real facts about the world.
  2. Children should stop believing myths as soon as they go to school and start learning science.
  3. Myths are a good way for children to learn what their parents believe about the world.

A good conclusion sentences includes Sam's idea that myths give kids wrong information and that kids need to know correct information instead.

A good conclusion sentences includes Sam's idea that myths give kids wrong information and that kids need to know correct information instead.

A good conclusion sentences includes Sam's idea that myths give kids wrong information and that kids need to know correct information instead.

Summary

Questions answered correctly:

Questions answered incorrectly:

Question

What's the best way for Sam to write his conclusion sentence?

In conclusion, myths can cause problems for children when they get older, so adults should be careful about how they share myths with the next generation.