Ending on a High Note: Writing Excellent Endings for Your Composition

By WR!TERS@WORK

Students may be adept at starting their composition and populating the body with paragraphs of content, but they may not always know how best to conclude their writing. The ending of a composition is very important as the student has to reiterate their original points and pitch their final message – these are the last things the reader takes away with them at the end of a story, and it is what they will be thinking about long after they have stopped reading. WRITERS AT WORK students learn exactly how to do all this in our weekly English enrichment classes and end their composition writing on a high note – a necessary step towards mastering the art of writing excellent composition endings.

What Should a Conclusion Do?

1. Wrap Up the Story

There is nothing better than a satisfying ending. All fairy tales end with “And they lived happily ever after” because it is nice to know that after all the trials and tribulations (being forced to be a maid by evil stepmothers, swallowing poisoned apples, being locked in a tower, what have you) the main characters get to live a happy life, usually as part of the monarchy. A good conclusion serves to wrap up the story you have just told in a satisfying manner. After taking the readers through a tumultuous journey, it is only right that you give them a good ending.

2. Resolve the Conflict

When there is a central conflict in the plot, it is important that the conflict gets resolved. There is no point in the student having established the conflict only to leave it hanging there. The examiner will want to see how the student resolves the conflict which they have built up during the body paragraphs of the story. Usually, this involves some consequences being meted out to the bad actors in the story or the main character having learned some important lesson.

3. Show How the Composition Has Addressed the Question

WRITERS AT WORK teachers will train students on a useful technique called, “signposting”. Signposting is an extremely important skill when writing compositions for an exam. The conclusion should show how the composition has addressed the question, usually by letting the examiner know explicitly that the essay has served to address all the points in the question.

Tips for Writing Good Conclusions:

1. Reflection on the Incident

A good conclusion could include a reflection on the incident central to the plot of the story. Does the character decide that a change in his behaviour is necessary? Would the character reflect on his mistakes? What would the character do differently in future? Students should describe their character’s thoughts and feelings in an authentic way. The character could feel remorseful, foolish, and repentant for his actions. He could even do something to make up for the trouble that he has caused, much to the appreciation of the people he affected negatively.

2. Words of Wisdom

There could be some conclusions which feature words of wisdom. This is good for composition topics revolving around values, such as honesty, courage, or teamwork. The conclusion can include a proverb or saying. The main character should realise an important value or moral after undergoing the events in the entire story. However, the student should note that the proverb ought to be related to the topic. The student should state the important value that the main character learnt, why this value is important to uphold, and how the incidents taking place in the story affect the main character’s future actions and how he treats others.

3. Snap Your Readers Back to the Present

A good conclusion is designed to snap your readers back to the present. If the story starts with a flashback, the conclusion is the place to bring your readers back to the present day and wrap up the main character’s journey into the past. In the present, the student can end the story. The student should include something which triggered the main character back to the present moment, such as a voice calling the character out of his reverie and into real life. The character should reflect on the flashback and how it affected his actions in the present.

Examples of Good Conclusions

Write about a time when you did something to impress someone and regretted it.

(O Level Composition Question, 2020)

Despite my best efforts, I had ruined everything. Madam Tan assured me that she did not think any less of me because of my actions – she laughed that I was still young and that I should be given space to fall instead. I was grateful to the school principal that I was not suspended or worse – expelled. I realised that I needed to learn how to behave appropriately while I was still in school – Madam Tan had warned me that in the real world, people would not be so forgiving. I left school that afternoon ashamed yet determined to do better the next time I had the chance.

Examiners want to see students master all aspects of writing a good composition. Starting strong, staying steady, and ending well are all equally important – students need to consider all the aspects of writing when planning out their essays. WRITERS AT WORK educators inspire students to read examples of endings and think about how they would like to end a story. There are no hard and fast rules to writing endings – some may be a satisfying, happy ending, while others may be a sad, doleful lesson to learn. Some endings are cliffhangers, and they usually leave a reader hanging on.

Master the English Language with WRITERS AT WORK!

English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.

At WRITERS@WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. W@W reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how W@W makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!

If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS@WORK has expanded to 9 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS@WORK!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. What is Creative Writing in Primary School?

In primary school, creative writing starts from using pictures to develop a coherent storyline. Students will learn how to use key phrases to build tension and develop a satisfying conclusion. The plots of the stories crafted at the primary school level are usually simple and have a central conflict which is usually resolved at the end of the story. Students will need to use good grammar and appropriate vocabulary to describe the things they see in the pictures when writing.

2. What is an enrichment class in English?

An enrichment class allows your child to not only learn the basics of the mechanics of English such as good grammar and sentence structure, but it also teaches your child to appreciate the nuances of the English language. Students in an English enrichment class will learn skills like inference and critical reading – these skills are highly important even when students graduate out of school and go into higher education or the working world, as it will teach them to process and filter information to determine what is being said and evaluate the veracity of the information.

3. What Does a Writing Specialist Teach?

A writing specialist teaches your child how to formulate sentences in a logical manner. Writing has various contexts, and if the assignment is a narrative essay, there are certain requirements such as a well thought-out plot, fleshed-out characters, and a good denouement. There are other types of essays a student will learn in his lifetime, such as an argumentative essay, expository essay, and descriptive writing, which all require different skill sets learned during class.

4. How Does My Child Benefit From Writing Classes?

Writing classes build systematic thinking and logic in children. Crafting a story plot is the same as thinking, step by step, what events chronologically happen in the context of a given scenario. Students will be able to express their ideas and thought processes in a coherent and concise manner, which will help them in their other subjects as they will be able to formulate sentences to better understand the material. English proficiency is a highly transferable skill.